A method and apparatus for recovering from a low power state in a computing system is disclosed. In one embodiment of the method, the computing system enters the low power state from a standard power state after an activity detector indicates a user controlled peripheral device connected to the computer system has been inactive for a period of time. To enter the low power state, the method disconnects the user controlled peripheral device from a host controller, while continuing to supply power to the user controlled peripheral device and shutting off power to the host controller. The method returns the computer system to the standard power state when the activity detector indicates the user controlled peripheral device has become active. To return to the standard power state, power is restored to the host controller and the user controlled peripheral device is reconnected to the host controller.