Fix Power Surge error on windows – power surge on the USB port is Unknown USB Device needs more power than the port can supply. A USB device has malfunctioned and exceeded the power limits of its hub port. You should disconnect the device.
How to Fix a Power Surge in Windows 10/8/7
Initiation Troubleshooting
The first thing you should do is to perform the operations that correspond with the on-screen instructions.
- Disconnect all USB peripheral equipment from your Dell, Lenovo, etc. Then, click the Reset button on the computer screen.
- After reset, we recommend you reboot your operating system and reconnect the USB device to your computer to see if the power surge on the USB port error persists.
Disconnect Your Hardware
If Windows 10 detects a power surge on a USB port you’re using, Windows will automatically disable the port. In theory, this should stop the surge in power and prevent any further damage to your PC or the connected USB device, but this isn’t guaranteed.
If this happens, you should immediately disconnect the device by removing the USB cable from the affected port. It’s important to do this as soon as you see the message, as leaving the device connected could cause long-term damage. Unless the device is drawing a huge amount of power, however, you may escape damage.
Reinstall the USB Controller Drive in Device Manager
If you’re sure that the USB device is safe to use, and it doesn’t immediately cause a power surge issue when you reconnect it, you may need to consider reinstalling the USB controller drivers for your motherboard. A faulty USB controller driver could cause malfunctioning power surge reports like these to appear.
- To do this, right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager.
- In the Device Manager window, select the arrow next to the Universal Serial Bus Controllers category to view the available options. For each USB device listed, right-click and select Uninstall device to remove the installed drivers.
After removing the USB controller drivers, you can check Windows Update or your motherboard manufacturer for the latest up-to-date drivers and install them manually. Alternatively, restart your PC at this point—Windows Update will automatically search for (and install) any available drivers when you restart windows 10 Pc.
Fix Power Surge error on windows – Reinstall the USB Controller Driver
Reinstalling USB drivers can refresh the interface that the hardware uses to communicate with the Windows operating system. This way has been proved to be effective to fix the power surge on the USB port error.
To do so:
- Disconnect your USB device from your computer in Windows 10/8/7.
- Press Win + X and click Device Manager to go to the Device Manager interface.
- Click Universal Serial Bus controllers, right-click on each driver, and click Uninstall device.
- Restart your computer and let Windows reinstall the controller drivers.
- Plug your USB devices into the PC to see if your issue is resolved.
Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooting Tool
Windows 10 includes a built-in troubleshooter that can identify issues with your PC and recommend possible fixes. While it can’t fix damaged hardware, it can identify possible causes for a power surge message, such as missing drivers or a broken device.
The Hardware and Devices troubleshooting tool was originally available in the Windows Settings menu but is now hidden from view. To use it, you’ll need to use Windows PowerShell.
- To open a new PowerShell window, right-click the Start menu and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- Type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic and select Enter in the PowerShell window to run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter.
- In the Hardware and Devices window, select Next to begin checking your PC for hardware issues. This will take some time to complete.
- Windows will check your settings, USB ports, and any connected devices for possible problems.
- If the Hardware and Devices tool can fix any issues automatically, it will do so.
- Otherwise, it will provide a list of recommendations at the end of the scanning process, so look for any additional on-screen instructions.
Fix Power Surge error on windows – Use a Powered USB Hub
If you’re still having trouble with a “power surge on USB port” error message, you may need to consider investing in a powered USB hub. An external hub like this allows you to safely connect high-powered devices to your PC’s USB ports, but only if the hub is powered separately, protecting your USB ports from damage.
This is only true, however, if you choose a reputable manufacturer such as Dell, Anker, or TP-Link. If the hub is unbranded or comes from an unknown source, then it carries the same risk as other cheap USB devices. Connecting it to your USB ports may cause damage, especially if it causes a surge (resulting in the same problem).
If the hub is genuine, well made, and has a good-quality power supply, it should help to stop possible power surges caused by connected USB devices to your PC’s USB ports.
That doesn’t stop the possibility of other power surges (such as lightning strikes) from causing damage to your PC, however. You may need to consider adding a surge protector to your PC setup to protect against these additional risks.