All USB ports stopped working

USB ports have made transferring files and connecting all kinds of devices to our computers pretty efficient.

The connection is usually a hassle-free process, but the USB ports can sometimes start acting up and stop working correctly.

You’ll notice that the system can’t detect the device you’re connecting to the ports, or Windows might give you an error message concerning the device.

If you’re wondering why that’s happening suddenly and how to troubleshoot the issue, read on.

Why Aren’t Front USB Ports Working?

Issues that can cause USB ports not to work can be categorized into two groups: hardware defects or software issues.

Software issues include outdated OS, BIOS, or drivers, USB Host Controller problems, wrong power management settings, troublesome hidden USB devices, incorrect registry settings, fast startup features, and so on.

Hardware defects include a dirty or damaged USB port, loose internal connections, a faulty power supply or battery of a laptop, and so on.

Let’s start troubleshooting the causes and find a solution that works for you.

How To Fix A Front USB Port Not Working

1. Restart Your PC

Whenever someone experiences a problem like this, the first thing they hear is, “Restart your computer.”

Although this method might seem old and unnecessary, it works for so many cases, so it is

worth a try.

Plug the USB device you’re trying to use into the faulty USB port and restart your PC normally.

Check if the issue continues.

Your next solution would be to hard reset the computer.

You’ll have to turn the system off and hold the power button for about 30 seconds.

This way, you’ll discharge the capacitors and empty the system from any electricity.

Turn on your device normally afterward and try the USB port again.

2. Clean The Port

Dust and debris might have built up in the port and became embedded, preventing a proper connection between the computer and the plug.

Look closely inside the ports, preferably with a flashlight.

If you see anything blocking the area, clean it out with a small brush.

Using condensed air can also work, but remember not to stick the spray nozzle directly into the port because the built-up condensed material can be damaging.

Hopefully, the USB ports will start working again.

3. Install The Latest System Updates

An outdated Operating System may be causing the problem, so check for any new updates with the following steps:

1. Right-click on the Windows logo and choose Settings to open the app.
2. Head to the Update and Security section.
3. Choose the Windows Update option from the side menu bar.
4. Hit the Check for Updates button.
5. If Windows can detect any new updates, install them, and reboot your PC afterward.

4. Scan For Hardware Changes

Allowing the system to scan for hardware changes might help it detect the USB device you’re trying to connect to the port and solve the issue.

1. Right-click on the Windows logo and choose Device Manager to open the utility.
2. Click on the name of your computer standing at the top of the list, and ensure it’s highlighted.
3. Click on the Action option on the top menu bar and select Scan for Hardware Changes.
4. Allow for the process to complete and check if the system can detect the USB device.

You might also get the USB ports working and get rid of the error by simply running the system troubleshooter.

1. Type “Troubleshooter” in the Windows search box and then open the center.
2. Under the Find and fix other problems section, find Hardware and Devices.
3. Click on the Run the troubleshooter button and wait for it to complete.
4. Select Apply this fix afterward and recheck the port.

5. Re-Enable The USB Host Controllers

Disabling and re-enabling the USB Controllers will allow them to recover the unresponsive USB ports and make them work again.

1. Open the Device Manager again, and look for Universal Serial Bus controllers at the end of the list.
2. Double-click on it to expand and display all the USB Host Controllers.
3. Right-click on the first one and choose Uninstall from the drop-down menu.
4. Repeat the previous step for all the USB Controllers.
5. Restart your PC afterward.

Once Windows reboots, it’ll automatically install the USB Controllers again by itself.

1. Check the ports and see if they work.

6. Update The Drivers

Outdated drivers might be causing the USB port not to work.

The previous steps might solve the issue with the drivers, but you could try using an automatic driver updater tool if you didn’t have any luck with them.

An app like Driver Easy will recognize your system, detect its faulty, outdated, or corrupted drivers, and update them automatically to their latest versions:

1. Download, install and launch the Driver Easy application.
2. Click on the Scan Now button in the main interface.
3. Find the flagged USB drivers on the list.

Click on the Update button next to each for the automatic installation to start.

1. With the app’s Pro version, you can update all your problematic drivers by clicking on the Update All button.

7. Check The Power Settings

The USB Selective Suspend is a power settings feature that allows the system to cut the power to the USB ports to save the battery.

It’ll look like the USB ports aren’t working, but actually, Windows has put them to sleep.

To get rid of the issue, you’ll have to disable the feature:

1. Head back to Device Manager and expand the Universal Serial Bus Controllers from the list of devices.
2. Find the USB Root Hub in this section, right-click on it and choose Properties from the drop-down menu.
3. Head to the Power Management tab and disable the Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power option by unchecking the box next to it.
4. Hit Apply and then OK.
5. Repeat the mentioned steps for all the USB Root Hub devices in the list.
6. Reboot your system afterward.

8. Uninstall Hidden USB Devices

Device Manager doesn’t show all the devices installed on your system by default, especially those that aren’t currently connected to your computer.

The devices installed earlier will be hidden in the list, and they can cause issues and conflicts with the currently installed devices, causing USB port errors.

Removing these devices will make way for the newer ones to work properly and solve the issue.

1. Open the Command Prompt app, or right-click on the Start icon and choose Windows PowerShell [Admin].
2. Paste the following commands together and hit Enter:

• set DEVMGR_SHOW_DETAILS=1
• set DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES=1
• start devmgmt.msc

1. Once the Device Manager opens up, click on the View option at the top menu bar.
2. Select Show Hidden Devices.
3. Look for Imaging devices, Unknown devices, and Universal Serial Bus Controllers in the list and expand them.
4. Search for the title “Unknown Device” in these areas and if you find any, right-click on them and select Uninstall.
5. Restart the computer.

9. Update The BIOS And Check Its Settings

Many times, the motherboard is responsible for software-related issues that can happen for the USB ports.

Updating the BIOS to its latest version might solve the problem that the motherboard is causing.

There are different ways you can try updating the BIOS, but beforehand, let’s check if you already have the latest version installed:

1. Visit your motherboard’s manufacturer’s official website.
2. Search up your product by name, service tag, or serial number.
3. Head to the BIOS section and if there are multiple options listed, select the latest one.
4. Check its version or release date.
5. Now search System Information in the Windows search box and open the app.
6. Head to the System Summary tab and look for the BIOS Version/Date.

Compare the date listed to the one you found on the manufacturer’s website and if it’s not the same, proceed to update your BIOS:

A. Update The BIOS manually

1. Download and save the BIOS file that you found on the website, usually in .exe format.
2. Once you open the file, it’ll restart your system, and a BIOS update page will appear.
3. Follow the instructions to complete the update.
4. The completion process can vary slightly from one manufacturer to the other.

B. Update The BIOS Using Update Applications

Most motherboard brands have their own dedicated applications for updating their BIOS version.

Search for yours and download it from their official website and allow them to do the job.

You may find yours in the following list:

10. Check The Power Supply Of Your Laptop

If you’re experiencing issues with your laptop’s ports, the culprit might be its power supply.

The power supply should deliver power to the USB ports continuously, and if it fails to do so, they will stop working.

1. Unplug the charger plug from your laptop.
2. Remove the USB device from the port.
3. Restart the laptop.
4. Reconnect the USB device to the port in question.
5. Plug the power supply back into the laptop.

11. Remove The Laptop’s Battery

Again, if the previous method didn’t work for the laptop users, you might have to remove the laptop’s battery to get rid of the “USB device not detected” error.

1. Remove the USB devices connected to your laptop.
2. Shut down the laptop.
3. Remove the battery and put it aside.
4. Press the laptop’s power button for 30 seconds to discharge the capacitors.
5. Now you can either put the laptop’s battery back in or leave it out for the night and reconnect it in the morning to ensure the capacitors have fully discharged.
6. Restart your laptop and try connecting the USB devices to the ports again.

12. Turn Off Fast Startup

If you have Windows 10 installed, you might have noticed that it boots up pretty fast.

That is because of the new fast startup feature.

There’s a downside to the speed.

Windows can’t detect some devices and ports because of the lack of time.

Turn off the fast startup option and see if the problem persists:

1. Right-click on the Windows logo and select Power Options.
2. Locate the Related Settings heading on the right side of the screen and click on Additional Power Settings.
3. Select the Choose what the power button does option from the left menu bar.
4. Click on the Change settings that are currently unavailable.
5. Ensure that the box next to the Turn on fast startup [recommended] option isn’t ticked under the Shutdown Settings heading.
6. Hit the Save Changes button and reboot your PC.

13. Adjust The Registry Settings

You might be able to solve the issue like many other users by changing the registry settings.

But before doing anything around the registry editor, perform a backup.

1. Type “Regedit” in the Windows dialog box and open the Registry Editor app.
2. Select File from the top menu bar and then choose Export.
3. Set the Export Range option to All, choose a location for the backup, and hit the Save button.
4. Now, navigate to the following path:
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > Class
5. Now choose the {4d36e965-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318} option.
6. Look for the LowerFilter and UpperFilter options on the right side.
7. Right-click on each one and choose Delete.
8. Restart your computer.

14. Ensure The Internal Cables Are Connected

If you have a PC, its front USB ports might not be correctly connected to the motherboard via the dedicated cables.

They might have gotten loose or damaged over time.

Turn off the system and unplug the PC from the wall outlet.

Open up the case and access the motherboard.

Find the cables that connect the ports to the motherboard and check if they’re plugged in properly.

15. Check If The Port Is Damaged

If none of the mentioned methods has helped reactivate the USB ports and gotten them working again, there might be a chance that it’s permanently broken.

One way to tell if this is true is by plugging a USB cable or flash drive into the port and wiggling it around.

The USB port might have gotten unattached or damaged if the device can move freely and feels loose.

You’ll have to take your computer to a repair shop and have an experienced technician look at it and possibly fix the issue.