USB is an external device connected to your Windows 11 PC. It’s very portable for you to storage anything on the external device. However, recently some Windows 11 users reported that they are facing a problem that USB is not working on Windows 11 after they plug them into Windows 11 PC. They can’t open the file on USB because the Windows 11 can’t recognize the plugged USB device. This article is going to tell you how to solve the issue that USB not working on Windows 11. Keep reading.
How to Fix USB Not Working on Windows 11?
There are 11 effective ways to solve this issue. These methods can help your Windows 11 recognize the USB device and make USB work on Windows 11 again.
1. Check your device (and USB port)
First check and rule out any damage to your connected device or USB port.
Determine if your device or USB port is damaged by removing the USB device, checking the cable and USB port, and then reconnecting it. Replace the damaged cable. If there is dust in the USB port, remove the dust first, then plug the device back in and see if the USB works properly on Windows 11.
2. Try a different USB port
If the first method confirms that your device is OK, there may be a problem with the USB port you are using. The replacement can be plugged into the device’s USB port to check if there is a problem with the currently used USB port. If the device is recognized by Windows 11 and works fine, then there is definitely something wrong with the USB port that is preventing the USB from working properly on Windows 11.
3. Replace the USB device
If the USB port is also fine, then there may be a problem with the USB device you are using. You can try to replace the connected USB device to check whether it is the fault of the USB device that causes the USB not to work properly on Windows 11. Before replacing, make sure to try the device on another PC to confirm that the new device you’re replacing is working.
4. Restart Windows 11
If your device, USB port, and USB device are all OK, then there may be a program malfunction. Try restarting your computer. In general, restarting fixes most failures on the PC, including USB device failures. Restarting the PC forces Windows to install the missing drivers. If your USB is not recognized on Windows 11, this can solve the problem.
Quick restart Windows 11:
Plug USB device and right-click the Start menu.
Select Shut Down or Log Out > Restart.
If there is a problem, Windows 11 will automatically recognize USB device after installing drivers.
5. Check for Windows Updates
A new Windows update may include fixes for faulty USB ports or faulty devices, as well as general usability improvements. Check for Windows Update on Windows 11 as follows:
Open the start menu and press Settings (or press Windows key + I).
In Settings, navigate to Windows Update and click the Check for updates button.
Then, Windows 11 will automatically check for and download available updates.
To install any available updates, click the Restart Now button or set an active time to restart Windows when you’re not using your computer.
You should also check for optional updates (often including non-critical device drivers). To do this, navigate to the Advanced Options section in Windows Update, select Optional Updates, and install any available updates listed.
6. Reinstall the USB driver
Ensure your USB drivers are up-to-date. Follow these steps to quickly update or reinstall the USB driver:
Open the Start menu.
Enter Device Manager and select the top result.
Scroll the Device Manager tree menu and expand the Universal Serial Bus Controllers section.
Right-click each entry and select Uninstall Device.
Restart to automatically reinstall the latest drivers during the restart.
7. Check for software updates with OEM tools
Windows Update will not include all possible updates to the hardware. However, you can manually check for software updates using the OEM update app created by the device manufacturer.
The USB ports may not function properly if critical chipset drivers are missing. In this case, you need to install the necessary drivers directly from the manufacturer or use the OEM update application. Check for OEM software updates as follows:
Search for the first letter of the computer manufacturer in Start Menu. For example, search for “D” for Dell computer.
Launch the manufacturer’s update tool to install any hardware updates it lists.
8. Manually update software and driver
If you don’t have OEM tools installed, you can search for your manufacturer based on your device model and download updates manually. Device manufacturers typically provide updated software and drivers on a regular basis. Follow the steps below to manually install driver updates:
Check the latest USB device or software driver on the manufacturer’s website and download them.
Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, then type devmgmt.msc and click OK.
Find your USB device in the list in the Device Manager Window, right-click it and select Update Driver.
Select Browse my computer for drivers, navigate to the driver you downloaded, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Finally restart your PC.
9. Change power management settings
A USB drive might not show enough power due to the power management settings if the laptop is running on battery. You need fix it by changing your power management settings.
Open the Run dialog by pressing Windows key + R keys.
Then, type devmgmt.msc and click OK.
Expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers section.
Right click on the USB Root Hub and select Properties.
Select the Power Management tab.
Uncheck the box before Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power option and hit on OK.
10. Disable USB Selective Power Suspend option
It is also possible that the USB Selective Suspend Power feature can prevent USB devices from functioning properly on Windows 11. So try disabling this feature to fix the problem.
Press the Start or Windows key to open the Start menu.
Type edit power plan and select the relevant result.
Then click the Change advanced power settings.
In Power Options, expand USB Settings and change the USB Selective Suspend Settings option to Disabled.
Click OK to save.
11. Run SFC and DISM scans
If none of the above methods can fix the USB not working issue, it is recommended that you check if the Windows 11 installation is damaged. Using SFC and DISM tools can help you quickly check local drives for corrupt system files and repair corrupt system files.
Right-click the Start button and choose Windows Terminal (Admin).
Enter and execute the following command in a terminal window:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
After that, enter and execute the command: sfc /scannow
After the scan is complete, restart your PC and confirm if the USB device works properly on Windows 11. If you still can’t, then you can only reset Windows 11 to factory settings to fix the USB not working issue.
