You’re working with a USB drive, webcam, or audio interface—then suddenly it disconnects for no reason. Maybe it reconnects immediately, maybe not. Either way, it’s disruptive.
This issue is especially common on laptops or custom desktop builds, but it’s often software-related, not a hardware failure.
Common Symptoms
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“USB device not recognized” messages
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Devices disconnect and reconnect with the USB chime
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Audio crackling with USB headsets
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File transfers to USB drives failing partway through
Step 1: Turn Off USB Selective Suspend
Windows tries to save power by putting idle USB ports to sleep. This is often the cause.
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Open Control Panel → Power Options
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Click Change plan settings → Change advanced power settings
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Expand USB settings → USB selective suspend setting
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Set both options to Disabled
Step 2: Disable Power Saving for Each USB Hub
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Open Device Manager (
devmgmt.msc) -
Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers
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For each USB Root Hub or Generic USB Hub, right-click → Properties → Power Management
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Uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”
Step 3: Update or Roll Back USB Drivers
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Right-click the controller → Update driver
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Or download the latest USB/chipset drivers from your motherboard/laptop manufacturer
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Some systems perform better on older drivers, especially with external audio gear
Step 4: Check for IRQ Conflicts (Advanced)
Use Device Manager → View → Resources by connection
Look for multiple devices sharing the same IRQ (Interrupt Request) number.
If your USB controller shares it with another high-demand device, stability may suffer. Consider reassigning ports or disabling unused hardware.
Step 5: Use Powered USB Hubs
For high-draw devices (e.g. external SSDs, cameras, capture cards), a powered USB hub can prevent instability due to insufficient voltage.
Real Fix Example
A video podcaster using a USB audio interface experienced frequent disconnects mid-recording. Disabling USB selective suspend and switching to a powered hub resolved the issue permanently.
If your USB devices randomly drop out, the fix may be as simple as telling Windows to stop trying to “save power.”