USB ports not working? Here's how to quickly identify the problem and fix it as fast as possible.
Have your PC or laptop USB ports stopped working? To fix this, you need to diagnose the root of the problem. Here's everything you need to know to quickly get your USB ports working again on any PC or laptop.
Think Your USB Port Is Not Working? Test It!
Before proceeding, be sure that it is the port that is faulty, rather than the device you're connecting.

To establish which is the problem, you'll need to know how to troubleshoot the USB port. This means knowing how to test the USB port.

Start by connecting the device to another USB port. If it works, then the problem is the first port; if the device remains undetected, you have a faulty device. (Note that if you can't reformat the USB drive, it will need replacing.)
If there's a problem with your USB port, you'll notice it thanks to either of these things:

The connected device fails to be detected
Your operating system displays an error message relating to the device (removing and replacing the device might solve this)

How to Fix a Broken USB Port on PC and Laptop
We'll look at some software fixes in a moment, but first, what if the USB port is loose?

USB ports are soldered to a board within your computer. This may be the motherboard but is typically a secondary printed circuit board (PCB). With regular use, ports can become movable, at times completely unattached.

The Causes for Your Dead or Broken USB Port
Let us consider the reasons why a USB port might stop working, so that we have an idea on how to proceed with the diagnosis, identify the reason, then apply the corresponding fix.