Fixing Power Surge on the USB Port in Win 10

Fixing Power Surge on the USB Port in Win 10.

This error usually appears when the maximum power of the USB port is exceeded in any way. This is unusual, but possible – for example, some devices (including USB hard drives) use a lot of power. If you are seeing a “power surge on USB port” error in Windows 10, here’s what you need to do to fix it.

What Causes a “Power Surge on USB Port” Error on Windows 10?

If Windows displays a “Power surge on USB port” error, you can usually assume that the power draw of any connected USB peripheral has exceeded the maximum power of the USB port being used.

For example, some USB hard drive enclosures come with a two-headed USB cable. The goal is to connect the drive to two separate USB ports, distributing power and data load across the two ports and giving the drive itself enough power to run.

Fixing Power Surge on the USB Port in Win 10

However, this is not an ideal scenario. A poorly designed enclosure (with poorly designed printed circuit boards) can result in an uneven distribution of power consumption across each port. The same message may appear when you connect any other type of cheaper, poorly manufactured USB devices to your PC.

If Windows detects that the USB port is drawing too much power, it will turn it off to protect your computer from damage. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that damage has not occurred after the USB power surge. You will need to investigate the problem and check the USB ports by following these steps.

Disconnect Your Hardware

If Windows 10 detects a power surge on the USB port you are using, Windows will automatically disable that port. In theory, this should stop the power surge and prevent further damage to your PC or connected USB device, but this is not guaranteed.

Fixing Power Surge on the USB Port in Win 10

In this case, immediately disconnect the device by unplugging the USB cable from the damaged port. It is important to do this as soon as you see the message, as leaving the device plugged in can cause permanent damage. However, if the device is not consuming a large amount of power, you can avoid damage.

Unfortunately, this is not the cause of the error, but it will allow you to resume working with your computer (if it is not damaged). Before reconnecting and using the device, you need to consider whether it is safe to use and whether it works properly.

Reinstall the USB Controller Drive in Device Manager

Never connect any device (USB or otherwise) to your computer unless you are sure whether it is safe to use it. It is important to consider the quality and expected power consumption of the USB devices you are using, as high wattage devices from cheap sources can (and most likely will) cause severe power surges.

If you are confident that the USB device is safe to use and does not immediately cause a power surge when reconnected, you may need to reinstall the USB controller drivers for your motherboard. A faulty USB controller driver can cause these surge reports to appear.

To do this, right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager.

Fixing Power Surge on the USB Port in Win 10

In the Device Manager window, click the arrow next to the Universal Serial Bus Controllers category to view the available options. For each USB device listed, right-click and select Remove Device to remove installed drivers.

Fixing Power Surge on the USB Port in Win 10

After uninstalling the USB controller drivers, you can check Windows Update or your motherboard manufacturer for the latest updated drivers and install them manually. Or restart your computer at this point – Windows Update will automatically find (and install) all available drivers upon restart.

Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooting Tool

Windows 10 includes a built-in troubleshooter that can diagnose problems with your computer and recommend possible fixes. While it cannot fix damaged hardware, it can identify possible causes of the power surge message, such as missing drivers or a faulty device.

The Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter was originally available in the Windows Settings menu, but is now hidden from view. You need Windows PowerShell to use it.

To open a new PowerShell window, right-click the Start menu and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).

Fixing Power Surge on the USB Port in Win 10

Type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic and press Enter in the PowerShell window to start the Hardware and Device troubleshooter.

Fixing Power Surge on the USB Port in Win 10

In the Hardware and Devices window, click Next to start scanning your PC for hardware problems. It will take some time.

Fixing Power Surge on the USB Port in Win 10

Windows will check your settings, USB ports, and any connected devices for possible problems. If the Hardware and Devices tool can fix any problems automatically, it will. Otherwise, a list of recommendations will be provided at the end of the scanning process, so look for any additional on-screen instructions.

Use a Powered USB Hub

If you are still having problems with the “Power surge on USB port” error message, you might want to consider purchasing a powered USB hub. This external hub allows you to safely connect powerful devices to your PC’s USB ports, but only if the hub is powered separately to protect the USB ports from damage.

However, this is only true if you choose a reputable manufacturer such as Dell, Anker or TP-Link. If a hub is unbranded or comes from an unknown source, it carries the same risk as other cheap USB devices. Plugging it into USB ports can cause damage, especially if it causes a power surge (which leads to the same issue).

Fixing Power Surge on the USB Port in Win 10

If the hub is genuine, well-made, and equipped with a quality power supply, it should help prevent potential power surges caused by plugging USB devices into your computer’s USB ports. If the ports and USB devices have not been damaged previously, this should stop the USB port power surge message and allow you to resume using it.

However, this does not rule out the possibility of other power surges (such as lightning strikes) causing damage to your computer. You may need to consider adding a surge protector to your PC setup to protect against these additional risks.

Protecting Your PC Against Hardware Damage

If you’re lucky, a defective USB device won’t damage your USB ports on the first power surge, but that doesn’t mean it won’t damage in the long run. To protect your computer and devices from damage, you need a powered USB hub to ensure that the hardware you are using has enough power to operate.

If you are still seeing a “power surge on USB port” error with a hub, you need to take a close look at your hardware. For example, if no USB storage device is detected, it might be due to insufficient power or the USB ports are not working. If you still have problems, it might be time to replace your computer or hardware with newer components.

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