diff --git a/actions.py b/actions.py
index a4479a5..06ec0e5 100644
--- a/actions.py
+++ b/actions.py
@@ -280,6 +280,9 @@ class Actions(object):
     def get_midi_status(self):
         self.message_handler.set_message('INFO', 'midi status is {}'.format(self.data.midi_status))
 
+    def cycle_midi_port_index(self):
+        self.data.midi_port_index = self.data.midi_port_index + 1
+
     def update_video_settings(self, setting_value):
         self.video_driver.update_video_settings()
 
diff --git a/data_centre/data.py b/data_centre/data.py
index 662c1e8..cb0c844 100644
--- a/data_centre/data.py
+++ b/data_centre/data.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ class Data(object):
         self.control_mode = 'PLAYER'
         self.bank_number = 0
         self.midi_status = 'disconnected'
+        self.midi_port_index = 0
         self.update_screen = True
         self.player_mode = 'now'
         
diff --git a/json_objects/settings_default.json b/json_objects/settings_default.json
index bcf6367..f62aaa9 100644
--- a/json_objects/settings_default.json
+++ b/json_objects/settings_default.json
@@ -105,6 +105,11 @@
             "action": "get_midi_status",
             "options": [],
             "value": null
+        },
+        "CYCLE_PORT": {
+            "action": "cycle_midi_port_index",
+            "options": [],
+            "value": null
         }
     },
     "other": {
diff --git a/user_input/midi_input.py b/user_input/midi_input.py
index fa9cdcf..067162f 100644
--- a/user_input/midi_input.py
+++ b/user_input/midi_input.py
@@ -12,29 +12,34 @@ class MidiInput(object):
         self.data = data
         self.midi_mappings = data.midi_mappings
         self.midi_device = None
+        self.midi_setting = None
+        self.port_index = 0
         self.midi_delay = 40
         self.try_open_port()
 
     def try_open_port(self):
-        midi_setting = self.data.settings['midi']['INPUT']['value']
+        #self.data.midi_status = 'disconnected'
+        self.midi_setting = self.data.settings['midi']['INPUT']['value']
+        self.port_index = self.data.midi_port_index
         #print('try open port : midi setting is {}'.format(midi_setting))
-        if midi_setting == 'usb':
+        if self.midi_setting == 'usb':
             self.actions.stop_serial_port_process()
-            self.open_this_port_and_start_listening(20)
-        elif midi_setting == 'serial':
+            self.open_this_port_and_start_listening('20')
+        elif self.midi_setting == 'serial':
             self.actions.create_serial_port_process()
-            self.open_this_port_and_start_listening(128)
+            self.open_this_port_and_start_listening('serial')
         else:
             self.actions.stop_serial_port_process()     
+            self.data.midi_status = 'disconnected'
         self.root.after(1000, self.try_open_port)
 
-    def open_this_port_and_start_listening(self, port_number):
+    def open_this_port_and_start_listening(self, port_phrase):
         midi_ports = mido.get_input_names()
-        #print('midi ports are {}'.format(midi_ports))
-        midi_device_on_port = [s for s in midi_ports if '{}:0'.format(port_number) in s]
+        midi_device_on_port = [s for s in midi_ports if port_phrase in s]
         if midi_device_on_port:
             if self.data.midi_status == 'disconnected':
-                self.midi_device = mido.open_input(midi_device_on_port[0])
+                subport_index = self.port_index % len(midi_device_on_port) 
+                self.midi_device = mido.open_input(midi_device_on_port[subport_index])
                 self.data.midi_status = 'connected'
                 self.message_handler.set_message('INFO', 'connected to midi device {}'.format(self.midi_device.name))
                 self.poll_midi_input()
@@ -76,7 +81,10 @@ class MidiInput(object):
         if i > 0:
             pass
             #print('the number processed {}'.format(i))
-        self.root.after(self.midi_delay, self.poll_midi_input)
+        if self.data.settings['midi']['INPUT']['value'] == self.midi_setting and self.data.midi_port_index == self.port_index:
+            self.root.after(self.midi_delay, self.poll_midi_input)
+        else:
+            self.data.midi_status = 'disconnected'
 
     def on_midi_message(self, message_dict):
         if message_dict['type'] == 'note_on' and message_dict['velocity'] == 0: