How to Fix USB Keeps Disconnecting and Reconnecting on Windows 10/11?

Why Does the USB Keep Disconnecting and Reconnecting Randomly?

Before trying advanced fixes, identify the possible cause of the issue. The table below summarizes the most common reasons why a USB device keeps disconnecting and reconnecting.

How to Fix a USB Device Keeps Disconnecting and Reconnecting (Basic Checks)

If your USB device keeps disconnecting and reconnecting on Windows 10/11, start with these basic checks. They can help rule out common connection, cable, and power issues before moving on to advanced fixes.

• 💻 Restart your computer and inspect the USB port. A reboot can clear temporary system glitches, while removing visible dust helps ensure a stable physical connection. Do not insert metal objects or apply liquid directly to the port.
• 🔧 Check whether the USB port is working properly. Try another port and replace the cable with a known-good cable if possible. On a desktop, connect the device directly to a rear motherboard port instead of a front-panel port.
• 🧰 If you use a hub or docking station, bypass it and connect the device directly to the computer. If direct connection works, reduce the number of attached devices or use a powered hub.
• ⚙️ Connect the USB device to another computer. If it still disconnects, the USB device or cable may be damaged. If it works normally, continue with the Windows settings and driver fixes below.

Make sure to follow these basic checks first. If your USB device not showing up but makes sound, the problem may be related to device detection rather than the connection itself.

How to Fix USB Keeps Disconnecting and Reconnecting on Windows 10/11 (11 Advanced Solutions)

If the basic fixes didn't resolve the issue, try these solutions to troubleshoot Windows settings, drivers, and system-related problems that may cause USB devices to disconnect and reconnect repeatedly.

1 Update or Reinstall USB and Chipset Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers can disrupt communication between Windows and your USB device, causing frequent disconnections or errors like Windows not recognizing the USB device. Updating or reinstalling USB and chipset drivers can help restore a stable connection.

• Press Windows + X and choose "Device Manager".

  

• Scroll down and expand "Universal Serial Bus controllers".

• Identify your USB device:

  • Standard USB drives usually appear as "USB Mass Storage Device".
  • USB 3.0 devices appear as "USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller".

• Right-click the device and choose "Update driver", then select "Search automatically for drivers" to install any available updates.

  

• If updating doesn't resolve the issue, right-click the device again and select "Uninstall device".

  

• Restart your computer. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver during reboot.

• Reconnect your USB device to check if the connection is stable.

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☞ How to Update USB Drivers on Windows 10/11?

2 Configure Power Management Settings

If updating or reinstalling your USB drivers didn't fully resolve the issue, the next step is to configure your PC's power management settings.

Windows may automatically turn off USB devices to save power, which can cause them to disconnect and reconnect unexpectedly or trigger USB power surge errors. Adjusting these settings helps ensure your USB devices stay powered and maintain a stable connection.

• Press Windows + X and select "Device Manager" from the menu.

• Scroll down and expand "Universal Serial Bus controllers".

  

• Right-click on each "USB Root Hub" or similar USB device, then select "Properties".

• Go to the "Power Management" tab in the Properties window.

• Uncheck the box that says "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power".

  

• Save the changes. Restart your computer and reconnect your USB device to check if the issue is resolved.

3 Disable the USB Selective Suspend Settings

If the USB disconnecting problem persists after configuring your PC's power management settings, the next step is to disable USB Selective Suspend.

This feature allows Windows to temporarily turn off individual USB ports to save power, but it can sometimes cause random USB disconnections on Windows 10/11. Disabling it can help maintain a consistent connection for your USB devices.

• Press Windows + S and type "Control Panel", then select it from the search results.

• Go to "Hardware and Sound", then click "Power Options".

  

• Next to your active power plan, click "Change plan settings".

• Click "Change advanced power settings".

  

• In the Advanced settings window, expand "USB settings", then "USB selective suspend setting".

• Set it to "Disabled" for both "On battery" and "Plugged in" (if applicable).

  

• Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save the changes.

• Restart your computer and reconnect your USB device to test the connection.

4 Disable Fast Startup

If the issue continues after adjusting USB power settings and disabling USB Selective Suspend, Windows Fast Startup may be another possible cause.

Fast Startup is designed to speed up boot times, but it can prevent USB devices from initializing properly. Disabling it ensures that all USB hardware is fully initialized when your PC starts.

• Press Windows + S and type "Control Panel", then select it from the search results.

• Go to "Hardware and Sound", then click "Power Options".

• Click "Choose what the power buttons do" on the left sidebar.

  

• Click "Change settings that are currently unavailable" at the top of the window.

  

• Under "Shutdown settings", uncheck the box next to "Turn on fast startup (recommended)".

  

• Click "Save changes" and restart your computer.

• Reconnect your USB device and check whether the disconnecting issue is resolved.

5 Check for Windows System File Corruption

If USB disconnection issues continue after the previous fixes, corrupted or missing Windows system files may cause unstable hardware behavior, including repeated USB disconnects.

Running System File Checker (SFC) can detect and repair these issues. Here's how to run an SFC scan on Windows 10/11.

• Press Windows + S, type "cmd", and select "Run as administrator".

  

• Type the command sfc /scannow and press Enter.

  

• Wait while Windows scans and repairs corrupted system files. This process may take several minutes.

• Follow any on-screen instructions if Windows detects issues that require additional fixes.

• Once the scan completes, restart your computer and check whether the USB connection is stable.

6 Scan for Hardware Changes

If your USB device still disconnects after previous fixes, Windows may not fully detect hardware changes. Scanning for hardware changes in Device Manager forces Windows to refresh connected devices and can resolve hidden conflicts such as device descriptor request failed error.

• Press Windows + X and open "Device Manager".

• Click the "Action" tab at the top of the window.

• Select "Scan for hardware changes".

  

• Wait while Windows searches for new or reconnected devices.

• Check the "Universal Serial Bus controllers" section to see if your USB device is properly recognized.

• Reconnect your USB device and check whether the connection remains stable.

• Repeat the scan if necessary for other USB devices.

7 Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

If USB problems continue, you can try Windows' Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter on systems where it is still available.

This tool scans your computer for hardware conflicts, missing drivers, or configuration issues that may cause USB devices to disconnect. It can also apply recommended fixes automatically.

• Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.

• Type "msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic" and press Enter.

  

• In the "Hardware and Devices" window, click "Next" and allow Windows to scan for hardware configuration problems.

  

• Apply a recommended fix if one is available, then restart the computer.

• After the process is complete, restart your computer and reconnect your USB device to check the connection.

If this command is unavailable on your Windows build, open the "Get Help" app and search for "USB device troubleshooting", or continue with Device Manager and your PC manufacturer's diagnostic tools.

8 Check USB Connection, Hub, and Power Issues

If your USB device keeps disconnecting and reconnecting, the problem may come from an unstable connection, insufficient power, or a faulty USB hub or adapter.

• Disconnect the USB hub, dock, monitor port, or extension cable, and connect the device directly to your computer.

• On a desktop PC, try a rear USB port connected directly to the motherboard instead of a front-panel port.

• If you use a USB-C dock, connect its original power adapter and make sure the cable supports the required data speed and power delivery.

• Disconnect other high-power USB devices from the same hub, then reconnect the affected device.

• For an external hard drive with a separate power adapter, check that the adapter is securely connected and provides the required power.

Data Recovery Advice

If your USB drive keeps disconnecting and you cannot access important files, recover your data first with 4DDiG USB Recovery Software before trying more advanced fixes. It can recover lost, deleted, or unsaved files caused by unstable connections, formatting, system crashes, and more.

9 Check Windows Updates and Recent Changes

If USB disconnections started after a Windows, driver, or firmware update, check whether a newer update is available. If the issue began after a specific driver change, Windows may also allow you to roll back that driver.

• Press Windows + I and open "Windows Update".

• Select "Check for updates" and install available Windows updates or optional driver updates.

  

• Restart your computer and check whether the USB connection works normally.

• If the issue started after a driver update, press Windows + X, open "Device Manager", right-click the affected device, and select "Properties".

• Open the "Driver" tab and select "Roll Back Driver" if the option is available. Follow the prompts, restart Windows, and check the connection again.

  

10 Check and Repair USB Drive Errors With CHKDSK

If the affected device is a USB flash drive, external HDD, or external SSD, file system errors may cause unstable connections or access problems. CHKDSK can repair logical file system errors, but it cannot fix damaged cables, insufficient power, or physical drive failure.

If CHKDSK cannot fix the issue, see how to fix a USB stick for additional repair methods.

• Press Windows + E to open File Explorer and note the drive letter assigned to the USB storage device.

• Press Windows + S, type "cmd", and select "Run as administrator".

• Type chkdsk X: /f, replacing "X" with the correct USB drive letter, and press Enter.

  

• Wait for the check to finish without disconnecting the drive.

• Review the result, safely eject the USB drive, reconnect it, and check whether the connection remains stable.

11 Update BIOS or UEFI Firmware

If the USB issue continues after trying all other fixes, the problem may be related to your system firmware. BIOS or UEFI controls how your motherboard communicates with Windows and connected devices.

Updating BIOS or UEFI firmware may fix hardware compatibility issues that Windows settings or driver changes cannot resolve. However, an incorrect or interrupted firmware update can prevent your computer from starting, so use this method only after safer fixes have failed.

• Press Windows + R, type "msinfo32", and press Enter to check your current BIOS/UEFI version and motherboard model.

  

• Visit your motherboard or PC manufacturer's official website and open the support or downloads section.

• Read the release notes and download the latest BIOS/UEFI update for your exact motherboard model.

• Follow the manufacturer's instructions to update BIOS/UEFI using the recommended method.

• Restart your computer and enter BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing "Del" or "F2" during boot).

• Back up important files, connect the computer to a reliable power source, and suspend BitLocker protection if required by the manufacturer.

• Run the BIOS/UEFI update carefully according to the provided instructions. Do not turn off your PC during the process.

How to Recover Files from an Inaccessible USB Flash Drive?

When a USB device keeps disconnecting, files stored on it may become corrupted or inaccessible. Troubleshooting can help restore the connection, but it cannot recover files that have already been deleted or damaged. In this case, 4DDiG Data Recovery can scan USB devices with logical issues and help retrieve lost files when the drive can still be detected.

4DDiG can scan the affected drive, find lost, deleted, or corrupted files, and recover data from USB flash drives, SD cards, and internal or external hard drives... Here's how it works:

• Connect the unstable USB drive to your computer, then launch 4DDiG and select the USB device where you need to recover files.

  

• Wait for 4DDiG to scan the USB drive. After the scan completes, go to the "Type" tab in the left panel and filter the results by file type, such as photos, videos, documents, or other categories.

  

• Preview the scanned files to check whether the missing or inaccessible data can be recovered successfully. Then click "Recover".

  

• Save the recoverable files to a different location on your computer or another storage device. Avoid saving them back to the original USB drive to prevent overwriting the remaining data.

  

FAQs

How do I know if my USB cable or port is causing the problem?

Try a different USB port, replace the cable, and connect the device to another computer. If the device works normally elsewhere, the issue is likely related to your Windows settings, drivers, or hardware configuration.

Can a USB hub cause repeated disconnections?

Yes. An overloaded or unpowered USB hub may not provide enough power or bandwidth. Connect the device directly to your computer to check whether the hub is causing the problem.

Is it safe to disable USB selective suspend?

Yes. Disabling USB selective suspend is safe for troubleshooting, but it may slightly increase power consumption. You can re-enable it if it does not resolve the issue.

Can I recover files if a USB drive keeps disconnecting?

Yes, but stabilize the connection first. If the drive is still detected, use data recovery software like 4DDiG to scan and recover files. Avoid writing new data to the drive to prevent overwriting.

Should I update the BIOS to fix USB disconnections?

BIOS updates should be a last resort. Only update BIOS/UEFI if the manufacturer's release notes mention USB or hardware compatibility improvements, and use the firmware designed for your exact model.

Conclusion

Most USB disconnecting and reconnecting issues come from connection, power, driver, or system-related problems. Start with the simplest checks, then move to advanced fixes if the problem continues.

If your USB drive is detected but files are missing or inaccessible, 4DDiG can help scan and recover lost data. Always save recovered files to another location and avoid using a failing drive further.