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Why Is My USB Not Working

Thumb Drive Data Recovery

If your USB is not working on your PC, it could be due to several reasons. Check it out below and try to troubleshoot and resolve it.

1. Basics Check

  • Physical Connection: Ensure the USB is correctly plugged into the port. Try a different port.
  • Test the USB on Another Device: Plug the USB into another computer or device to confirm if the issue is with the USB or the PC.
  • Test Other USB Devices: Plug a different USB device into your PC to verify the functionality of the USB ports.

2. Check Power Supply

  • For Laptops: Sometimes, USB ports may stop working due to power management issues. Restart or unplug your laptop and remove the battery (if applicable) for a few minutes before powering it back on.
  • For Desktops: If you're using a USB hub, ensure it's powered (if required) and that the USB port on the PC is functional.

3. Restart Your Computer

Restarting PC may refresh the system and fixs some minor bugs.

4. Check Device Manager

  • Steps:
    1. Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
    2. Expand the Universal Serial Bus Controllers section.
    3. Look for:
      • Unrecognized Device: It may appear with a yellow triangle or as "Unknown Device."
      • Disabled Device: Right-click and select "Enable."
    4. Right-click any entries under USB Controllers and select Update Driver or Uninstall Device (Windows will reinstall it automatically after a restart).

5. Check for External Hardware Issues

  • Inspect Ports for Damage: Look inside the USB port for bent pins or debris.
  • Try Rear Ports (on Desktops): Rear USB ports are directly attached to the motherboard and are often more reliable than front ones.

6. Enable USB Selective Suspend

  • Steps:
    1. Go to Control Panel > Power Options.
      1. If you can't find it, try to change "view by" to "large icons" at the top right corner.
    2. Click on Change Plan Settings > Change Advanced Power Settings.
    3. Expand USB Settings > USB Selective Suspend Setting and enable it.

7. Format the USB (if the issue is with the USB Drive)

  • If the USB drive is detected but inaccessible: Data will be deleted in this step. Do not proceed if the data is important for you.
    1. Open This PC, right-click the USB, and select Format.
    2. Choose a suitable file system (Usually exFAT or FAT32) and Format.

Conclusion

If none of the above works, there could be cause by faulty USB device or chip. You may replace the USB if data is not needed. If data is what you need, look for a professional data recovery centre to get it back.

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