Whenever I connect my mouse to my Windows 11 computer, I get the message "Unknown USB device (device descriptor request failed)." I've already tried several troubleshooting steps without success. Is the mouse probably dead, or are there other things I should test first? I'm concerned that buying a replacement might not help if the computer or USB port is actually the problem.
3 Answers
For a problem limited to one computer, open Device Manager and expand Universal Serial Bus controllers. In the properties for each USB Root Hub, disable “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.” You can also disable USB selective suspend in the advanced power-plan settings. If only one physical port fails, it may have a damaged connector or loose contact that software changes cannot fix.
Start by testing the mouse in several different ports, including both the front and rear ports if you have a desktop. Also inspect the cable and USB plug for damage. If the mouse works on another computer, the issue is probably with a particular port or with USB power management on this PC.
The best way to isolate the problem is to try the mouse on a completely different computer. If it produces the same error everywhere, the mouse’s USB hardware has probably failed and replacing it should solve the problem. If it works elsewhere, focus on the computer’s ports, drivers, or power settings instead.

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