Microsoft is issuing a direct call to its hardware partners, urging original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to address configuration issues that prevent crucial USB-C troubleshooting notifications from functioning correctly in Windows 11.
These built-in alerts are designed to enhance user experience by identifying and helping to resolve common problems such as slow charging, faulty connections, and the use of unsupported accessories.
While Windows 11 includes a robust system for notifying users of USB-C port issues, the feature’s effectiveness is entirely dependent on how manufacturers configure their hardware.
According to a recent technical update, if users aren’t seeing these helpful alerts, the problem likely stems from incorrect platform settings implemented by the OEM, not a flaw within the Windows operating system itself.
The core of the issue lies in the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) specification, a markup that enables the operating system to communicate with and manage hardware components.
Microsoft has identified several common errors in how OEMs are implementing this. These include missing or incorrect ACPI descriptors that fail to properly identify USB-C ports, mislabeling port types (such as identifying a standard USB-A port as Type-C), and confusing internal ports with externally accessible ones, which can suppress necessary notifications.
To resolve these inconsistencies, Microsoft has laid out a clear set of validation and testing protocols for manufacturers. OEMs are being directed to use the Windows Hardware Lab Kit (HLK) to validate their USB port descriptors and ensure that specific ACPI methods, namely _UPC (USB Port Capabilities) and _PLD (Physical Location of Device), are implemented correctly.
The company is also advising partners to conduct rigorous testing with a variety of charging scenarios, including underpowered chargers and hubs, to confirm that notifications appear as expected for the end-user.
Microsoft also addressed security considerations, acknowledging that some OEMs may disable data transfer over USB-C in certain environments.
In such cases, the company recommends that the policy should only apply to externally accessible ports and that manufacturers should consider providing users with a toggle to enable or disable data transfer themselves.
The message to manufacturers is clear: audit all USB port configurations, validate notification behaviors across all supported devices, and coordinate with the Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Program (WHCP) to ensure new platforms meet the required standards.
By taking these steps, OEMs can ensure their customers receive the seamless and reliable device experience that Windows 11 aims to provide.
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