USB power settings windows 10

Managing USB power settings in Windows 10 is essential for controlling how the operating system interacts with USB devices. These settings determine how much power is allocated to USB ports and how Windows handles USB devices during different power states, such as sleep or hibernate. This can directly affect the performance of devices like keyboards, mice, external storage devices, and more. Proper management of USB power settings can help improve system performance, extend battery life in laptops, and solve issues related to USB device disconnection or malfunction.

USB Power Management

USB power management in Windows 10 involves a combination of settings that control power to USB devices and ports. These include:

USB Selective Suspend – This is a feature that allows the operating system to put idle USB devices into a low-power state. While this helps conserve power, it can sometimes cause issues with devices disconnecting or not waking up properly when needed.

Power Saving Options in Device Manager – Each USB device connected to the computer has its own power settings. These can be adjusted individually for specific devices to allow or prevent the computer from turning them off to save power.

Power Plans – The power plan chosen in Windows 10 can influence USB power settings. For example, the “Power Saver” plan may turn off USB ports to save energy, while the “High Performance” plan keeps them active.

BIOS/UEFI Settings – Some USB power management settings are controlled through the computer’s BIOS or UEFI firmware. This allows you to change how the system manages USB power during shutdown or sleep modes.

Accessing and Configuring USB Power Settings

There are several ways to access and adjust USB power settings in Windows 10:

1. Device Manager

Device Manager provides access to individual USB device settings, allowing you to fine-tune how Windows handles their power.

Steps to adjust USB power settings via Device Manager:

Press Windows + X and select Device Manager from the menu.

In the Device Manager window, expand Universal Serial Bus controllers to see a list of all USB controllers and devices.

Right-click on a USB Root Hub (or any other USB device) and select Properties.

Go to the Power Management tab.

Uncheck the option Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power to prevent the system from powering down the USB device.

Click OK to apply the changes.

This setting is particularly useful if you are facing issues with USB devices disconnecting or not working properly after the system wakes from sleep.

2. USB Selective Suspend

USB Selective Suspend is a feature that allows Windows to turn off individual USB ports that are not in use, helping to conserve energy. However, in some cases, this feature can cause devices to stop functioning correctly.

To enable or disable USB Selective Suspend:

Press Windows + S and type Edit power plan, then press Enter.

In the Power Options window, click Change advanced power settings.

In the new window, expand USB settings, then expand USB selective suspend setting.

You will see two options: On battery and Plugged in.

To disable USB Selective Suspend, set both to Disabled.

To enable it, set them to Enabled.

Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

Disabling USB Selective Suspend may prevent devices from disconnecting unexpectedly, especially external hard drives or peripherals.

3. Power Plans

Power plans in Windows 10 determine how the system manages power usage, which includes settings for USB devices. You can create or modify a power plan to better suit your USB power needs.

Steps to modify power plans:

Press Windows + X and select Power Options.

Click Additional power settings on the right side of the window.

Select Change plan settings next to the current power plan.

Click Change advanced power settings.

In the Power Options window, expand USB settings and then USB selective suspend setting.

Modify the settings as needed to either enable or disable the selective suspend feature.

Choosing the High Performance power plan can help ensure USB devices remain powered during idle times, but it can consume more energy.

4. BIOS/UEFI Settings

Some computers allow USB power management through the BIOS or UEFI firmware. This can be useful for managing how USB devices behave when the system is turned off or in sleep mode.

Accessing BIOS/UEFI:

Restart your computer and press the key (usually F2. F10. Delete, or Esc) to enter the BIOS/UEFI settings during boot.

Look for settings related to USB configuration, such as USB Wake Support, USB Power during Sleep, or USB Charging.

Adjust the settings to fit your needs. For example, enabling USB Wake Support allows you to wake the computer from sleep using a USB device like a keyboard or mouse.

Common USB Power Management Issues

1. USB Devices Disconnecting Randomly

One of the most common issues related to USB power settings in Windows 10 is USB devices disconnecting unexpectedly. This often happens because Windows puts the USB ports into a low-power state to save energy.

Solution:

Disable the USB Selective Suspend feature.

Adjust the power management settings for individual USB devices in Device Manager.

2. External Hard Drives Not Recognized After Sleep Mode

External hard drives, particularly those without external power supplies, may not be recognized by the system after waking from sleep mode. This issue is often related to USB power settings.

Solution:

Disable the Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power option in Device Manager for the USB Root Hub or the external hard drive.

Disable USB Selective Suspend in the power options.

3. USB Ports Not Working After Shutdown

Some users report that USB ports stop working after the computer is shut down. This is often related to power management settings in the BIOS/UEFI.

Solution:

Enable the option in the BIOS/UEFI that controls USB power during shutdown, such as USB Charging or USB Power during Sleep.

Optimizing USB Power Settings for Performance

Optimizing USB power settings can be particularly important for those using external peripherals like gaming keyboards, mice, or audio interfaces. In these cases, maintaining a constant power supply to USB devices is critical for performance and stability.

Tips for optimization:

Use the High Performance Power Plan: This plan prioritizes performance over power saving and keeps USB ports active at all times.

Disable USB Selective Suspend: For users with performance-critical USB devices, disabling selective suspend ensures these devices are always powered and ready to use.

Adjust Device-Specific Settings in Device Manager: For important peripherals, disable power-saving features at the individual device level to prevent issues.

Balancing Power Efficiency and USB Performance

While it’s tempting to disable all power-saving features for better performance, balancing power efficiency is important, especially for laptops. Here are some ways to strike a balance between power savings and maintaining reliable USB device functionality:

Enable USB Selective Suspend on Battery: Keep the feature enabled when your device is running on battery, but disable it when plugged in.

Custom Power Plan: Create a custom power plan that tweaks USB power settings to provide the best balance of power saving and performance based on your specific usage.

Hibernate Instead of Sleep: Hibernate mode fully powers down USB devices, unlike Sleep mode, which may leave them in a suspended state, reducing the likelihood of power-related issues while conserving energy.