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Fix USB Ports on your PC

Editorial Team Editorial Team May 23, 2025

There are many possible causes for PC USB ports not working, which include hardware failure, a lack of drivers, or certain options in the BIOS. In many cases, the problem can be fixed easily and without expert help. Use this article to find out if the basic troubleshooting methods will work for you.

Troubleshoot USB Ports by Changing BIOS Settings

On many modern computers, BIOS allows users to enable or disable xHCI, which is a connection mode that allows USB 3.0 ports to be used to their full extent. It can also be a cause for severe stutter and lag on USB keyboards and mice. If your mouse and keyboard lag in the BIOS interface, or if USB stopped working suddenly while you’re using your system, try disabling xHCI.

How to Disable xHCI in BIOS


In this example, we’ll be configuring the BIOS of a Gigabyte motherboard.
1
Press the Delete key on the startup screen. Other motherboard brands may use a different key for BIOS settings - for instance, it’s F2 on Acer and Asus boards.
 Gigabyte startup screen
2
Enter Advanced Settings by pressing F2 or clicking the corresponding button.
 Modern BIOSes support mouse control and have clickable buttons
3
Navigate to Settings > IO Ports > USB Configuration. Once again, this is different for other brands - Asus motherboards have this setting in Advanced Mode (F7) > Advanced > USB Configuration.
 The advanced USB settings
4
In this menu, you can enable Legacy Support and disable xHCI Hand-off.

Note that without xHCI, your USB 3.0 ports will be functionally identical to 2.0 ports. This can be limiting if you use the ports for high-bandwidth tasks, such as data transfer.

Fix USB Ports with Chipset Drivers

Sometimes, operating systems require motherboard drivers for complete USB support. Installing the drivers for all your hardware on a fresh OS is always a good practice, especially with USB not connecting. They can easily be found on vendor sites, or even found automatically on Windows.

Find Drivers Automatically in Device Manager

1
Press Win+X and select Device Manager from the menu.
 The Win+X menu contains many system applications
2
Find the Host Controller under “Universal Serial Bus Controllers”. Right-click it and select “Update driver”.
 Context menu for the eXtensible Host Controller
3
Select “Search automatically for drivers”.
 The Windows Update driver search dialogue

If your system is being regularly updated, the latest available drivers have likely already been installed by Windows Update.

Find Drivers on a Vendor Site


If the necessary chipset driver is not available from Windows Update, you’ll have to find it and download it manually from the motherboard manufacturer’s website.
1
Locate the manufacturer’s website and visit it.
 Googling the AMD website
2
Look for “Support”, since that section usually contains drivers. In this case, it’s Resources & Support > Downloads > Drivers.
 Navigating the vendor website
3
Find the appropriate driver for your motherboard and OS.
 Browsing drivers by category
4
Download and run the installer.

Note: Be very careful when searching for drivers this way. Make sure that you download them from the official website - the address can often be found in your motherboard’s manual or on the packaging.

Consider Repair

In some cases, the problem is entirely caused by the hardware. USB ports, especially ones that have been in active use for years, tend to fail from constant tension or friction. Here are some telltale signs of physical damage if you have problems with USB ports not working:

  • It’s the only malfunctioning port, the rest work fine
  • The port does not appear in the Device Manager
  • Devices on this port keep connecting and disconnecting, especially with motion
  • There are no latency problems, only disconnection
  • The same malfunction happens across different OSes and in the BIOS

The only thing that can be done for a damaged port is replacement. Resoldering is a risky procedure, so keep in mind that a repair shop may return the board in a completely inoperable state. It’s best to have a temporary replacement.

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