How do I disable USB selective suspend in Windows 11 for flight simulator controllers?
Disable USB selective suspend in Windows 11 and stop flight simulator controllers disconnecting, with steps for missing power settings.
To disable USB selective suspend in Windows 11, open the active power plan’s advanced settings, expand USB settings, set USB selective suspend setting to Disabled, then restart the PC. For a flight simulator yoke, throttle, pedals or joystick, also disable power-saving on the specific USB hub if disconnections continue.
This Windows 11 fix applies to Microsoft Flight Simulator, X-Plane, Prepar3D, FSX and other PC simulators. It changes USB power management; it does not alter controller bindings, sensitivity or calibration.
How do I turn off USB selective suspend in Windows 11?
Use the advanced settings for the power plan Windows is actually using.
- Open Control Panel: select Hardware and Sound, then Power Options. If Control Panel uses icon view, open Power Options directly.
- Find the active power plan: select Change plan settings beside the plan marked as selected.
- Open its advanced settings: select Change advanced power settings.
- Expand USB settings: expand USB selective suspend setting and choose Disabled.
- Check both power states: on a laptop, set both On battery and Plugged in to Disabled if both appear.
- Apply the change: select Apply and OK, restart Windows, then reconnect and test the flight controls.
The setting belongs to the selected power plan. If you switch plans or reset one to its defaults, check the USB setting again. Disabling it may also reduce laptop battery life because Windows can no longer suspend idle USB devices selectively.
What if the USB selective suspend setting is missing?
If USB settings does not appear in Power Options, use the individual device or USB hub power-management setting instead.
Some Windows 11 PCs, particularly systems using Modern Standby or manufacturer-controlled power profiles, do not expose every advanced power option. Avoid registry edits intended merely to reveal the menu: the USB driver may ignore the exposed value, and an incorrect power configuration can create new sleep or wake problems.
If an older Saitek unit is involved, our Windows 11 checks for legacy Saitek flight controls cover the other common driver, port and disconnection issues.
Should I disable USB hub power management as well?
Yes, but only when controllers still disconnect after selective suspend is disabled, or when the Power Options setting is unavailable.
- Connect the controller: preferably plug it directly into a rear motherboard USB port while testing.
- Open Device Manager: right-click Start and select Device Manager.
- Find the relevant hub: expand Universal Serial Bus controllers and inspect entries such as USB Root Hub, Generic USB Hub or Generic SuperSpeed USB Hub. Names vary by PC.
- Change its power setting: open the hub’s Properties, select the Power Management tab and clear Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
- Check the controller entry: if its matching USB Input Device under Human Interface Devices has a Power Management tab, clear the same option there.
- Restart and test: leave the controller idle long enough to reproduce the original disconnection, then move every axis and operate its buttons.
Use Device Manager’s View > Devices by connection mode, or observe which entry disappears when the controller is unplugged, to identify the correct parent hub. Do not disable power management indiscriminately across every USB device, especially on a laptop.
The plan-level selective suspend setting and the Device Manager checkbox are related but separate controls. Changing one does not always change the other. If no Power Management tab is present, that device or driver does not expose the option.
How can I tell whether USB power saving is the problem?
USB selective suspend is a likely cause when a controller works initially, drops after being idle, and returns after reconnection or produces the Windows USB disconnect and reconnect sounds.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| Controller disconnects after being idle | Selective suspend or hub power management | Disable both settings and restart Windows |
| Controller is missing from the simulator from launch | Port, driver, simulator detection or profile problem | Use our Microsoft Flight Simulator controller-detection checks if MSFS is affected |
| Several devices on one hub reset together | Underpowered hub, bad cable or overloaded USB connection | Test each device directly on the PC and add them back one at a time |
| Axes jump or drift without a USB disconnect sound | Calibration, noise, duplicate bindings or worn hardware | Follow our diagnosis for erratic flight-control axes |
| Device works in Windows but fails only in one simulator | Control profile, binding or simulator plug-in | Rebuild or correct that simulator’s controller profile |
A mistake we see constantly is disabling suspend while leaving every control on the same unpowered hub. If the yoke, throttle and pedals become stable when connected directly, the hub, cable or combined power load is the real fault. A powered hub may help, but some flight panels and controllers remain more reliable on a direct motherboard port.
If only a Saitek or Logitech panel fails while ordinary axes remain connected, use the panel-specific USB power and software checks; selective suspend is only one possible cause for those devices.