Windows 11: Peripherals (Mouse, Keyboard, Audio) Not Recognized After Extended Uptime

Applies to: Windows 11

Last Updated: October 21, 2025

Symptoms

You may encounter one or more of the following issues after your Windows 11 laptop has been running for many days or weeks without a full shutdown (e.g., you only use "Sleep" or close the lid):

  1. An external USB mouse or keyboard is not detected or stops responding.
  2. The built-in speakers or external headphones produce no sound.
  3. The built-in or external microphone does not pick up any audio.
  4. Devices may disappear from the system tray (e.g., the volume icon is missing).
  5. Unplugging and replugging the device does not solve the issue.

Cause

This issue is often caused by the Windows Fast Startup feature. When you select "Shut Down," Windows 11 doesn't perform a complete, cold shutdown. Instead, it saves the system kernel and drivers to a hibernation file on your disk. When you "boot" the PC, it loads from this file to start faster.

Over a long period of extended use (including sleep and hibernation cycles), device drivers (the software that lets Windows talk to your hardware) can enter a "stale" or corrupted state. Because Fast Startup re-loads this stale state instead of starting fresh, the problem persists.

A "Restart" is different. Selecting Restart forces Windows to perform a full shutdown, discard the system state, and reload all drivers from scratch, which clears these errors.

Resolution

Follow these solutions in order. The first solution resolves this specific problem more than 90% of the time.

Solution 1: Perform a Full Restart (The Most Likely Fix)

  • Do not just shut the computer down and turn it back on. You must use the Restart option.
  • Click the Start Menu (Windows icon) on your taskbar.
  • Click the Power icon.
  • Select Restart.
  • After the computer reboots, log in and test your devices (mouse, keyboard, audio). They should now be recognized and functioning correctly.

Solution 2: How to Restart if Your Mouse or Keyboard is Unresponsive

  • If your primary input devices are the ones that failed, use these keyboard-only methods.
  • Method A: Use the Ctrl + Alt + Delete Screen (Most Reliable)
  • Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete on your keyboard simultaneously.
  • Press the Tab key until the Power icon in the bottom-right corner is highlighted.
  • Press Enter.
  • Use the Arrow Keys to select Restart.
  • Press Enter.
  • Method B: Use the Hard Power-Off (Last Resort)
  • If the keyboard is also completely unresponsive:
  • Press and hold the physical power button on your laptop for 10-15 seconds.
  • The laptop will abruptly turn off. This is called a hard shutdown.
  • Wait a few seconds.
  • Press the power button again to turn the laptop back on.
  • This forces a cold boot (similar to a restart) and will reload all drivers.

Solution 3: Reinstall Drivers in Device Manager

  • If a full restart does not fix the issue, the driver itself may need to be reinstalled.
  • Right-click the Start Menu button and select Device Manager.
  • Find the category for your problematic device.
  • For mice/keyboards: Look under Mice and other pointing devices or Keyboards.
  • For audio: Look under Sound, video and game controllers.
  • Right-click the name of your device (e.g., "Realtek High Definition Audio" or "HID-compliant mouse").
  • Select Uninstall device.
  • A confirmation box will appear. DO NOT check the box that says "Attempt to remove the driver software for this device."
  • Click Uninstall.
  • Once the device disappears from the list, Restart your computer (using Solution 1).
  • During the restart, Windows will automatically detect the "new" hardware and reinstall a fresh driver, resolving the conflict.

Prevention

  • To prevent this from happening again, you have two options:
  • Restart Regularly: Make it a habit to Restart your laptop at least once a week instead of only using "Shut Down" or "Sleep."
  • Disable Fast Startup: This will make your computer boot up a few seconds slower, but it ensures every shutdown is a full, complete shutdown, which prevents driver-state issues.
  • Open the Start Menu and type Control Panel, then press Enter.
  • Go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
  • On the left-hand side, click Choose what the power buttons do.
  • Click the link at the top that says Change settings that are currently unavailable. (You may need to enter your admin password).
  • Under "Shutdown settings," uncheck the box for Turn on fast startup (recommended).
  • Click Save changes.