GoKawiilKyle Kucharski/ZDNET
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Got a USB device nearby? Take a look at the port -- notice a specific color? It turns out those colors actually signify something important. There is a standardized color-coding system that reveals exactly what that device can do.
Surprised? If you never caught onto this, you aren't the only one. Most USB hardware functions well enough in any matching port, but they might not be running at peak performance. For instance, if you feel like your mouse performs better in one slot than another, you aren't imagining things. One port likely supports USB 3.0, while the other does not.
Also: Drawer full of USB cables? This tiny tester tells you which ones actually work as advertised
Despite sharing a universal port shape, USB-A and USB-C devices are not created equal, with potentially very different transfer speeds, power delivery, and generations of similar devices. Even two USB-C ports right next to each other on the same laptop could have very different capabilities for data transfer speed and power delivery.
Let's take a look at what they mean.
What your USB port color means
There are seven major colors that indicate a device's generation and the data transfer speeds you can expect. If you have a rare device with a color not listed here, let me know in the comments.
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