Share this article

Improve this guide

How to Enable USB Port Blocked by Administrator [4 Ways]

Learn how to effortlessly access the connected USB devices

5 min. read

Updated onJuly 10, 2024

updated onJuly 10, 2024

Share this article

Improve this guide

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

Key notes

To fix various driver issues on your PC, you will need a dedicated tool to find the freshest and the original drivers. You can use PC HelpSoft Driver Updater to do it in 3 easy steps:

Many users utilizeUSB drivesfor transferring data between PCs and storing software. However, users can’t utilize USB storage devices on PCs with blocked USB ports. And that’s why you need to know how to enable a USB port blocked by an administrator.

If you’re sharing a PC with somebody else, anadministrator accountcan block access to USB ports. So, let’s find out how to enable USB ports blocked by administrators with the methods below.

What is a USB port?

AUSB portis a Universal Serial Bus connection interface for USB devices. All desktop and laptop PCs include ports for connecting external drives and peripherals.

There are various types of USB connection ports. USB Type A is the most common port, but some PCs also include USB Type B, Type C, and USB 3.0 slots to connect devices.

How can I enable blocked USB ports in Windows 11?

1. Unblock USB ports with Device Manager

2. Unblock USB ports by editing the Registry

After you are done, restart the computer for the changes to completely come into effect. If you were wondering how to enable USB port in Windows 10 blocked by administrator, this method should work on the previous iteration as well.

3. Unblock USB ports with Group Policy Editor

4. Unblock USB ports with Windows USB Blocker software

What should I do if those methods for unblocking a USB port don’t work?

If you can’t unblock a USB port with those methods, an administrator might not have blocked the port. Somethird-party antivirus utilitiescan also block USB ports.

Disable or even uninstall any third-party antivirus software installed on your PC. Also, find out all aboutunblocking USB ports blocked by antivirus software.

How do I unlock a USB port blocked by antivirus software?

The method tounlock a USB port blocked by an antivirusis different for all. For some, simply replugging the USB drive should provide an option to allow it. While for others, you may need to modify the settings or reconfigure the policies.

Though a quick solution would be to disable the antivirus oruninstall the programaltogether. It will automatically unlock all the USB ports blocked by the antivirus software.

How to transfer files if USB is disabled?

This is a question many have asked when unable to block USB ports on the PC. And the simplest way to do that would be to use areliable cloud storage service. You can easily upload the files to cloud storage from one PC and download them on another.

Also, if the USB device you are trying to connect is a phone or supports network connectivity, useWi-Fi file transfer softwareto share data between devices seamlessly.

That’s all about unblocking USB ports blocked by administrators and other vital information. With USB ports unblocked, you’ll be able to utilize external storage devices on your PC again.

We don’t recommend users try unblocking USB ports on PCs within organizations’ networks without permission. Consider asking a network administrator for permission to utilize your USB drive on a network’s workstation instead.

In case you plug in a lot of devices to the PC, consider buying areliable USB hubfor enhanced connectivity and performance.

If you have any other queries, drop a comment below, and we get respond at the earliest.

How to Enable USB Port Blocked by Administrator [4 Ways]#

What is a USB port?#

How can I enable blocked USB ports in Windows 11?#

1. Unblock USB ports with Device Manager#

2. Unblock USB ports by editing the Registry#

3. Unblock USB ports with Group Policy Editor#

4. Unblock USB ports with Windows USB Blocker software#

What should I do if those methods for unblocking a USB port don’t work?#

How do I unlock a USB port blocked by antivirus software?#

How to transfer files if USB is disabled?#