How To Replace USB Port On Laptop : 8 Simple Steps

replacing usb port on laptop

Have you ever wondered how to replace a USB port on a laptop if it stopped working? Have you ever faced any problem using an USB port and wrongly replacing the USB port on laptop? Well, no more worries. Here is a quick and simple solution to all your problems.

The solution to all your problems regarding replacing the USB port on laptop is in one place, i.e. here. Keep reading the article to get all the useful information to quickly get your USB port back in operation. 

Is Your Laptop USB Port Not Working? Here Is How You Can Test It

It is very crucial to be sure that the USB port is damaged rather than the laptop to which you’re connecting. For this, you’ve to know how to troubleshoot and test the USB port to establish and locate the exact problem. 

Start the process by connecting the device to some other USB port. If it works, then the problem is in your first USB port. If the device is still undetected, then the problem is with your device and not with the USB port. 

If there is a problem connecting the device to your first USB port, you will notice either of the following things:

  • Either your device fails to get detected
  • Or your Operating System displays an error message on the screen relating to the device you’ve just connected. 

HACK: Try removing and plugging in the device again. Sometimes it works. 

Anyway, you should investigate and locate the problem in the USB port. Did it get damaged by you in any way? C’mon let’s find out this too!

The safest way to find out is to first shut down your laptop and look at its USB port. Is the USB port clean and dust free? 

There are high chances that dirt, dust and other small scrap materials can get incorporated inside the USB port, thus, blocking it. This can happen with any USB port of your devices such as laptops, computers, mobile phones, etc. 

But how do these dust particles affect the USB port of the laptop in any way? 

Well, dust embedded in the laptop’s USB port reduces airflow, thus causing your system to overheat. It is highly damaging for your laptops as overheating can reduce its performance and speed within seconds. 

You must be thinking now how to fix laptop USB port? It’s super easy! Just grab a gentle brush or a micro fiber cloth and clean the USB port. You can also clean the port by using a can of compressed air such as a vacuum cleaner.

Also Read: How many watts are required to charge a laptop?

8 Simple Steps To Start Replacing USB Port On Laptop

After you’ve ensured that the problem is with your laptop’s USB port, here is how to fix usb port on laptop.  There are numerous troubleshooting steps you can try to get your USB port back on track. For starters, try doing a Windows update. Most of the problems appear because your Windows a]isn’t updated and doing so, solves most of the issues. 

If the Windows update also didn’t fix the problem, you may have to update your device drivers. Here are the procedures for all the options available to fix your USB port. Try them one-by-one:

Step 1: 

Go to the Windows “Start” menu, click on “All Programs” and select “Windows Update.” Doing a Windows update may mend your drivers problem and fix your USB port issues most of the time.

Step 2:

Now connect the USB device into an either different USB port or into some other laptop to make sure that the problem is with the port and not with your pc. Check and ensure that the device has a “Write-Only” tab. Unlock the tab if it still isn’t working in a different port.

Step 3:

If the device starts working on another laptop/ computer, click on “Start” and choose “Computer”. Plug a device into the same USB port and wait to check if the USB port shows up in the list of all the drivers. 

Now, click on “Map Network Drive” if you don’t see the name in the list of all the drivers. Select a drive letter from the drop-down menu and double click the location of the  USB device. Select “OK” and try to use the USB port again. 

Step 4:

Click on the “Start”, select “Control Panel”, next choose “Hardware and Sound” and then choose “Device Manager” below the Devices and Printers section. Scroll down through the list of various options given below and next select the “delta symbol” to the left of the entry labeled “Universal Serial Bus Controllers”. Double click on the name of the USB port that you see in the new menu list. Next, select the “Drivers” tab and choose “Update Drivers” option from the menu given. 

Wait for the drivers to finish downloading and reattempt to use the port again. 

Step 5:

Now, when you’re done using the program, you can close the drivers tab and right-click on the name of the USB port of your device. Go to “Properties”. Select the “Power Management” option from the list and remove the check from the checkbox labeled as “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”. 

Now select the “Communications Port’” option and scroll down to find the box labeled as “Resources.” Click on the “Enable Device” option from the list and then, click on “OK.” Let’s give it another shot! Try to use the USB port again and check if it’s working properly or not. 

Step 6:

Did it work? No? Let’s try some other options. 

Close the “Properties” tab and right-click on the name of the USB port of your device. Click on “Uninstall” to remove the application from your device. Restart your laptop and plug a device via the same USB port. Wait for a new window to pop up and follow the given on-screen instructions to re-install the USB port software on your device. 

Step 7:

Now, again restart the laptop and press the “F1” key once the name of the manufacturer appears on the screen. Next, scroll down through the list of options given and highlight the option named as “Advanced”. Press “Enter” and then scroll down. Press “Enter” again on the “USB Support” option given on the screen. 

At last, press “F10” to save the changes and finish installing the operating system on your device.

Step 8:

Now if your laptop is running Windows XP, open your Web Browser. Scroll down through the Microsoft website and then, download and install the Windows XP USB 2.0 driver. Restart your laptop again and try to use the USB port of your laptop again. 

Related: Why is my computer so slow all of a Sudden?

How To Do An USB Port Replacement (Fix Broken USB Hardware)

We looked at how to fix the USB port internally, but what if the USB port is damaged externally? Or if it is loose? 

USB ports are usually soldered to a board inside your laptop. This board can be the motherboard or even a printed circuit board(PCB). With daily usage, the USB ports can become loose and movable and thus, sometimes get totally disconnected to the board. 

The USB port becomes loose mostly due to the connected USB devices. Although these times wifi stick, bluetooth, cables, or pen drives are unlikely to give any significant weightage to the USB port holder, older “stick” memory drives had a totally different story. The size and weightage of those stick memory drives and cables were so much that it acted as a sort of lever, thus contributing to making the USB port loose. 

However, replacing USB port on a laptop isn’t an easy job. You may find it a little easy to replace the USB port on your desktop computer if you find the replacement board. But how to do the  USB port repair of the laptop? It’s going to be challenging as you will need a soldering iron for replacing USB port on laptop. 

Watch the given video to take an idea of what you might need to go through if you wish to fix your laptop’s USB port. 

If you do not know how to solder, don’t try to do it. It is risky and could completely change what you aimed to do. It will be much better if you give your laptop to an expert for repair. It will cost you additional charges, but make sure to check out the software fixes first before attempting the hardware repair. 

Can Restarting a Laptop Fix Broken USB Ports?

Are you sure that you want to turn it off and back on again? Well, go ahead! You might be a little surprised, but yes, it works! 

Make sure you plug your undetectable USB device properly into the USB port and then restart your laptop. The USB device should get detected after the Operating System has rebooted. 

If not, try to take a look at the given list of connected devices in the Windows System Manager.

How to Check USB Ports in Windows 10/ 11 Device Manager

Step 1:

Start your process by right-clicking on the Start menu and then choosing the “Device Manager” option from the list popping up.

Step 2:

After clicking on the “Device Manager” option, you’ll be presented a list of devices grouped into different categories. Search for Universal Serial Bus controllers through the list. Since the list is arranged in an alphabetical order, you should find USB controllers towards the last of the list. 

Step 3:

Click on the USB Controllers and you’ll see an expanded list of all the devices. Check for the USB Host Controller.

Step 4:

Cannot find any USB Host Controller? This must be the reason why your device isn’t working. Here is how you can fix it: 

Click on the “Scan for hardware changes” option from the toolbar. This will initiate a scan and check feature on all the connected hardware and would mostly detect your device connected to the USB port of your laptop. 

Step 5:

It still didn’t work out? Try reinstalling the USB Host Controllers. Right click on each of the USB Host Controller devices and select “Uninstall” on each of them. After they have been uninstalled, reboot your laptop once again. 

Step 6:

After the Window restarts, the USB Host Controllers would be automatically reinstalled. The “refresh” option can help to fix the problems with the USB port. 

Do Check Out: How to use Password Instead Of Pin on Windows 11?

Conclusion

Finally, we hope your problem is fixed! As you can already see there are a lot of possible solutions available on how to replace the USB port of your laptop. Try all the possible solutions one by one and have patience. You will be able to fix it!

Remember if your USB port isn’t working, the following are the things you’ve to keep an eye on:

  • Do a physical check
  • Reboot your Windows
  • Check the device manager and uninstall the USB Host Controllers
  • Disable USB Selective Suspend power saving option

Other systems on your laptop are also equally vulnerable to malware, like USB ports. Look after your PC and take monthly service facilities. It will not only help to reduce the further potential problems but would also save a lot of your time and money! 

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *