Slow speed on USB 4 port

[PGibson13]

I have just bought a HP Pav Plus Laptop 14-ew1006na which has 2 USB 4 ports 

I'm only getting speeds of about 40 mb/s transfer from my external SSD enclosure 

I have tried 2 different 10gb/s rated USB C cables and get these slow speeds still 

I have attached my SSD to the USB A port and get decent speeds there

Does anyone have any suggestions please?

[Max3Aj]

@PGibson13, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 

I understand you're experiencing slow transfer speeds (~40 MB/s) on the USB 4 ports of your HP Pavilion Plus 14-ew1006na, even though you're using a 10Gbps-rated USB-C cable and an external SSD enclosure.

Here are some steps to help troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue:

Confirm USB 4 Port Capabilities

While the ports are labeled USB 4, actual performance can vary depending on:

• The SSD enclosure’s chipset (some only support USB 3.1 Gen 1 speeds).
• Cable quality (even if rated 10Gbps, some cables are power-only or not fully compliant).
• Whether the port supports Thunderbolt 4 or just USB 4 (check product specs here).

Update BIOS and Drivers

Outdated firmware or drivers can limit port performance.

• Update BIOS: Go to HP Software and Driver Downloads → Enter your product (14-ew1006na) → Download and install the latest BIOS.
• Update Chipset and Thunderbolt Drivers: Also from the same page, install the latest Intel chipset and Thunderbolt drivers.

Use HP Support Assistant

HP Support Assistant can automatically detect and install missing updates:

• Download or open it from here. HP Support Assistant | HP® Support
• Run a full check for updates and install all recommended ones.

Test with Another SSD Enclosure

Some enclosures are not fully compatible with USB 4 or Thunderbolt ports. Try:

• A different brand/model of SSD enclosure.
• One that explicitly supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 or Thunderbolt 3/4.

Check Device Manager

• Press Win + X → Device Manager → Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
• Look for any yellow warning signs or devices labeled “USB 2.0” when your SSD is connected.
• Right-click and update drivers if needed.

Power Settings

Ensure the system isn’t limiting USB performance to save power:

• Go to Control Panel > Power Options → Select High Performance.
• Click Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings.
• Under USB settings, disable USB selective suspend.

Test in Safe Mode or Clean Boot

To rule out software conflicts, try booting into Safe Mode or performing a clean boot and testing the transfer speed again. 
 

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Select "Yes" on the bottom left to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support