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How To Charge a Laptop With a USB

Laptop Charging

It can be frustrating to learn that you’ve forgotten your laptop’s charger and it’s about to run out of power, especially if you want to get some work done, watch movies or listen to music. In such instances, the thought of whether there’s a safe way of charging your laptop without a charger must have come to mind. 

Quick Answer

You’ll be glad to learn that you can charge your laptop with a USB 3.1 to deliver the power needed to replenish your laptop’s battery. However, the USB 3.1, commonly known as USB-C, can only be used if your laptop has an in-built USB-C port. Here are the steps to follow when charging your laptop with a USB-C charger.

1. Get the USB-C charger and confirm it’s of the correct voltage
2. Connect the USB-C to a power source and your laptop’s USB-C port. 

Your laptop will now start to charge. 

Read on as this detailed guide looks at how to use the USB to charge your laptop. This will come in handy when you don’t have your laptop charger. In addition, you’ll be taken through a few frequently asked questions about how you can charge your laptop when you don’t have the original charging cable. Without further ado, let’s get started.  

How Can You Charge Your Laptop With a USB-C?

It’s possible to use your USB-C charger to recharge your laptop so long as it comes with a USB-C connection. Before jumping the gun and getting the USB-C charger, you should check your laptop to see whether it comes with the USB-C port. If this port is present, here are the steps you should follow to charge your laptop.

  1. Buy a USB type C that can deliver high wattage connection compared to the USB type A. That said, it’s important to remember that not all type C ports are designed to charge your laptop. This is why you should get a USB-C with a voltage rating closer to that needed by your laptop to ensure the recharging speeds are above average. 
  2. Connect one side of the USB-C cable to your laptop.  
  3. Plug the other side of the USB-C cord into a power outlet

That’s all you need to do, and your laptop will now start to charge through the USB-C charging port. But while the USB-C cable comes in handy, it isn’t as fast as the stock charger. However, it’s still a great option if you don’t have the laptop’s original charger. 

The charging speed when using the USB type C cable depends on your choice of USB cable and the laptop’s power delivery. A good example is a high-end MacBook can charge at speeds of over 80W, whereas a basic Chromebook may charge at speeds of approximately 40W

The USB-C port is the default charging system in some laptops today due to the fast, efficient, durable, and slim design of USB-C cables. This shift is also brought about by the fact many laptops today are compatible with USB type C. 

Summary 

If your laptop comes with a dedicated USB-C port, it can be charged with USB. This USB-C charger is the same as those in newer and high-end smartphones. With its oval shape, the USB type C or USB 3.1 delivers a greater wattage connection, which means it transfers more wattage than the USB type A. 

After reading this exhaustive blog post, you’ve learned how you can use a USB charger to power your laptop. With this knowledge, you know it’s not a must to have the laptop’s charger to power it up and use it for any particular purpose.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I charge my laptop using another laptop?

Yes, it’s possible, and you can do this by putting the battery depleted of charge into a laptop of similar voltage. After that, connect the laptop to power and let the battery get the needed charge before taking it out. Subsequently, add the battery to the original laptop, and you can now start using it once again. 

Can I charge my laptop using an HDMI cable?

Yes, you can charge your laptop using an HDMI cable so long as there’s an HDMI port. You can alternatively use a connector or adapter that converts HDMI. This method comes in handy when your laptop’s battery is dead or almost dead, and you don’t have the charger with you, or it malfunctioned. 

Here are the steps you need to follow when using an HDMI cable to charge your laptop.

1. Connect one end of the HDMI cable to your television
2. Plug the other end of the HDMI cable into a Type-C USB or directly to the HDMI port on your laptop.  
3. Check the connection to confirm that the HDMI port is working perfectly. 

Your laptop should power on if the HDMI connection is made flawlessly. If you don’t see anything, double-check the connection, as it might mean the power source might have an issue. 

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