If a USB device on your Dell laptop is not working, then remember that there is built-in support in the chipset driver and Windows.
If your Dell laptop doesn’t recognize a USB device, then try checking if it has a power supply issue. Laptop USB ports don’t work properly if there’s insufficient power. Try a different USB port and if that doesn’t work, it may be a power problem. You can fix this in the power management settings.
Unplug the power cable and boot up your laptop. Connect your USB device to the laptop and then plug in the power cable.
Should this not work, you may have to change the power management settings.
Your Dell laptop may switch off the USB controllers when they’re not in use. This is a great power-saving feature that extends the battery life.
But Windows can sometimes fail to switch the ports back on. This results in your USB ports not working when you need them.
You can fix this as follows:
- Press the Windows Key +R to enter the run dialog box.
- Type in “devmgmt.msc” and click OK.
- You must expand the Universal Serial Bus Controllers category.
- Double-click the USB Root Hub entry and in the Power Management tab deselect the box next to “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”.
- Save your changes by clicking “OK”.
- Do this for each USB Root Hub.
Reboot your laptop and check that the USB ports are working.
If they are still not working, then you may have to update the USB drivers. You can download the new drivers from the Dell website and then use the Device Manager to upload them.
Dell Laptop USB Ports Not Working
Your laptop USB ports may not work due to a software problem or corrupted drivers. Often, a Windows update will cause USB ports to play up.
If your Dell laptop’s USB ports are not working, then try rebooting your laptop. Often, a reboot will fix the problem. To check if the ports are receiving power, plug your cell phone into the USB port and see if it charges. If it does not charge, then you need to access the Device Manager to check it.
The cause of the problem may be a corrupted device driver. To uninstall the driver, you need to go to the device manager as follows:
- Right-click “This PC” and select Properties.
- Scroll down and select the Device Manager.
- Scroll down to the Serial Bus Controllers and expand the list.
- Right-click on all the devices and uninstall the device on each one.
- Restart your computer and Windows will reinstall the device drivers.
If this doesn’t fix the problem, it may be the result of a Windows update. Microsoft will often release a patch or fix very quickly. Update your Windows installation and the problem may be taken care of without you having to take any further action.
Dell Laptop USB Device Not Recognized
You generally don’t expect any problems with your USB ports. If your USB device is not recognized, then there are a few things that you can do to resolve the issue without it becoming a big problem.
If your USB device is not recognized, try restarting the laptop. It is sometimes all that is required to fix the problem. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, clean out the ports. Debris becomes stuck inside the port, rendering it unusable. Use a toothpick or compressed air to clean the port.
As USBs are constantly being used, they can sustain damage or their connections to the motherboard can break. If you feel excessive play in the USB when plugging a device into it, then it may have broken free of its mount.
You will then have to re-solder the USB to the motherboard or replace the USB.
You may need to update Windows, as the updates can resolve issues or patch known errors in previous versions.
You may have to access the control panel and remove the USB device drivers. You can switch off the laptop and then reboot it. When it reboots, Windows will reinstall the drivers, which usually fixes the issue.
Dell Laptop USB Headset Not Working
USB headsets are a popular option for laptop users. However, if they stop working it can be difficult to track down the problem.
If your Dell laptop USB headset is not working, you should unplug the headset and do a full reboot of your laptop. If it still doesn’t work then you most probably need to update the drivers. To update the drivers, access the Device Manager and uninstall all the USB devices, then reboot the laptop.
Windows will automatically reinstall the drivers for your USB devices, which usually solves the problem.
If you have installed audio management software, then check that the settings are correct. If in doubt, uninstall the software and try your headphones without it.
The Windows troubleshooter can detect hardware device problems and fix them with minimal additional input from the user.
To access the troubleshooter, follow these steps:
- Press the Windows Key +S.
- Type “Control Panel” in the search box, and hit Enter.
- Click Troubleshooting and select Hardware and Sound.
- Select Hardware and Devices and click Next.
- The troubleshooter will detect any problems and you just have to follow the on-screen instructions to solve the problem.
If the headset still doesn’t work, then you can switch the default audio device to the USB Headset.
To select your headset as the default audio device, click the speaker/headphones icon on the taskbar. Open the sound settings and right-click related settings.
From the settings window, select the USB headset and then select the set default button and click OK.
Once your changes have been saved, test your headset to see if it has resolved the problem.
Dell Laptop USB Keyboard Not Working
The Dell keyboard is a plug-and-play device that doesn’t usually require any special setup procedures.
If the Dell laptop USB keyboard is not working, then turn off your computer and plug the keyboard into a USB port. Turn the laptop on and wait for the operating system to register the keyboard. You may be prompted to install drivers for the keyboard. Updated drivers are available on the Dell website.
The Dell Driver and Downloads page has all the drivers you may need to get your keyboard working.
If the problems persist, try updating Windows. Often, a problem with USB devices is resolved by the latest Windows updates that fix pre-existing issues or patch the previous update that may have caused a problem.
Dell Laptop USB Mouse Not Working
Sometimes, the simplest explanation for a problem is the last thing that you try.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on May 2, 2022.
If your Dell USB mouse doesn’t work, then try it in another USB port. Often, debris is caught in the USB, which prevents a connection from being made. Use a toothpick or compressed air to gently remove any potential problems. Try the mouse on another laptop to see if it works.
While Dell laptops generally don’t require a device driver installation for your mouse, you may have to remove the device drivers and allow Windows to reinstall them if the mouse refuses to work.
If you are making use of a hub, then check that the cables are all properly connected as they can work loose over time.
Check that there is a red light underneath your mouse. If the red light fails to come on, then it means there is no power reaching your mouse. If the USB ports are clear and there is no play in the ports, then you may need to delete the device drivers and allow Windows to reinstall them.
Once the drivers are installed, check that the USB ports have power by either connecting a cell phone to see if it will charge or by connecting the mouse to see if the red light appears underneath.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on May 2, 2022.
Dell Laptop USB Microphone Not Working
It is common for problems to occur with Dell laptop external USB microphones when Windows updates are loaded or Realtek Audio drivers are updated.
To resolve issues with Dell laptop USB microphones not working, select the Dell audio icon in the notification area at the bottom of your screen. Click the Advanced Option and then Jack Information. Check the “Enable Popup Dialog” check box. Plug the microphone in and follow the dialog instructions.
The pop-up dialog box gives you the option to select which device you wish to use when you plug in your microphone.
Once you have selected the option you want, you can uncheck the box so that the dialog box doesn’t pop up every time you insert your microphone or external headset.
Dell Laptop USB Flash Drive Not Working/Reading
Making use of a flash drive is an efficient way to exchange files or view presentations. But it can get frustrating if your laptop doesn’t recognize the flash drive.
If a USB flash drive is not working on your Dell laptop USB port, then try a different port. A dialog box may pop up, in which case you can select the flash drive from there. If it doesn’t appear, then uninstall the USB devices and reboot the laptop. Check that debris isn’t blocking the USB port.
Related Articles
Dell Laptop Power Button Not Working
Dell Laptop Speakers Not Working
ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on May 2, 2022.