USB Selective Suspend is a useful feature in Windows 11 that helps save power by suspending idle USB devices. However, sometimes this feature may stop working, causing issues like USB ports not powering down or devices not working correctly.
If you are experiencing problems with USB Selective Suspend, don’t worry. There are several simple steps you can follow to fix it and get your USB devices running smoothly again.
This guide will walk you through easy-to-understand instructions to troubleshoot and resolve USB Selective Suspend issues in Windows 11. You don’t need to be a tech expert to follow these steps.
Let’s get started and fix your USB power management problems step-by-step.
Quick Note: Before You Begin
- Make sure your Windows 11 is updated to the latest version. Updates often fix bugs related to USB and power management.
- Check that your USB devices and drivers are properly connected and installed.
- Have basic administrative rights on your computer, as some steps require changing system settings.
- Keep your device plugged into a stable power source to avoid interruptions during troubleshooting.
Step 1: Check Power Options Settings
The USB Selective Suspend setting is controlled through Windows power options. If it’s turned off here, the feature won’t work. Follow these steps to verify and enable it:
- Click on the Start button and select Settings.
- In Settings, go to System > Power & battery.
- Under the Related settings section, click on Additional power settings. This will open the Power Options window.
- Find your current power plan and click on Change plan settings next to it.
- Click on Change advanced power settings.
- In the new window, scroll down and expand USB settings, then expand USB selective suspend setting.
- Make sure both On battery and Plugged in are set to Enabled. If not, change them to Enabled.
- Click Apply and then OK to save changes.
Why this step is important: Enabling USB Selective Suspend here tells Windows it can put unused USB devices to sleep to save power, which is essential for the feature to work correctly.
Step 2: Update or Reinstall USB Drivers
Outdated or corrupted USB drivers can interfere with power management features. Updating or reinstalling them often fixes USB Selective Suspend problems.
- Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
- In Device Manager, scroll down and expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
- Right-click on each USB Root Hub or Generic USB Hub device and choose Update driver.
- Select Search automatically for drivers and let Windows find and install updates.
- If no updates are found, you can try uninstalling the device by right-clicking and choosing Uninstall device. After uninstalling, restart your computer. Windows will reinstall the drivers automatically.
Why this step is important: Drivers control how your hardware communicates with Windows. Keeping them updated ensures power management features like USB Selective Suspend work smoothly.
Step 3: Disable USB Selective Suspend Temporarily and Re-enable
Sometimes toggling the USB Selective Suspend setting off and on again can reset the system and resolve issues.
- Follow Step 1 to open the Advanced power settings window.
- Expand USB settings and then USB selective suspend setting.
- Set both On battery and Plugged in to Disabled and click Apply.
- Restart your computer.
- After restarting, go back and enable USB Selective Suspend by setting both options to Enabled.
- Click Apply and OK.
Why this step is important: This process can clear glitches in your power management settings and refresh USB device behavior.
Step 4: Modify Power Management Settings in Device Manager
Windows allows devices to be powered down to save energy, but sometimes these settings interfere with USB suspension. Adjusting them might help.
- Open Device Manager as described earlier.
- Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
- Right-click each USB Root Hub or Generic USB Hub and select Properties.
- Go to the Power Management tab.
- Uncheck the box that says Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
- Click OK to save.
- Repeat for all USB hubs listed.
- Restart your computer to apply changes.
Why this step is important: Disabling this option prevents Windows from turning off USB hubs unexpectedly, which can sometimes cause Selective Suspend to fail.
Alternative Method: Use Command Prompt to Reset USB Power Settings
If the above methods don’t work, resetting USB power configurations via Command Prompt can help.
- Press Win + S, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
- Type the following command and press Enter:
powercfg -restoredefaultschemes
This command resets all power plans to their default settings, which can fix misconfigurations affecting USB power management.
After running the command, restart your PC and check if USB Selective Suspend is working.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is USB Selective Suspend and why is it important?
USB Selective Suspend is a Windows feature that allows the system to turn off individual USB ports when they are not in use. This helps save battery life and reduce power consumption.
My USB devices keep disconnecting. Could this be related?
Yes, if USB Selective Suspend is not working properly, devices may disconnect unexpectedly or fail to wake up after suspension.
Can disabling USB Selective Suspend improve USB device performance?
Disabling it may prevent devices from entering low power mode, which can sometimes solve connectivity issues but may increase power usage.
Will these steps work for all USB devices?
Most USB devices should benefit from these fixes, but some hardware or third-party drivers may require manufacturer-specific solutions.
Do I need to worry about power consumption if I disable USB Selective Suspend?
Yes, disabling it means your USB devices will stay powered on constantly, which can reduce battery life on laptops.
When Nothing Works
If you have tried all the steps above and USB Selective Suspend is still not functioning, consider the following options:
- Check the official Microsoft support site for any recent patches or known issues related to USB power management in Windows 11.
- Contact your device manufacturer for updated drivers or firmware that might address USB power issues.
- Consider performing a system restore to a point where USB Selective Suspend was working correctly.
- If comfortable, reset Windows power plans completely or reinstall Windows as a last resort.
Links to official Microsoft resources and troubleshooting tools can often be found on the Microsoft support website or through Windows Update.
Conclusion
USB Selective Suspend is an important feature for managing power consumption on your Windows 11 device. When it stops working, it can cause USB devices to behave unpredictably or drain more power than necessary.
By following this simple, step-by-step guide—from checking power settings to updating drivers and adjusting device power management—you can usually fix USB Selective Suspend problems without hassle.
Remember to start with the easiest solutions and move to more advanced troubleshooting only if needed. With patience and the right approach, your USB devices should function properly and efficiently again in no time.