So you’ve related a tool to your PC through a USB port — however Windows doesn’t acknowledge it. What now? Before you assume the product (or your PC port) is damaged, there are a number of USB troubleshooting steps you may take.

First (clearly) disconnect the gadget after which reconnect it. Check that the plug is inserted accurately and that the cable is undamaged.

If that doesn’t work, join the USB gadget to a different USB port in your laptop. If it really works there, the beforehand used USB port could also be faulty.

Still not working? Check whether or not the newest drivers for the gadget you’ve related to the PC are put in. To do that, right-click on the beginning menu, then choose “Device Manager” and seek for the related gadget beneath “USB Controller.” Right-click on the gadget and subsequent choose “Update driver software.” Follow the directions on the display to finish the method.

Further studying: The best USB-C hubs and dongles

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If updating the related gadget’s drivers doesn’t clear up the issue, uninstall the drivers and set up them once more. To do that, return to the Device Manager, right-click on the affected gadget, and choose “Uninstall Device”.

Now disconnect the USB connection of the gadget. Restart your PC and reconnect the USB gadget in order that Windows routinely reinstalls the drivers.

Windows energy administration could also be guilty

Problems with USB connections can typically be traced again to Windows energy administration, nonetheless.

To verify this, open the gadget supervisor once more. Now right-click on the related gadget’s itemizing and choose “Properties.” Switch to the “Power Management” tab and deactivate the checkbox “Computer can switch off the device to save energy.” Now click on on “OK”, disconnect the gadget, and join it once more.

If all of the earlier steps don’t work, strive resetting the USB root hub. To do that, navigate to the Device Manager and increase the class “USB Controller.” Right-click on “USB root hub” and choose “Properties”.

Now change to the “Power Management” tab and deactivate the checkbox “Computer can switch off the device to save energy.” Repeat this course of for all USB root hubs within the record. If none of this works, you might have a dud gadget in your palms.

This article was translated from German to English, and initially appeared on pcwelt.de.