USB-C Device Not Fully Working in Windows? Try These Fixes

Common causes

• A PC that doesn’t support the device’s USB-C features, such as USB4, Thunderbolt or DisplayPort
• A cable that doesn’t support the device’s USB-C features
• The device plugged into the wrong USB-C port on your PC
• A connection through an external hub or dock
• Too many other Alternate Mode devices or dongles connected to your PC
• Not enough power from your PC, because of a low battery, other devices it’s powering or a device that needs more than the PC can provide
• An analog USB-C audio adapter your PC doesn’t support
• A problem reported by the device, or a problem with its driver

Step-by-Step Solutions

Work through these steps in order, and try the device again after each one.

1. 1

   Step 1: Connect the device directly to your PC

   Microsoft suggests connecting the device or dongle directly to your PC, not through a hub or dock.

   Unplug the device or dongle from any external hub or dock and connect it directly to your PC. A connection through an external hub or dock is one of the possible causes Microsoft lists for these notifications.

   For a USB4 device or dock, connect it directly to your PC or only to USB4 docks. A USB4 device or dock connected to a dock that doesn’t support USB4 is a possible cause of the “USB4 device functionality might be limited” notification.

2. 2

   Step 2: Use the USB-C port that supports the device

   The “Use different USB port” notification means the device might have limited functionality on the port it’s plugged into.

   Plug the device or dongle into the USB-C port on your PC that supports its features. For example, connect a Thunderbolt device to the USB-C port that supports Thunderbolt, and a DisplayPort Alternate Mode adapter to the USB-C port that supports DisplayPort Alternate Mode.

   Windows shows “Use different USB port” when you connect a USB4, Thunderbolt or DisplayPort device to a port that doesn’t support that feature, but your PC supports it on other USB ports.

3. 3

   Step 3: Check the cable

   The cable needs to support the same USB-C features as the connected device.

   Make sure the cable supports the same USB-C features as the connected device. Alternate Modes must be supported by your PC’s hardware and software and by the connected device or dongle, and you might also need a specific USB-C cable.

   For a USB4 device or dock, use the cable provided by the device or dock manufacturer or a certified USB4 cable.

4. 4

   Step 4: Make sure your PC supports the feature

   Several notifications ask you to make sure the device is supported by your PC.

   Make sure your PC supports the same USB-C features as the connected device. There’s no setting to turn on: your device automatically uses the appropriate mode if it’s supported.

   Windows shows these notifications when you connect a device that uses a USB-C feature your PC doesn’t support:

   • “USB4 device functionality might be limited” for a USB4 device on a PC that doesn’t support USB4
   • “Thunderbolt device functionality might be limited” for a Thunderbolt device on a PC that doesn’t support Thunderbolt
   • “Display connection might be limited” or “MHL device functionality might be limited” for a DisplayPort or MHL device on a PC that doesn’t support DisplayPort or MHL over USB-C
   • “USB device functionality might be limited” for a device that supports an alternate mode Windows doesn’t recognize

   Good to know

   As of Windows 11 24H2, Windows recognizes only Thunderbolt, DisplayPort and MHL alternate modes and USB4 mode.

5. 5

   Step 5: Check a display connection

   For the “Display connection might be limited” notification, your PC, the external display and the cable all need to support DisplayPort or MHL alternate modes.

   Make sure your PC, the external display and the cable all support DisplayPort or MHL alternate modes.

   Connect the adapter directly to your PC, on the USB-C port that supports DisplayPort Alternate Mode.

6. 6

   Step 6: Check for other Alternate Mode devices

   Too many other Alternate Mode devices or dongles connected to your PC is one of the possible causes Microsoft lists.

   If other Alternate Mode devices or dongles are connected to your PC, too many of them is a possible cause of the “USB device functionality might be limited” and “Thunderbolt device functionality might be limited” notifications. For the display notifications, a possible cause is too many other devices or dongles connected to your PC that use a USB-C connection.

7. 7

   Step 7: Give the device enough power

   The “USB device might need more power” notification means your PC might not provide enough power to the device.

   If the device can be powered externally, plug it into an external power source. Plug your PC into an external power source and don’t run it on battery power. Disconnect any unused USB devices that are connected to your PC.

   Your PC can temporarily limit the power it provides to the device when its battery is low or when it’s providing power to other devices. If the device needs more power than your PC can provide, or your PC can’t power it because the device isn’t supported, Microsoft suggests trying a different PC.

8. 8

   Step 8: Use a digital USB-C audio adapter

   The “Unsupported USB-C Audio Adapter” notification means your PC doesn’t support the audio adapter you connected.

   USB-C audio adapters are either analog or digital, and most PCs only support USB-C digital audio adapters. A digital adapter contains hardware that converts digital audio data from your PC to an analog signal your headphones or speakers can play.

   If you have a USB-C analog audio adapter connected to your PC, unplug it, then connect a USB-C digital audio adapter instead.

9. 9

   Step 9: Check the device in Device Manager

   If Windows says “USB device not recognized”, the device reported a problem or there’s a problem with its driver.

   On a Windows 11 PC, select Start, type device manager and select Device Manager from the list of results. Find the device, which should be marked with a yellow exclamation point symbol.

   Press and hold (or right-click) the device and select Properties. Note the error code shown under Device status, then follow the troubleshooting steps for that code in Microsoft’s article Error codes in Device Manager in Windows.

   Good to know

   This applies to all the error codes shown in Device Manager except Code 28, which means drivers for the device aren’t installed.

Frequently Asked Questions