What do the symbols on the USB ports mean?

You know that moment when you discover something obvious and suddenly wonder how you missed it for so long? That’s what many people think about USB ports. Most people use USB ports on all their devices, including laptops, monitors, TVs, routers, and everything else, but don’t pay much attention to the symbols and signs printed next to them.

But knowing and not knowing makes a bigger difference than you might think. It’s the little details that can help you avoid trouble and get the most out of your device.

Why are the symbols on USB ports important?

Small icons make a big difference

For years, people have been treating every USB port on their devices based on its type. People have almost never paid much attention to the little symbols on the top or sides of those ports, thinking they don’t really matter. But that’s completely wrong. These symbols are there to tell you what type of USB port it is and what it can do. This can help you decide whether it’s better for charging your device, transferring files, or sending video signals.

That doesn’t mean you can’t use the port the “wrong” way, though. They still work just fine. But knowing what those little symbols mean can help you use the USB port on your device the way it was originally designed.

The Real Meanings of Different USB Symbols

Decode the symbols you’ve seen a thousand times

There’s a reason why manufacturers put those little symbols next to USB ports. And once you start paying attention, you’ll see the symbols around USB ports in a whole different light.

Symbol	Meaning
	You’ve probably seen this symbol at least a thousand times. On devices, this denotes a USB 2.0 port, also known as a High-Speed ​​port, which offers a modest data transfer rate of 480 Mbps.
	SS stands for SuperSpeed. This symbol appears on USB 3.0 ports and tells you that the port supports faster data transfers, up to 5 Gbps.
	If you see a 10 or 20 in SS, this number represents the maximum gigabit per second speed the port can handle. This is usually a USB 3.1 Gen 1 or USB 3.1 Gen 2 port.
	This icon indicates that the USB port is fast-charging capable. On some laptops, this icon may also indicate that the port supports Thunderbolt, which combines power, data, and video capabilities.
	The DisplayPort symbol indicates that the USB port also supports video output, which means you can use it to plug in an external monitor or projector, although you’ll need to use the right USB-C cable.
	The latest USB standard USB4 ports have a half-moon shape with a number (20 or 40) printed next to them. These are almost always USB-C ports, and the number tells you the maximum speed the port can handle, such as 20 Gbps or 40 Gbps.

Now, use your USB ports wisely.

Now that you understand what all those little symbols mean, you’ll no longer treat every port as the same. Think of your USB ports as a toolbox, each slot with its own unique durability.

For example, the classic trident symbol that marks a USB 2.0 port is best suited for basic peripherals like keyboards, mice, and other low-power accessories. They don’t need blazing speeds, so there’s no need to waste a faster port on them.

Ports marked SS are now the top choice for storage devices like flash drives or external hard drives, as they offer better file transfer speeds. And if you see SS with 10 or 20, keep those ports for devices that can benefit from the higher speeds.

USB-C ports with the lightning bolt symbol are ideal for fast charging or powering smartphones. Any port with the DP symbol can be used to connect a display. And try to keep USB4 or Thunderbolt ports free for power-hungry devices like docking stations or USB Hubs .

You should also pay attention to the color of the gate.

They also say the same thing.

In addition to the symbols and icons, the color of the USB port can also indicate the performance you can expect. Different colors, such as black, blue, red, yellow, and even teal, can indicate the type of USB port. These colors are only for USB-A ports, so for USB-C ports, you’ll still have to rely on the symbols and icons.

Additionally, USB port colors aren’t standardized by USB-IF (the organization behind USB), meaning manufacturers can interpret them slightly differently. However, most major brands follow the same general pattern, so the colors should usually point you in the right direction.

The most accurate way to identify a port, though, is through the device’s user manual. When in doubt, do a quick check in the manual or online spec sheet to see exactly what each port supports.