Possible to keep USB ports awake when laptop is asleep? Windows 11

[emariehasadhd]

I have an Acer Nitro 5 laptop running Windows 11. I have searched everywhere, read the user's manual, browsed the Microsoft forum, unchecked the boxes that say "allow the USB ports to be turned off to save power" etc. and nothing has worked. I have my laptop on a cooling pad and a mouse connected, both with RGB lights and I just don't want them to turn off when I close the lid and the computer sleeps. It's not the end of the world but that's my preference. I am beginning to think that's just not possible and is a built in feature of Windows or the computer to save power. Does anyone know if it's possible, how to keep the USB ports awake when the computer sleeps? Thank you.

 

[LabRat 891]

Edit: test to make sure your peripherals will illuminate on power-only. Basically, does it have a 'retail display mode'.
At the retailer I worked at, we finally got a backlit keyboard.
Bossman goes to put it on display but, hooked to a USB power supply, it only illuminates for a second before the Keyboard shuts itself off, lacking a data connection.

I'd make sure your KB/M even do what you want, first. AFAIK a USB-A female phone charger should work to test.



This feature is fairly common, even on desktop boards. However, AFAIK it is (primarily) switched on/off in UEFI/BIOS.

On most systems, the option is under PnP/Power or Features/Integrated Peripherals (IIRC. Modern UEFI can be all-sorts of different)

'USB Power Delivery in Sleep'
'USB Charger function'
Etc.

Of note: I've ran across more than a few boards/laptops that have specific ports assigned to the feature.
IIRC, Used to be marked with a Yellow-insert USB port, or marked with a "PD"/'lighting bolt'. (Yes, confusing marketing; given Thunderbolt exists)

 

[Bill_Bright]

I am beginning to think that's just not possible and is a built in feature of Windows or the computer to save power.

While Windows may support the feature, Windows doesn't care one way or the other. Your laptop does, however. And it should. Many a laptop user would be very upset if they left some power eating device plugged into a USB port and it totally discharged the battery.

The USB ports SHOULD power off when the laptop sleeps while running on battery.

So check your laptops power option features. Make sure the USB ports power off when the computer goes to sleep when on battery. But when plugged in to the charger, they can remain on.

 

[emariehasadhd]

Yes I want the USB ports to stay awake when it's connected to the AC adapter and not running on battery. Thank you for taking the time to reply

While Windows may support the feature, Windows doesn't care one way or the other. Your laptop does, however. And it should. Many a laptop user would be very upset if they left some power eating device plugged into a USB port and it totally discharged the battery.

The USB ports SHOULD power off when the laptop sleeps while running on battery.

So check your laptops power option features. Make sure the USB ports power off when the computer goes to sleep when on battery. But when plugged in to the charger, they can remain on.

Additionally, I wanted to say thank you for all of your amazing replies on this forum and the time you take to respond to so many people. I am an aspiring IT tech and your responses are very educational.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Thanks for the kind words.

 

[Nhonho]

I think your computer needs to have a "Sleep-and-charge" USB connector.

The "Sleep-and-charge" USB connectors (of a computer) can be used to charge the battery of USB devices (like a smartphone), when the computer is in Standby/Sleep, hibernation or even when it is turned off.
Normally, when a computer enters any of these modes, the power of the USB connectors is turned off, preventing USB devices from charging. The "Sleep-and-charge" USB connectors remain energized even when the computer is turned off, thus allowing the battery of the USB device to be charged without the computer having to be turned on. Very useful to use at night, for example.
For a Sleep-and-charge USB port to work on some laptops, the power source must be connected and this function must be enabled in the BIOS settings.
USB connectors with Sleep-and-charge function (also called PowerShare or Power-off USB) have a lightning bolt next to them for identification:

See it too:

Keep USB on while computer is shut down

We have recently bought a wireless mouse to replace our old one. The charging dock on our old one plugged into the mains, it also had USB to connect to the computer. Our new mouse only has a USB ca...

superuser.com

 

[emariehasadhd]

I think your computer needs to have a "Sleep-and-charge" USB connector.

The "Sleep-and-charge" USB connectors (of a computer) can be used to charge the battery of USB devices (like a smartphone), when the computer is in Standby/Sleep, hibernation or even when it is turned off.
Normally, when a computer enters any of these modes, the power of the USB connectors is turned off, preventing USB devices from charging. The "Sleep-and-charge" USB connectors remain energized even when the computer is turned off, thus allowing the battery of the USB device to be charged without the computer having to be turned on. Very useful to use at night, for example.
For a Sleep-and-charge USB port to work on some laptops, the power source must be connected and this function must be enabled in the BIOS settings.
USB connectors with Sleep-and-charge function (also called PowerShare or Power-off USB) have a lightning bolt next to them for identification:

See it too:

Keep USB on while computer is shut down

We have recently bought a wireless mouse to replace our old one. The charging dock on our old one plugged into the mains, it also had USB to connect to the computer. Our new mouse only has a USB ca...

superuser.com

Thanks