Are you tired of your USB devices disconnecting randomly or not working properly? The USB selective suspend setting might be the culprit. This feature, designed to conserve power, can sometimes cause more harm than good. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of USB selective suspend, exploring what it is, why you might want to change it, and most importantly, how to do it.
What is USB Selective Suspend?
USB selective suspend is a power management feature introduced in Windows Vista. Its primary purpose is to reduce power consumption by selectively suspending USB devices when they’re not in use. This feature is particularly useful for laptops and other mobile devices, where battery life is a concern. When a USB device is suspended, it’s essentially put into a low-power state, reducing the amount of power it consumes.
However, this feature can sometimes cause issues with certain USB devices, such as:
- Random disconnections
- Devices not working properly
- Interference with other devices
If you’re experiencing any of these issues, it might be worth changing the USB selective suspend setting.
Why Change the USB Selective Suspend Setting?
There are several reasons why you might want to change the USB selective suspend setting:
- Improve device performance: If you’re experiencing issues with a particular USB device, disabling selective suspend might improve its performance.
- Reduce disconnections: If your USB devices are disconnecting randomly, changing the selective suspend setting might help resolve the issue.
- Conserve power (differently): While selective suspend is designed to conserve power, you might find that disabling it and using other power management features is more effective for your specific needs.
How to Change the USB Selective Suspend Setting
Changing the USB selective suspend setting is a relatively straightforward process. Here are the steps:
Method 1: Using the Device Manager
- Open the Device Manager: You can do this by searching for “Device Manager” in the Start menu, or by pressing the Windows key + X and selecting Device Manager.
- Find the USB device: In the Device Manager, find the USB device you want to modify. You can do this by expanding the “Universal Serial Bus Controllers” section.
- Right-click the device: Right-click the USB device and select “Properties.”
- Go to the “Power Management” tab: In the Properties window, go to the “Power Management” tab.
- Uncheck the box: Uncheck the box next to “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.”
Method 2: Using the Registry Editor
- Open the Registry Editor: You can do this by searching for “regedit” in the Start menu, or by pressing the Windows key + R and typing “regedit.”
- Navigate to the USB settings: In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USB
- Find the device: Find the USB device you want to modify. You can do this by looking for the device’s VID (Vendor ID) and PID (Product ID).
- Create a new DWORD value: Create a new DWORD value called “SelectiveSuspend” and set it to 0.
Method 3: Using the Power Options
- Open the Power Options: You can do this by searching for “Power Options” in the Start menu, or by pressing the Windows key + X and selecting Power Options.
- Go to the “Change plan settings” section: In the Power Options window, go to the “Change plan settings” section.
- Click on “Change advanced power settings”: Click on “Change advanced power settings.”
- Find the USB settings: In the Advanced Power Settings window, find the USB settings.
- Set the “Selective suspend” setting: Set the “Selective suspend” setting to “Disabled.”
Conclusion
Changing the USB selective suspend setting can be a useful troubleshooting step if you’re experiencing issues with your USB devices. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can take control of your USB devices and improve their performance. Remember to always be cautious when modifying system settings, and make sure you understand the potential consequences of changing the USB selective suspend setting.
What is USB Selective Suspend and how does it work?
USB Selective Suspend is a power-saving feature in Windows that allows the operating system to suspend power to a USB device when it is not in use. This feature is designed to conserve battery life on laptops and reduce power consumption on desktops. When a USB device is suspended, it is essentially put into a low-power state, and it will not be able to communicate with the computer until it is resumed.
The USB Selective Suspend feature is enabled by default in Windows, and it can be configured to suspend power to specific USB devices or all USB devices. However, some users may experience issues with this feature, such as devices not working properly or not being recognized by the computer. In such cases, changing the USB Selective Suspend setting may be necessary to resolve the issue.
Why would I need to change the USB Selective Suspend setting?
You may need to change the USB Selective Suspend setting if you are experiencing issues with your USB devices, such as devices not working properly or not being recognized by the computer. This feature can sometimes cause problems with certain devices, especially those that require a constant power supply. By changing the setting, you can prevent the operating system from suspending power to specific devices or all devices, which may resolve the issue.
Additionally, you may want to change the setting if you are using a device that requires a constant power supply, such as an external hard drive or a USB printer. In such cases, suspending power to the device can cause it to malfunction or not work properly. By disabling the USB Selective Suspend feature, you can ensure that the device receives a constant power supply and works as expected.
How do I change the USB Selective Suspend setting in Windows?
To change the USB Selective Suspend setting in Windows, you need to access the Device Manager and locate the USB device you want to configure. Once you have located the device, you can right-click on it and select “Properties” to open the device properties window. In the properties window, you can click on the “Power Management” tab and uncheck the box next to “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.”
Alternatively, you can also change the setting through the Windows Registry Editor. To do this, you need to open the Registry Editor and navigate to the key that corresponds to the USB device you want to configure. Once you have located the key, you can modify the value of the “SelectiveSuspend” entry to disable or enable the feature.
What are the risks of changing the USB Selective Suspend setting?
Changing the USB Selective Suspend setting can have some risks, especially if you are not careful. Disabling the feature can cause your computer to consume more power, which can reduce battery life on laptops and increase power consumption on desktops. Additionally, disabling the feature can also cause some devices to malfunction or not work properly.
However, the risks can be mitigated by carefully configuring the setting for each device. For example, you can disable the feature for devices that require a constant power supply, while keeping it enabled for devices that do not require power all the time. By carefully configuring the setting, you can minimize the risks and ensure that your devices work properly.
Can I change the USB Selective Suspend setting for all USB devices at once?
Yes, you can change the USB Selective Suspend setting for all USB devices at once. To do this, you need to access the Device Manager and locate the “USB Root Hub” device. Once you have located the device, you can right-click on it and select “Properties” to open the device properties window. In the properties window, you can click on the “Power Management” tab and uncheck the box next to “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.”
By changing the setting for the “USB Root Hub” device, you can configure the setting for all USB devices connected to the computer. However, keep in mind that this will affect all USB devices, including those that may not require a constant power supply. Therefore, you should carefully consider the implications before making the change.
Will changing the USB Selective Suspend setting affect my computer’s performance?
Changing the USB Selective Suspend setting can have some impact on your computer’s performance, especially if you disable the feature for all USB devices. Disabling the feature can cause your computer to consume more power, which can reduce battery life on laptops and increase power consumption on desktops. Additionally, disabling the feature can also cause some devices to malfunction or not work properly.
However, the impact on performance can be minimized by carefully configuring the setting for each device. For example, you can disable the feature for devices that require a constant power supply, while keeping it enabled for devices that do not require power all the time. By carefully configuring the setting, you can minimize the impact on performance and ensure that your devices work properly.
Can I revert back to the default USB Selective Suspend setting if I encounter issues?
Yes, you can revert back to the default USB Selective Suspend setting if you encounter issues after changing the setting. To do this, you can simply re-enable the feature for the device or devices that you previously disabled. You can do this by accessing the Device Manager, locating the device, and checking the box next to “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” in the device properties window.
Alternatively, you can also restore the default setting through the Windows Registry Editor. To do this, you need to open the Registry Editor and navigate to the key that corresponds to the USB device you want to configure. Once you have located the key, you can modify the value of the “SelectiveSuspend” entry to its default value.