Brianajackson/Getty Images USB ports have different colors, which means they perform different functions from each other. If you’ve ever plugged your phone into one of your computer’s USB ports and found that it was charging, you’ve discovered an always-on USB port. These continue to power connected gadgets even when the device the port is on is turned off, sleeping, or hibernating. As for the colors corresponding to the USB ports always on, they are the colors red, yellow and orange. These ports have other functions, but essentially they allow you to charge your phone without having to turn on or wake up your computer. If it’s a laptop, it essentially becomes a power bank, allowing you to charge your phone when you don’t have a dedicated portable charger or when there isn’t a USB outlet nearby. It’s also a good way to keep wireless keyboards and mice turned on and connected to a computer, so you can use them to wake it up (you’ll need to enable this feature in Settings). If the idea of always-on USB ports sounds good to you and you can’t find any of the colors mentioned above, look for one with a battery or lightning bolt symbol next to it. If a port has this symbol, you can configure it to always be enabled with a few adjustments. Just keep in mind that if you do this the ports will consume power, so only do it when you need it. Force other colored ports to always be enabled Chifundo Kasiya/BGR Other common USB port colors include white, black, blue, purple, and teal. There are two ways to keep them always active if they support it. On a Windows PC, you can do this using Device Manager or from the computer’s BIOS/UEFI settings. When you enable always-on USB ports using Device Manager, they will only charge devices when the computer is awake or asleep. If you turn off the PC rather than putting it to sleep, the ports will also turn off. This is generally the simpler method of the two: Right-click Start and select Device Manager. Scroll down and expand Universal Serial Bus Controllers. Right-click the USB port and select Properties. Select the Power Management tab. Uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.” Enabling always-on mode for the USB port using BIOS/UEFI is tricky because motherboard manufacturers use different interfaces and menu options. But it is the most reliable method since the USB ports remain on even when the computer is turned off. You just need to be careful because malformed BIOS settings can prevent your computer from booting or working properly. Here are the general steps: Restart your computer. Press the key that takes you to your computer’s BIOS/UEFI settings (for example, F2, F12, Del, or Esc). Select the Advanced or Configuration tab. Look for any setting named USB Charging in Sleep/Off Mode, Built-in USB Power Delivery, or USB Always On under “Power Options” or similar sections. Make sure it says Enabled or Enabled. Save and exit. Post navigation Thermal paste or pad: which is best for your PC?
Brianajackson/Getty Images USB ports have different colors, which means they perform different functions from each other. If you’ve ever plugged your phone into one of your computer’s USB ports and found that it was charging, you’ve discovered an always-on USB port. These continue to power connected gadgets even when the device the port is on is turned off, sleeping, or hibernating. As for the colors corresponding to the USB ports always on, they are the colors red, yellow and orange. These ports have other functions, but essentially they allow you to charge your phone without having to turn on or wake up your computer. If it’s a laptop, it essentially becomes a power bank, allowing you to charge your phone when you don’t have a dedicated portable charger or when there isn’t a USB outlet nearby. It’s also a good way to keep wireless keyboards and mice turned on and connected to a computer, so you can use them to wake it up (you’ll need to enable this feature in Settings). If the idea of always-on USB ports sounds good to you and you can’t find any of the colors mentioned above, look for one with a battery or lightning bolt symbol next to it. If a port has this symbol, you can configure it to always be enabled with a few adjustments. Just keep in mind that if you do this the ports will consume power, so only do it when you need it. Force other colored ports to always be enabled Chifundo Kasiya/BGR Other common USB port colors include white, black, blue, purple, and teal. There are two ways to keep them always active if they support it. On a Windows PC, you can do this using Device Manager or from the computer’s BIOS/UEFI settings. When you enable always-on USB ports using Device Manager, they will only charge devices when the computer is awake or asleep. If you turn off the PC rather than putting it to sleep, the ports will also turn off. This is generally the simpler method of the two: Right-click Start and select Device Manager. Scroll down and expand Universal Serial Bus Controllers. Right-click the USB port and select Properties. Select the Power Management tab. Uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.” Enabling always-on mode for the USB port using BIOS/UEFI is tricky because motherboard manufacturers use different interfaces and menu options. But it is the most reliable method since the USB ports remain on even when the computer is turned off. You just need to be careful because malformed BIOS settings can prevent your computer from booting or working properly. Here are the general steps: Restart your computer. Press the key that takes you to your computer’s BIOS/UEFI settings (for example, F2, F12, Del, or Esc). Select the Advanced or Configuration tab. Look for any setting named USB Charging in Sleep/Off Mode, Built-in USB Power Delivery, or USB Always On under “Power Options” or similar sections. Make sure it says Enabled or Enabled. Save and exit.
