A USB port that won’t work is a common problem that people often misdiagnose — frequently it isn’t the port at all, but something else. Here’s the order in which you should check.
1. Try a different USB device in the same port
The easiest check. If a mouse won’t work in the port, plug in a flash drive. If the flash drive works, the problem is the mouse, not the port. It sounds trivial, but 30% of reports end right here.
2. Try the same device in a different port
If another port works, the problem is one specific port (a local fault). If it doesn’t work in any of them, it’s a global problem (driver, chipset, or power).
3. Try a Device Manager reset
Open Device Manager (Win+X → Device Manager) → “Universal Serial Bus controllers”. Right-click each “USB Root Hub” → Uninstall device. Restart the computer — Windows will reinstall the drivers on its own. This often fixes a software problem.
4. Power Management
Windows can shut down USB ports to save power:
- Device Manager → USB Root Hub → Properties → Power Management
- Uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device…”
This is an especially common problem on laptops — the port works when plugged in, but not on battery.
5. Physical failure (the hardest)
If none of the above works:
- Laptop: the port is broken internally (often from rough handling of cables). Replacement = soldering, 4.500-7.000 RSD.
- Desktop: the 4-pin USB header on the motherboard may be oxidized or broken. This is often solved by using a different header on the motherboard.
- Front-panel USB (the USB on the front of the case) — the case cable inside often comes loose. Open it up and push it back in.
USB-C special cases
USB-C ports on laptops (Macbook, ThinkPad X, Dell XPS) are expensive to replace — 8.000-15.000 RSD, because the entire board gets swapped. If USB-C won’t charge, it may not be the port but the cable or adapter. Try the original.
What we do
- USB port diagnostics: free
- Driver reinstallation: 2.000 RSD (includes all drivers)
- Laptop USB port soldering: 4.500 RSD (depends on the model)
- Front-panel USB connector replacement: 1.500 RSD
If this all sounds complicated — we’ll send a courier, diagnostics are free, and you only pay if we fix it.
When USB isn’t about the port: if several ports suddenly stop working at once, it’s often the controller on the motherboard — and on laptops we handle that as part of our laptop repair service.