If the USB port of your Android phone doesn't work or seems not to respond, there are a number of solutions to try to get it working again.
The USB or micro USB port on an Android phone is one of its most sensitive components, as well as being prone to failure or damage. There are times when we need to use it, such as when we connect the phone to the computer, but we find that the connection is not possible, because there is a failure with the USB. What to do if the USB doesn't work?
The reasons why the USB on your Android phone does not work can be very varied. Luckily, there are several solutions that we can try to make it work as it did until then. Many of them are very basic solutions, but they will help us find the source of this failure.
The USB port does not work: the first thing we have to check
First of all, there are always some basic checks that we can test to detect the source of the failure. It may be a problem in the Android USB port, but it could also be that the cable that we are using at the moment is the cause of this error. So it's good to do these basic checks:
- Check if the cable is well connected: Something as simple as that the cable has not been connected well, that it has not been fully inserted, could be what is causing the connection to not work. Just check if it is well placed on both ends.
- Does this cable work?: Another aspect that usually occurs is that the cable does not work. It can happen that a USB cable does not work well, that one of its ends has broken, for example, preventing that connection from working. Use another cable, or test the cable with other devices, to see if this continues.
- Computer USB port: It could also be that the fault is not in Android, but is in your computer. Try connecting it to other USB ports on your computer, to see if there are still connection problems in this regard.
Restart phone
A typical solution, but one that usually gives good results in this type of situation. Restarting both the phone and the computer is a good way to get this problem fixed. This failure may not be located in the USB port, but in the software, which has suffered some error in its operation, preventing said connection.
Restarting the two devices can help get it working again as all processes stop and they both start from scratch again, which should allow that connection to be made between the two successfully. Once restarted, try connecting the USB again.
Is the USB port dirty?
It is another important check, since many times it is the dirt that has been strained that causes problems in the USB port of our Android phone. This port is a place where dirt or dust is strained regularly, so it accumulates over time and this can cause operational problems. So it is important to check whether it is clean or not.
When cleaning the phone, including its USB port, there are a number of guidelines to keep in mind. We can use a pin or something thin to remove dirt from said port on Android. In most cases it will be enough to remove the dirt and make the port work normally again.
Check if you have updated drivers
If your device has specific software, you may have to update these drivers. It may also be the case that your computer does not have updated drivers, preventing said connection between the two from being made normally. These kinds of update problems occur with some frequency and generate problems like this between the two.
When downloading the driver update, it is important to search the official website. Also check if the latest version of the ADB drivers is available and if you have it, because it could also be the cause of this connection problem between the two devices.
USB debugging enabled
A necessary check, but one that we often do not do, is to see if USB debugging is activated on the phone. Since it is likely that it has not been activated, which just causes it to not work on Android. To check if it is activated, we have to follow these steps:
- Open the phone settings.
- Enter the System.
- Go to the Developer Options section.
- Look for the USB Debugging section.
- Check that it is activated.
- If not, activate the switch next to that option.
Is the USB port broken?
If nothing has worked, it may be the worst case scenario, but that USB port has been broken. It can be solved by changing the pins inside, which is a task that a user with certain knowledge will be able to carry out. Although the best thing in these cases, especially if the phone is still under warranty, it is advised that you should take it to repair center and that they can also find the exact source of the problem, and that we do nothing that is harmful to the phone.