Alex Ruben
How To Resolve Blue Screen Errors When Keyboard or Mouse Is Connected on Windows
Sometimes plugging in your keyboard or mouse triggers a BSOD—those annoying blue screens that seem to pop up out of nowhere. It’s kinda weird, but it happens enough that troubleshooting these issues becomes necessary. Usually, it’s driver conflicts, faulty hardware, or USB port glitches causing the problem. This guide walks through some of the most common fixes, so you can hopefully get back to work without your system crashing every time you connect peripherals.
How to Fix Blue Screen Errors When Using USB Peripherals
Try disconnecting and rebooting — maybe it’s just a temporary hiccup
Yeah, the simplest stuff first. Remove your keyboard and mouse, then restart. It’s a quick test to see if a fresh boot lets Windows sort itself out. Sometimes, Windows just freaks out for no good reason, and a reboot clears the temp glitches. On some machines this fails the first time, then works after a reboot, but worth a shot.
Switch USB ports — see if one port is causing the trouble
Plug your peripherals into different USB ports. Some ports might have hardware or power issues, especially on older machines or cheap hubs. If switching ports stops the crashes, it points to a port or connection problem. You can even try connecting via a different USB hub if you’re using one. Windows sometimes refuses to use certain ports correctly, so this gives you a quick clue.
Uninstall and then update device drivers — refresh those drivers that drive you crazy
Go into Device Manager (Right-click on Start > Device Manager), then expand Keyboards and Mice and other pointing devices. Right-click on each device and select Uninstall device. Also, don’t forget to uninstall entries under Universal Serial Bus controllers like USB Root Hub. After doing that, restart — Windows usually auto-reinstalls basic drivers, which might fix corrupted ones.
Sometimes, you need to manually update these drivers if the default ones are broken or outdated. Just right-click your peripheral in Device Manager, pick Update driver, then choose Search automatically for updated driver software. If that doesn’t work, try the website of your device manufacturer for the latest drivers, or a trusted driver update tool.
Disable USB Selective Suspend — because Windows likes to slow down port power
Open Control Panel > Power Options. Find your active power plan — usually Balanced — and click Change plan settings. Hit Change advanced power settings. In the new window, expand USB settings > USB selective suspend setting. Set both options — Plugged in and On battery (if laptop) — to Disabled. Click Apply and OK. This stops Windows from turning off USB ports to save power, which can sometimes cause BSODs when reconnecting devices.
Run System File Checker — fix corrupted files that might be causing crashes
Open Command Prompt as administrator (Start > type cmd > right-click Run as administrator). Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. This scans your system for corrupted files and repairs them if possible. Sometimes, BSODs are due to corrupt system files, and this makes Windows fix itself without too much fuss. On some setups, it may take a few minutes, so patience is key.
Check for Windows updates — because keeping software fresh helps avoid bugs
Head over to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for updates. Microsoft regularly patches bugs, including ones that could mess with USB drivers or system stability. Make sure everything is up-to-date, even optional updates—sometimes they include critical fixes.
Extra tips & common roadblocks
- Test your USB devices on another PC to rule out hardware failure.
- Update your motherboard’s firmware (BIOS/UEFI) — check your motherboard’s website for instructions.
- Disconnect other USB devices to see if some gadget conflicts or draws too much power.
Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary. Sometimes, a faulty device or a power-hungry hub causes the crash. Avoid daisy-chaining tons of peripherals, and see if that helps.
Wrap-up
Fixing BSODs related to USB peripherals isn’t always straightforward, but trying these approaches gets rid of the most common culprits. If all else fails, it might be hardware related, or a deeper OS issue. Running diagnostics or even reinstalling Windows could be the last resort, but often updating drivers and adjusting power settings does the trick. Just keep hitting refresh until one of these methods works — it’s a game of trial and error sometimes.
Summary
- Restart after unplugging peripherals
- Switch USB ports and test
- Uninstall and update device drivers in Device Manager
- Disable USB selective suspend in power settings
- Run
sfc /scannowin admin Command Prompt - Update Windows regularly
Fingers crossed this helps
Hopefully, following these steps stops the blue screens from crashing your workflow. It’s often just a driver or power setting issue, but if not, at least you’ve narrowed down the possibilities. Good luck, and don’t forget to back up before making major changes!