USB ports working weirdly

[HenryCA]

I am using a HP EliteBook 840 G5.

The USB ports (one on each side) don't work properly. Same behaviour on both.

When connecting the mouse, they work well.

When connecting the phone, it loads, but connection is not stable: at the beginning looks ok, after couple minutes can't find the files properly.

When connecting external hard disk, most of the time ignores it, sometimes it "sees" it but can't connect to it, and a few times (when inserting the USB cable only mid-way more or less), it can find and read it. Quite unstable though; touching the cable slightly disconnects it.

I have done a USB Port Check from the BIOS - sometimes passed it, sometimes failed. This happened in both ports.

Already tried to uninstall/install USB drivers, and run some health checks, didn't make any difference.

Any idea how to solve this issue? Thanks in advance.

[BeemerBiker]

USB ports can wear out and are unlikely to be modular where they can easily be replaced

You have a thunderbolt port.  Consider getting a docking station and use the docking station ports.

Alternately (this is what I have done)

1 - Use magnetic adapters for ports wherever possible

2 - Use a USB-3 port expander, preferably a powered one.

If HP's bios diagnostics report an empty USB is not working then check warranty and return it

hp worldwide contact https://www.hp.com/us-en/contact-hp/ww-contact-us.html
hp service online https://support.hp.com/us-en/contact-hp