Device disconnecting or not powering on?
If your Sabrent device drops its connection, cycles between connecting and disconnecting, or will not power on at all, this guide covers the most likely causes and fixes.
Step 1: Check the power supply
If your device has its own power adapter: Confirm it is firmly connected at both ends, plugged directly into a wall outlet (not a power strip if possible), and that the power LED is lit. Make sure it is the correct adapter for the unit. A phone charger will not power a multi-bay dock.
If the device is bus-powered (no adapter): It depends entirely on your computer's USB port for power. Move to Step 2.
LED behavior: No LED means no power is reaching the unit. LED on but flickering means unstable power. LED solid but device not working means power is fine and the issue is the data connection.
Step 2: Check the port and power delivery
This is the highest-hit-rate fix for laptop users.
Try a different port. On desktops, use the rear motherboard ports. On laptops, try every available port since power delivery varies.
Plug your laptop into its charger. Many laptops throttle USB power on battery. Simply charging the laptop while the device is connected resolves a large share of intermittent issues.
Try a powered hub. If the device is bus-powered and the port cannot supply enough, a powered USB hub between the computer and the device fixes it.
The "Incorrect Function" pattern: On Surface devices and similar ultrabooks, this error almost always means the port cannot supply enough power. It is not a defective unit. Laptop on charger or a powered hub is the fix.
Step 3: Check the cable
Swap the cable. Use a different cable of the same type. For USB-C, confirm it is a data cable, not charge-only. Try a shorter cable (under 1 meter) since longer cables can cause signal issues.
Thunderbolt note: If the product is Thunderbolt, it needs a Thunderbolt-rated cable. A USB-C cable will work but only at USB speeds, and may cause stability issues.
Step 4: Check host settings
Windows: USB power management
Windows has a power-saving feature that causes the classic connect-disconnect cycling:
- Right-click Start, open Device Manager.
- Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
- Right-click each USB Root Hub, select Properties, go to Power Management.
- Uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power."
- Repeat for every USB Root Hub entry.
Also disable USB Selective Suspend: Power Options > USB settings > set to Disabled.
macOS
Go to System Settings > Energy and turn off "Put hard disks to sleep when possible." On MacBooks, try a port on the opposite side since power delivery can differ between left and right.
Step 5: Try a different computer
If the device works fine on another computer, the issue is on your original machine (driver, port, or power configuration), not the Sabrent hardware. The fixes in Step 4 should resolve it.
If the device has the same issue on a different computer, the unit itself needs attention.
Still need help?
If none of these steps resolved the issue, contact our support team with your product model and what you have tried. We will get it sorted.