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USB Port Identification Chart
Identify every port on your laptop and what the little symbols next to it mean.
Connectors
| Port | Looks like | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| USB-A | Flat rectangle; blue or teal inside often means 5Gbps+ | Keyboards, mice, flash drives, receivers |
| USB-C | Small rounded oval, reversible | Charging, data, video, docks (depends on the port) |
| Micro-USB | Small trapezoid | Older phones, controllers, gadgets |
| Lightning | Thin flat blade | iPhone 14 and earlier, older AirPods |
| HDMI | Wide trapezoid | TVs and monitors |
| DisplayPort | Rectangle with one cut corner | PC monitors, high refresh rates |
| Ethernet (RJ45) | Square with a clip notch | Wired internet |
| SD / microSD | Thin slot | Camera, drone and phone memory cards |
Symbols next to USB-C ports
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lightning bolt | Thunderbolt: 40Gbps+, displays, docks, fast NVMe drives |
| “SS” or “SS10” | SuperSpeed USB: 5Gbps or 10Gbps data |
| “D” shape (DP logo) | Supports DisplayPort video output |
| Battery or plug icon | Charging input or charges devices while the laptop sleeps |
| No symbol | Check the manual: may be data-only or charge-only |
Tip: on a Mac, choose Apple menu → About This Mac → More Info → System Report → USB/Thunderbolt to see what each port supports.
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