How to Check the Power Output of USB Ports

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Are you worried that your USB ports are either underperforming or out of spec? Does it seem like you are not getting the amount of charge you need from these ports? You can use the built-in capabilities of Windows, a third-party app, or a voltmeter to detect the amount of power available in one of three ways.

Using Windows

You can check the power capabilities of the USB ports using the device manager in Windows. To find the data in Windows 10:

1. Type Run in the search box in the taskbar.

2. Type devmgmt.msc in the window that opens.

3. Double-click on the Universal Serial Bus controllers branch to expand it.

4. Right-click one of the entries that are named USB Root Hub or Generic USB Hub and choose “Properties.”

You will find the total amount of power available to that USB listed under “Hub Information.” If there are devices attached to the port, you will see the energy that is being pulled by that device listed under “Attached Devices.”

Related: How to Disable USB Ports in Windows 10

Using Software

There are different third-party software programs online that you can download to get information about your USB ports. USB Deview is free software that provides the user with the power specs of the USB ports on a computer. It is a portable program, and you do not have to install anything on your computer.

To use USBDeview:

1. Download the software from http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html.

2. Extract the files and run the application file.

3. Locate the USB ports. An easy way to do this is to click on the Description label to sort the devices by description. This will group all the USB ports and make them easier to find in the list.

4. Click on the one you want to check to highlight it.

5. Scroll over until you find the column heading that says power. Clicking here will tell you how much energy the port is using.

Related: USB Power Delivery Explained

Using hardware

One more way to find out the power output of your USB ports is to use a physical USB voltmeter. These devices detect input voltage, current, power, capacity, and energy of the port. Unlike the two methods listed above that only work on a computer or laptop, you can use a voltmeter to detect the energy capabilities of other devices such as phones, power banks, and car chargers.

There is a wide selection of voltmeters available for low prices, and they come with a variety of features. Once you have purchased one, it requires just a simple connection to display the power information for the port.

You can test your USB ports in one of these three ways if you suspect a problem. Whether you think it’s not working correctly or wondering if it has enough power to perform a task, one of these methods may be helpful to you.