Each version of Windows has its own set of problems, and some take a long time to resolve. One of these errors is where the USB printer disappears. It applies to Windows 10 1903 and Windows 10 2004. The exact error message is:
USB printer port missing after disconnecting from printer when Windows 10 is stopped.
In this article, we will show how you can resolve this issue using a workaround.
USB printer port missing after disconnecting the printer
In this scenario, if a user shuts down Windows while the USB printer is connected or directly disconnects the printer, it will not be available in the printer port list when reconnecting or restarting the computer. So the problem is that the port is missing, and if Windows gets tired of completing a task that requires this port, it will not work.
You can check by going to Settings > Devices > Printers and scanners > Print server properties > Harbor tongue.
If you check the USB port associated with this printer, it will be missing. The affected printer and the USB port to which it is connected should not appear on the page.
Workaround for USB port Missing error
The resolution is simple: just turn on the printer before starting Windows and keep it connected via USB. Windows will automatically detect the printer and its associated port. If you use the port for something else, it will be available.
You will have to keep repeating it unless the workaround is available. It will become available to Windows users via the update.
Another solution may be if you have a router with a USB port. You can connect to the router and access it over the network. This essentially saves you from having to keep the printer at all times.
That said, the problem has two causes.
- If the USB printer driver contains a language monitor, the OpenPortEx callback function of the language monitor will not be called. Therefore, the user cannot perform operations dependent on the operation of the language monitor.
- In the “Devices and Printers” control panel, when you select [Print Server Properties] > [Port] In the tab, the USB printer port (such as “USB001”) will not appear in the list of printer ports. Therefore, the user cannot perform operations dependent on the existence of the port.
The technical background to the problem is that they seem to be using the USB redirection function, where instead of the local port, a virtual port is used.
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem and they are working to resolve the problem in a future version of the operating system.
Related reading: Windows 10 2004 Known issues if you install it
