1. Update USB 3.0 Drivers via Windows Update
If your USB 3.0 ports are not working, it’s possible that their associated drivers have become corrupted or are missing. Fortunately, updating your Windows system with the latest drivers might help reinstall them.
2. Install USB 3.0 Drivers Using Device Manager
3. Manually Install USB 3.0
Before you install the drivers manually, you should first find the serial number and the model number of your PC. This is written on a printed label attached to the base of your laptop or desktop. Once you have that information, head to your PC manufacturer’s website and find the drivers in the Drivers section. If you have a custom-built PC or couldn’t find the drivers on the PC manufacturer’s website, download them from your PC’s motherboard manufacturer.
4. Enable xHCI
Another reason your computer’s USB 3.0 ports have suddenly stopped working is that the xHCI controller could have been disabled and the EHCI controller switched on. For context, USB 3.0 uses the xHCI controller architecture. It was created to support all of the existing and future USB transfer speeds. You can turn the xHCI option back on via BIOS. If this didn’t help you or the option is grayed out, you should reinstall the BIOS to enable USB 3.0 again.
5. Reinstall BIOS
In some cases, issues related to USB 3.0 ports or any other ports could be connected to the motherboard. The issue can be resolved by updating your BIOS to the latest version. Before you do anything, you need to find information about the model of your motherboard and its manufacturer.
Installing BIOS
Image credit: Castorly Stock via Pexels. All screenshots by Abdul Moiz.
