Some users may face a problem where their computer shuts down or restarts whenever they plug in a USB device. There could be many reasons that may cause it – like USB ports touching each other, issues with the motherboard, issues with drivers, a fault with the basic hardware, and so on. While it is tough to conclude on the exact cause, we can troubleshoot the issue step by step, isolating each possibility at every level. In case the issue is with the internal hardware, we might have to send the system to a hardware technician.
PC turns off when USB is plugged in to Windows 11/10
Here are the possible solutions that may help you on your Windows 11/10 PC:
- Update the USB Drivers
- Check the external devices connected to the USB slots
- Run Troubleshooters
- Disable the USB ports
- Change the power supply unit
- Check the USB connectors.
1] Update the USB Drivers
Uninstall the Universal Serial Bus (USB) drivers and then re-install the same and check.
- Press Win + R to open the Run window.
- Type “devmgmt.msc” and press Enter. This will open the Device Manager.
- Search for the USB drivers. Right-click on them one by one and click on Uninstall to remove all of them.
- Keeping the computer connected to the internet, preferably through a LAN cable, restart the system.
- While restarting, the computer will try to reinstall all the drivers that were deleted earlier.
Check if it fixes the issue. If not, then proceed to step 2.
2] Check the external devices connected to the USB slots
Certain devices, like a few hard drives, have a high power requirement. If your PC is unable to handle it, it might crash. To isolate this possibility, try connecting the external USB devices to other computers of equal or less configuration. Check if it works with them. If not, then the external devices are faulty.
3] Run Troubleshooters
Run the Hardware Troubleshooter and the USB Troubleshooter and see if that helps.
4] Disable the USB ports
Obviously, this isn’t a good solution. But if work is more important than connecting the USB devices, it could be considered. If the steps mentioned above failed, it probably means that the issue is with the hardware. Thus, you could disable the USB till to send your system to a hardware technician. The procedure is as follows.
- Press Win + R and open the Run window. Type “devmgmt.msc” and press Enter to open the device manager.
- Right-click on the USB drivers and click on the option to “Disable device.”
Restart the system and use your system till it is sent for hardware-level repair.
5] Change the power supply unit
Those who are a little familiar with the hardware can try this solution themselves.
- Change the power adapter if it is a laptop and check if it helps.
- Change the power supply unit of the system.
The power supply unit could be faulty if the computer is a refurbished or second-hand.
6] Check the USB connectors
Those who can troubleshoot hardware (at least at a basic level), can try checking if the USB ports are tightly connected to the motherboard using the connectors. Other than this, check if their metallic contacts are touching each other. That could be a reason for the power shutdown.
Why does my computer crash when I plug in a USB?
Your Windows computer may crash when plugging in a USB if there is dust or rust accumulated in ports, or if the drivers are outdated or disabled. Check your USB for malware, physically clean the ports and ensure that the device drivers are updated.
Read: Windows computer shuts down when playing or watching videos.
Why does my computer restart when I plug in a USB?
Your computer may restart when you plug in a USB due to a power-hungry device overloading a specific port. This can happen if the USB demands more power than the port can supply, especially when multiple devices are connected simultaneously. Try using a powered USB hub or connecting the device to a different port – and see if it helps.
