USB (Universal Serial Bus) is the standard connector for plugging in peripherals — keyboards, mice, external drives, phones, printers — and for charging. It's the reason one plug works across hundreds of devices.
The versions you'll see
- USB 2.0 — the slow original. Fine for a mouse or keyboard, a little slow for moving big files.
- USB 3.0 / 3.1 / 3.2 — much faster for transferring large files. Look for the blue plastic inside the port.
- USB-C — the small, reversible connector that carries data and often a lot of power. The modern standard on new laptops, phones, and chargers.
Speed matters for
Transferring large files (photo, video, backups). A USB 3.x connection is several times faster than USB 2.0 for the same drive.
Power
USB-C ports often supply enough power to charge a phone or even a laptop. A "dead" USB port is a common cause of a drive or phone not being recognised.
If a USB device isn't showing up, try a different port (and a different cable) first. A failing port or a cheap cable is usually the cause, not the device.