{"id":4973,"date":"2020-05-15T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-15T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=4973"},"modified":"2020-05-22T10:14:10","modified_gmt":"2020-05-22T14:14:10","slug":"can-i-use-a-usb-2-0-flash-drive-in-a-usb-3-0-port","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/15\/can-i-use-a-usb-2-0-flash-drive-in-a-usb-3-0-port\/","title":{"rendered":"“Can I use a USB 2.0 flash drive in a USB 3.0 port?”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

(Answer requested by Roksana Parvin Yasmin)<\/small><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, as long as both devices and their software (e.g. drivers) were manufactured to formal USB standards, they should work fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

USB is designed to be backwards (lower-numbered) compatible, meaning that a USB 3 port will work fine with USB 3, USB 2, and USB 1 devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, a USB 3 device can plug into a USB 3, 2 or 1 socket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But in all cases, the connection’s speed and features will be limited to that of the lowest-numbered device in the USB chain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, if you plug a USB 3 device into a USB 2 port, or vice versa, both devices will operate with USB 2’s speed and features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And again, that all assumes that everything on both ends of the connection was designed to spec, and manufactured correctly. If a manufacturer deviates from the official USB spec — perhaps in the name of adding some special feature or function — then backwards-compatibility may be compromised. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But absent that, you should be able to plug just about any USB device into a like-shaped\/keyed physical port, and get at least basic functions going, no matter what number (1, 2, 3…) USB standard is involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Permalink: https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=4973<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"[seperator]\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

COMMENT \/ QUESTION<\/strong> on THIS ITEM?<\/strong> See the<\/em> Comment box<\/strong> at bottom of this page!<\/em>

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(Want free notification of new content? Click<\/em> <\/strong>here<\/a><\/b>!)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Answer requested by Roksana Parvin Yasmin) Sure, as long as both devices and their software (e.g. drivers) were manufactured to formal USB standards, they should work fine. USB is designed to be backwards (lower-numbered) compatible, meaning that a USB 3 port will work fine with USB 3, USB 2, and USB 1 devices. Likewise, a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3927,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-a-reader-asks","category-hardware"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/usb.jpg?fit=425%2C425&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paaiox-1id","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1702,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/01\/23\/a-reader-asks-why-cant-i-shut-off-my-usb-c-ports-power\/","url_meta":{"origin":4973,"position":0},"title":"A reader asks: “Why can’t I shut off my USB-C port’s power?”","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-01-23","format":false,"excerpt":"Reader Bernie Holladay* writes: Fred, I have a question about the USB-C port.I needed to spec a USB connection for my new PC and choose Type-C.\u00a0 It was for a connection to a USB powered cooling pad for a laptop.It worked fine but when I shut down I noticed the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/root-hub-power.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2913,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/06\/07\/what-is-the-best-way-to-charge-several-devices-at-once-on-usb\/","url_meta":{"origin":4973,"position":1},"title":"“What is the best way to charge several devices at once on USB?”","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-06-07","format":false,"excerpt":"A good externally powered USB hub --- that is, one with its own separate power supply --- is what you need. The external power is key because USB is fundamentally a data transfer standard, not a battery-charging standard. Charging takes a lot more power than data-transfer; a PC's built-in USB\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/external-usb-hub.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3846,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/12\/03\/3846\/","url_meta":{"origin":4973,"position":2},"title":"“Does USB 3.2 Gen 1 support fast charging?”","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-12-03","format":false,"excerpt":"(Answer requested by Rinki Singh) No. Normal USB 3.2 Gen 1 combined data\/power sockets can deliver a maximum of 900mA at 5v, for 4.5w total. It\u2019s not meant for use has a high-power charging port. (USB standards -- Wikipedia) Separately, there are special-purpose USB PD (power-delivery) socket standards, and USB\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/USB_icon.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4869,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2020\/04\/29\/how-do-i-charge-an-lg-g6-smartphone-when-it-displays-moisture-detected-in-usb-port\/","url_meta":{"origin":4973,"position":3},"title":"“How do I charge a smartphone when it displays ‘moisture detected in USB port’?”","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2020-04-29","format":false,"excerpt":"(Answer requested by Daniel Dudgeon) When a phone is telling you it has moisture trouble, you'd probably do well to listen. :) That's because most newer smartphones are at least somewhat water resistant. For example, if your phone's specs say it's IP68-rated (a common current standard), it should be OK\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":876,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/11\/01\/a-reader-asks-my-new-keyboard-keeps-on-typing-the-same-letter-how-can-i-fix-it\/","url_meta":{"origin":4973,"position":4},"title":"A reader asks: My new keyboard keeps on typing the same letter. How can I fix it?","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-11-01","format":false,"excerpt":"Q: My new keyboard keeps on typing the same letter. I tried it on another PC, but there, it worked fine. I also tried formatting my PC, but it\u2019s still an issue. How can I fix this? (via Quora) A: I assume you mean it\u2019s doing something like thisssssssssssssss? I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2769,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/05\/15\/where-can-i-get-a-multiport-sd-card-reader-that-holds-10-cards-at-the-same-time-for-external-storage-on-a-pc-or-mac\/","url_meta":{"origin":4973,"position":5},"title":"“Where can I get a multiport SD card reader that holds 10 cards at the same time for external storage on a PC or Mac?”","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-05-15","format":false,"excerpt":"(Answer requested by Dennis Hayes) I think I can suggest a better approach; but first, to answer your question: You need a hub, not a reader. When you plug in a standard card reader \u2014 even one with multiple slots for different types of cards \u2014 the reader is assigned\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/43GB-of-sd-cards.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/43GB-of-sd-cards.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/43GB-of-sd-cards.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/43GB-of-sd-cards.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/43GB-of-sd-cards.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/43GB-of-sd-cards.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4973","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4973"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4973\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5006,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4973\/revisions\/5006"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3927"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4973"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4973"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4973"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}