The Tool Desk
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What “enable USB4” can—and cannot—mean
USB4 is not a software feature that can be added to any USB-C port by changing a BIOS option. The computer needs a USB4-capable host controller and port, and the connected device, cable and any dock in the path must support the capabilities you want to use. A USB-C connector describes the connector shape, not the data standard or speed. Microsoft lists an unsupported port, cable or dock among possible reasons USB4 functionality may be limited.
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That makes “enable USB4” a few different questions. The computer may support USB4 but have a relevant controller or mode disabled in firmware. It may expose USB4 correctly, while the connected cable or peripheral limits the connection. Or the connection may be detected as USB4 while an application transfer is slower than expected because the storage device, workload or shared traffic is the limiting factor.
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- Port capability: Does the exact port on this computer support USB4?
- Firmware configuration: Does the model’s BIOS/UEFI offer a setting that controls the relevant controller or mode?
- Detection: Does Windows expose a USB4 host router?
- Performance: Does a real workload run as expected through the entire host-cable-device path?
These checks answer different questions. A USB4 settings page is not a speed test, and a file-copy result is not a direct measurement of the negotiated USB4 link rate.
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Confirm the computer and port support USB4
Check the exact model, not just the connector
Find the computer’s exact model name or number, then open the manufacturer’s specification page and support page for that model. Check the specifications for the particular port, not merely a general statement that the computer has USB-C. If the specifications do not identify which physical port has USB4, consult the model’s user manual or port diagram. A USB-C-shaped socket alone does not establish USB4 support.
Also confirm that the port supports the feature you intend to use. A USB4 connection can carry tunneled protocols such as PCIe and DisplayPort, but a system’s implementation and firmware policy determine which features are available. Basic USB data support, USB4 host-router detection, PCIe tunneling and display connectivity should not be treated as interchangeable claims.
Check every part of the connection
Write down the computer model, the port being used, the peripheral model, the cable and any dock or hub between them. Verify each item against its specifications. A capable host cannot make an incompatible peripheral or cable operate at USB4 capability, and a dock can add another point of limitation. For the first check, connect the device directly to the computer’s intended USB4 port.
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Find the relevant BIOS or UEFI setting
Use the manual for the exact model
BIOS/UEFI menus differ among manufacturers, product families and firmware versions, so there is no reliable universal key sequence or menu path. Identify the exact computer or motherboard, open its manufacturer support page, and consult the BIOS/UEFI manual that applies to it. Search the manual for terms such as USB4, Thunderbolt, TBT, Type-C mode, host router and PCIe tunneling.
Only change a setting that the manual connects to the USB4 port or controller in question. A similarly named option may control a different capability, a security policy or a separate port. If the manual does not document a setting for enabling USB4, do not assume that a hidden or similarly named option is required.
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Examples show why the path is model-specific
In the ASUS ROG Z890 Series BIOS manual, Integrated Thunderbolt(TM) Enable controls the integrated controller, and related settings appear only when that controller is enabled. A separate ASUS Intel 800 Series BIOS manual documents PCIE Tunneling over USB4 and a CPU TypeC Mode choice that includes USB4 Mode. These are examples from those manuals, not instructions that apply to every ASUS computer or to other manufacturers’ systems.
Depending on the system, the relevant setting might enable a controller or select a USB4 mode. Some firmware options may be unavailable unless another controller setting is enabled. Follow the manual’s dependencies and descriptions rather than trying every option containing “USB4,” “Thunderbolt” or “PCIe.”
Be cautious with PCIe tunneling
Do not enable PCIe tunneling simply because it sounds like the setting most likely to improve speed. Microsoft’s USB4 ACPI requirements explain that firmware can restrict PCIe tunneling for security or policy reasons. PCIe tunneling is not the same as basic USB data support, and changing its security-related options may have consequences beyond the storage test you are trying to run. Use the computer maker’s guidance for the exact setting and intended use.
Change the documented option and reboot fully
- Record the existing value of any setting you intend to change, so you can restore it if needed.
- Open BIOS/UEFI using the startup procedure documented for your exact computer. Menu labels and entry methods vary by model.
- Navigate to the documented controller or USB4 mode option and change only that option as instructed by the manufacturer.
- Save the firmware changes using the firmware’s save-and-exit control.
- Perform a full reboot before checking Windows again. Microsoft’s USB4 ACPI requirements say a full reboot is required when the relevant settings are altered.
If the setting is absent, greyed out or described differently from the manual, stop rather than changing unrelated options. Check that the manual matches the computer and firmware, and ask the manufacturer’s support service if the documented steps do not match the actual menu.
Check USB4 detection in Windows 11
Open the USB4 settings page
On Windows 11, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > USB > USB4 Hubs and Devices. Microsoft documents this page for Windows 11 build 22621.1778 (KB5026446) and later. It lists attached USB4 hubs and devices and their capabilities when Windows detects a USB4 host router.
The page’s presence is a useful detection check: Microsoft says it is enabled when the presence of any USB4 host router is detected. It does not report a universal numeric “full speed” result. Use it to establish that Windows recognizes USB4 on the system, not to conclude that a particular cable, peripheral or transfer is operating at its maximum.
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If the page is missing
Absence of the page does not, by itself, prove that the computer lacks USB4. Microsoft notes that some systems enumerate the host router dynamically, only when a USB4 hub or device is connected. Check the Windows build, connect a known USB4 device directly to the intended port and look again.
- Verify the exact port’s USB4 capability in the computer specifications or manual.
- Check whether a USB4 device is attached; on some systems the host router may not enumerate until one is connected.
- Confirm that the system has completed a full reboot after a relevant firmware change.
- Check the manufacturer’s support information for relevant firmware and driver updates for the exact model.
- Do not use registry edits intended for OEM system configuration as a generic consumer workaround.
If the page remains absent after these checks, the available evidence is inconclusive until the computer’s model-specific specifications and support information are checked. Do not treat a connector shape or a successful ordinary USB data transfer as proof of USB4.
What “full speed” means for USB4
USB4 link capacity is negotiated between the connected components. USB data, PCIe and display traffic can share that capacity, and the amount available to a particular use depends on the negotiated link rate and allocation policy. A Windows detection page addresses whether a USB4 host router is present; it does not show the rate. A file-copy benchmark measures the end-to-end performance of the storage device and connection under that workload, not the raw link rate alone.
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Microsoft’s USB4 design documentation gives an engineering example in which up to 90% of link bandwidth may be allocated for USB 3.x isochronous, PCIe and DisplayPort traffic under the described policy. That example illustrates bandwidth allocation; it is not a promised file-copy speed, nor a consumer target that a storage benchmark should reach. The same link may carry other traffic, and a particular device may not be able to use all available capacity.
A storage transfer can be limited by the external drive or enclosure, its controller, the workload, thermal conditions, system activity or the connection path. The computer port, cable, peripheral and any intervening dock all matter. Therefore, there is no single consumer transfer-speed number that proves every USB4 port is running at “full speed.” A numeric claim requires a specific platform and a reliable link-rate readout; without one, describe the result as measured throughput for the tested setup.
Run a practical, repeatable transfer check
Prepare a controlled setup
Use a known USB4-capable SSD or NVMe enclosure, a cable rated for the intended capability, and the computer’s confirmed USB4 port. Connect directly, bypassing a dock or hub for the initial test. Check the specifications for the computer port, cable, enclosure and drive so you know the maximum capability claimed for each part of the chain. The slowest or incompatible part can constrain the result.
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Choose a large sustained transfer or an appropriate storage benchmark. Record what you tested rather than reporting a bare number. For a useful record, include:
- Computer model and the exact port used.
- Peripheral or enclosure model and the installed drive, if applicable.
- Cable and any dock, hub or adapter in the path.
- Workload or benchmark and the measured result.
- Whether displays or other high-bandwidth devices were active during the test.
Close or disconnect competing high-bandwidth workloads where practical, then repeat the same test under the same conditions. A large sustained workload is generally more informative about sustained transfer behavior than a brief copy of a small file, but neither is a direct measurement of raw USB4 link capacity. A benchmark’s outcome also depends on its workload and on the storage device.
Interpret the result without overclaiming
First distinguish detection from performance. If the Windows USB4 page appears, Windows detects a host router; that is not a guarantee of a particular transfer rate. If the transfer is slower than expected, compare the result with the specifications for the entire chain, not just the USB4 capability of the host port. Check that the test device and cable are suitable, and note whether other traffic was sharing bandwidth.
If the computer or peripheral provides a reliable link-rate display, identify exactly what it reports and what it measures. Do not substitute an application benchmark for that readout. Likewise, do not call a transfer speed “the USB4 speed” without explaining that it is end-to-end throughput measured with a named setup and workload.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot in the order that isolates the cause
1. Establish whether the port is USB4-capable
Check the computer’s exact model specification and port documentation. If USB4 is not listed for that port, a BIOS setting cannot make it USB4. Do not extrapolate from another port on the same computer: ports that look alike may have different capabilities.
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2. Remove connection-path variables
Connect the peripheral directly to the confirmed port, temporarily bypassing any dock, hub or adapter. Microsoft advises direct connection when troubleshooting USB-C feature support. If the direct connection works as expected but the docked connection does not, check the dock’s own specifications and the capabilities of its upstream cable.
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3. Check the peripheral and cable
Verify that both support the capability you are testing. A compatible connector is not enough. If possible, test with a known capable device and cable, changing one item at a time. This makes it easier to tell whether the constraint follows the cable, peripheral or port rather than changing several variables at once.
4. Review only relevant firmware settings
Consult the model-specific BIOS/UEFI manual for a controller enable or USB4 mode setting. Apply only a documented option tied to the relevant port or controller, save and fully reboot. Treat PCIe tunneling settings separately, because firmware may restrict them for security or policy reasons.
5. Recheck Windows detection
Open the USB4 Hubs and Devices page after reboot. If it is absent, connect a USB4 hub or device and check again, since some host routers enumerate dynamically. Confirm that the Windows build meets the documented threshold and check the manufacturer’s model-specific support information.
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If Windows detects USB4 but throughput is low, keep the setup direct and vary one factor at a time: port, cable, peripheral or competing display and storage activity. Repeat the same workload and record the setup. A result that changes when one component changes points toward that part of the path; a single benchmark result cannot establish which component is responsible without controlled comparisons.
Which check should you trust?
| Check | What it establishes | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer’s port specification | Whether the specified computer port supports USB4. | Whether the attached cable and peripheral support the intended capability, or what a workload will transfer. |
| Model-specific BIOS/UEFI manual | Which documented firmware settings apply to that model and controller. | That a similarly named option on another model has the same effect. |
| Windows USB4 Hubs and Devices page | Windows has detected a USB4 host router and can list attached USB4 hubs and devices. | A numeric negotiated link rate or maximum application throughput. |
| Storage transfer or benchmark | End-to-end throughput for the tested hardware, connection path, workload and conditions. | The raw USB4 link rate or a universal maximum for the port. |
These checks complement each other rather than competing. Start with the port specification, use firmware documentation only for the exact model, use Windows to check host-router detection, and use a controlled workload to assess real transfer performance.
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