USB Port has stopped recognizing my Samsung 23+

I have the same problem on win11. It worked for years, until a few days ago.

My phone still connects fine with my old windows7 PC.

I am 100% certain that this issue is caused by a recent windows update.

The problem is not at our end. This is Microsoft's fault, there is a bug in their code.

I agree this is caused by a bug in Microsoft's code. The first error in the code limited the USB ports causing them to not recognize many devices depending on manufacturer and/or age. Resulting in the USB port making brand new mice worthless and a purchase of replacement Microsoft mice that worked in the same USB port the same day without a restart or another upgrade or un/reinstall.

The second error in Microsoft code occurred around the end of October 15-31 upgrades. I'm an early-adopter for updates controlled by enterprise network admins. That's all the info I can give. Now, all USB ports are dead, period. All USB ports do not recognize any device--mouse, keyboard, monitor, headset--wired or wireless. A docking station or other device must be used to connect to a different port type to use a wired or wireless USB device.

Dear Jerseyguy,

Thanks for your quick reply, sorry for the late reply. I understand that you can recognize the phone normally when using the rear port. The situation that the front USB port cannot recognize the phone but the rear port can recognize it normally may be due to hardware failure, connection cable or poor contact of the front USB port.

The front port is usually connected to the motherboard through the connection cable inside the chassis, while the rear port is directly integrated on the motherboard, so the former is more prone to poor contact, cable damage and other problems. This also illustrates the difference in hardware structure between the front and rear ports and potential physical wear and tear problems.

So, you can try other ports to see if the same problem occurs, otherwise consider using the rear port or try to repair it. I hope the above information can help you. Looking forward to your good news.

Best Wishes

Pyke.D | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

I have tried all the steps you outlined but it still is not recognizing it. I did try the rear USB and that does work. Not sure what to do next.

Dear Jerseyguy,

Hello! Welcome to the Microsoft Community. I'm glad to be able to assist you. If I misunderstand your question, please let me know promptly.

Hello! Regarding your issue, the USB port cannot recognize your Samsung Galaxy S23+ phone. You can try the following solutions:

1. Check the USB cable and port

Replace the USB cable: Make sure you are using an original or high-quality USB data cable. Some charging cables may not support data transfer.

Try a different USB port: Connect to another USB port (for example, behind the case) to confirm whether it is only the front USB port that has the problem.

2. Check the phone settings

Make sure the phone has selected the correct USB connection mode when connecting to the computer.

After connecting the phone, unlock the phone and pull down the notification bar to select USB settings.

Select "File transfer (MTP)" or "Media transfer".

3. Update or reinstall the driver

• Update the USB driver, which may also be called "Universal Serial Bus Controller",go to the driver download website provided by your notebook manufacturer (Samsung), find the driver corresponding to your computer model and download and install it. If possible, we recommend that you use DDU uninstall tool to completely uninstall the old driver first, and then install the latest driver.
• Device Manager: Right-click the Start menu and select "Device Manager".

Find the USB device under "Universal Serial Bus controllers", right-click the appropriate device (e.g. "USB Root Hub") and select "Uninstall device".

After uninstalling, restart your computer and Windows should automatically reinstall the driver.

4. Power Management:

In Device Manager, double-click "USB Root Hub", select the "Power Management" tab, and make sure "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" is unchecked.

5. Check for Windows Updates

Make sure your system has all the latest Windows updates installed, including security updates and driver updates. You can check for updates in Settings.

6. Antivirus and Firewalls

Sometimes firewalls or antivirus software may prevent USB devices from connecting properly. Temporarily disable these software to see if this solves the problem.

Disclaimer: Temporarily turn off antivirus protection. However, keep in mind that if you do so, your device may be vulnerable to threats. So please turn it on immediately once issue fixed. 

7. Test with other devices

Try to connect another device (such as another mobile phone or USB storage device) to the same USB port to confirm that the port is working properly.

I hope the above information is helpful, if you have any questions, please feel free to let me know.

Best Wishes

Pyke.D | Microsoft Community Support Specialist