How to Fix “The Device Has Either Stopped Responding or Has Been Disconnected” Error on Windows 11

The error “The device has either stopped responding or has been disconnected” usually appears when Windows suddenly loses communication with a connected device. It commonly shows up while copying files, transferring photos, using external drives, phones, cameras, printers, USB devices, or even during app operations that rely on removable hardware.

If you’re seeing this error on Windows 11, the issue is typically caused by USB power management, unstable connections, driver problems, or device-side timeouts—not permanent hardware failure. This guide walks you through all reliable fixes, step by step.

Why This Error Happens on Windows 11

Windows shows this error when a connected device becomes temporarily unavailable. Common reasons include:

• Loose or faulty USB cable or port
• USB power saving suspending the device
• Outdated or corrupted USB / device drivers
• Device going into sleep or lock mode (phones, cameras)
• File Explorer or USB controller glitches
• Power plan issues after Windows updates
• External drives not getting enough power

Fix “The Device Has Either Stopped Responding or Has Been Disconnected” on Windows 11

Follow the steps below in order. After each step, reconnect the device and test again.

1. Disconnect and Reconnect the Device Properly

Start with the simplest check.

1. Safely disconnect the device from your PC.
2. Wait 10–15 seconds.
3. Reconnect it firmly to the same USB port.
4. If possible, try a different USB port (preferably a rear port on desktops).
5. Avoid USB hubs during testing.

Many errors are caused by momentary connection drops.

2. Try a Different Cable or Adapter

Faulty cables are a very common cause.

1. Replace the USB cable with a known-good one.
2. If using:
   • USB-C adapters
   • Extension cables
     test without them.
3. For phones or cameras, use the original manufacturer cable.

Even charging-only cables can trigger this error.

3. Keep the Device Awake and Unlocked

Phones and cameras may disconnect when they sleep.

For smartphones or cameras:

1. Unlock the device before connecting.
2. Keep the screen on during file transfer.
3. Disable:
   • Auto-lock
   • Battery saver
4. Select the correct USB mode (File Transfer / MTP).

If the device locks, Windows may lose access instantly.

4. Restart Windows Explorer

File Explorer crashes can break device communication.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Find Windows Explorer.
3. Right-click it and select Restart.
4. Reconnect the device and retry.

This refreshes USB and file system access.

5. Disable USB Power Saving (Very Important)

Windows may be powering down the device to save energy.

Disable USB Selective Suspend

1. Open Control Panel → Power Options.
2. Click Change plan settings next to your active plan.
3. Click Change advanced power settings.
4. Expand USB settings → USB selective suspend setting.
5. Set it to Disabled (both On battery and Plugged in).
6. Apply changes and restart.

Disable Power Saving for USB Controllers

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
3. For each USB Root Hub:
   • Right-click → Properties → Power Management
   • Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power

This alone fixes the issue for many users.

6. Update or Reinstall USB and Device Drivers

Driver issues often cause random disconnections.

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand:
   • Universal Serial Bus controllers
   • Disk drives
   • Portable devices
3. Right-click the affected device → Update driver.
4. If updating doesn’t help:
   • Choose Uninstall device
   • Restart your PC

Windows will reinstall fresh drivers automatically.

7. Change Power Mode to Prevent Aggressive Throttling

Windows 11 power modes can affect USB stability.

1. Open Settings → System → Power & battery.
2. Set Power mode to Balanced or Best performance.
3. Avoid Best power efficiency during transfers.

Aggressive power saving can interrupt data connections.

8. Check for Disk Errors (For External Drives)

If the error occurs with USB drives or external HDDs/SSDs:

1. Open Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Run: chkdsk X: /f Replace X: with the drive letter.
3. Let the scan complete fully.

File system errors can cause the drive to disconnect mid-operation.

9. Disable Fast Startup (Helps USB Stability)

Fast Startup can cause USB state issues.

1. Open Control Panel → Power Options.
2. Click Choose what the power buttons do.
3. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
4. Uncheck Turn on fast startup.
5. Save changes and restart.

This forces clean USB initialization on boot.

10. Test the Device on Another PC

This helps identify whether the issue is Windows or hardware-related.

• If the device works fine elsewhere → Windows configuration issue
• If it fails everywhere → device or cable problem

This step saves unnecessary troubleshooting.

11. Repair Windows System Files (If Error Happens Frequently)

System corruption can break device communication.

1. Open Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Run: sfc /scannow
3. After completion, run: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
4. Restart Windows.

Wrapping Up

The “The device has either stopped responding or has been disconnected” error on Windows 11 is usually caused by power management settings, unstable connections, or driver issues, not permanent device failure. By disabling USB power saving, updating drivers, using proper cables, and keeping devices awake during transfers, you can resolve the issue in most cases.

Once fixed, file transfers and device connections should remain stable without sudden interruptions.