How to Fix USB Ports Not Working in Windows 7

If your USB ports are not working properly in Windows 7, there are several troubleshooting steps you can try to resolve the issue. Here are some effective solutions:

Restart Your Computer
The first and simplest step is to restart your computer. Sometimes, a simple reboot can resolve USB port issues that may have occurred after your PC resumes from sleep or hibernation. After the restart, try plugging in your USB device again to see if it’s recognized.
Uninstall and Reinstall the USB Device
If restarting doesn’t work, you can try uninstalling and then reinstalling the USB device:
Open the Device Manager by typing “Device Manager” in the Windows search bar and selecting it from the results.
Expand the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” section and locate the USB device that’s not working.
Right-click on the device and select “Uninstall device”.
Restart your computer and Windows will automatically reinstall the device drivers.
Try plugging in the USB device again to see if it’s now recognized.
Update USB Device Drivers
Outdated or corrupted USB device drivers can also cause issues with USB ports. To update the drivers:

Update Drivers Automatically

Open the Device Manager and expand the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” section.
Right-click on the USB device and select “Update driver”.
Choose “Search automatically for updated driver software” and let Windows search for and install the latest drivers.

Update Drivers Manually

Visit the manufacturer’s website for the USB device and download the latest drivers.
Open the Device Manager, right-click on the USB device, and select “Update driver”.
Choose “Browse my computer for driver software” and navigate to the downloaded driver file.
Install the new driver and try the USB device again.
Disable USB Selective Suspend
The USB Selective Suspend feature in Windows 7 can sometimes cause USB ports to stop working. To disable this feature:
Open the Control Panel and go to “Power Options”.
Click “Change plan settings” for the currently selected power plan.
Click “Change advanced power settings”.
Expand the “USB settings” option and set “USB selective suspend setting” to “Disabled” for both “On battery” and “Plugged in” settings.
Click “OK” to save the changes and try your USB device again.
Reset USB Root Hubs
If the above steps don’t work, you can try resetting the USB root hubs:
Open the Device Manager and expand the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” section.
Right-click on each USB Root Hub and select “Uninstall device”.
Restart your computer, and Windows will automatically reinstall the USB root hubs.
Try plugging in your USB device again.
Use the Windows Troubleshooter
Windows 7 has a built-in troubleshooter that can help identify and fix USB port issues:
Open the Control Panel and go to “Troubleshooting”.
Click “Hardware and Sound” and then select “Hardware and Devices”.
Follow the on-screen instructions to run the troubleshooter.
Apply any recommended fixes and restart your computer.
If none of these steps resolve the issue, there may be a more complex problem with your USB ports or hardware. In that case, you may need to contact the manufacturer for further assistance.