Microsoft is stepping up to fix USB-C

Abstract

Microsoft is updating its minimal necessities for USB-C ports on Home windows 11 laptops and tablets via its Home windows {Hardware} Compatibility Program (WHCP).
The aim is for USB-C ports on all Home windows 11 laptops to “simply work” and help USB knowledge, charging, and show capabilities.
DisplayPort Alt-Mode is a requirement on all USB-C ports now, to make sure a monitor may be related to any Home windows 11 laptop computer via any USB-C port.

USB-C ports are much more versatile than USB Type-A. Sure USB-C ports can cost your machine, switch knowledge, energy external GPUs, and supply video output to high-resolution 4K or 8K shows.

Nevertheless, not all USB Kind-C ports are “created equal.” Though most USB-C ports might look equivalent externally, their capabilities can differ considerably, resulting in appreciable confusion. Whereas one USB-C port in your laptop computer may help connections to an exterior show, one other might not, understandably puzzling customers who should not well-versed within the intricate particulars of USB-C and Thunderbolt.

To ease the confusion surrounding various kinds of USB-C ports on Windows 11 laptops, Microsoft is introducing a brand new “minimal bar” for USB-C port capabilities on the most recent Home windows 11 laptops via its Home windows {Hardware} Compatibility Program (WHCP). This standardization goals to attenuate person frustration by making certain constant performance for USB Kind-C ports throughout a wide selection of Home windows 11 laptops.

Let’s discover what Microsoft is doing and the way this can profit you sooner or later when buying a brand new Home windows 11 laptop computer.

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What’s Microsoft altering?

All USB-C ports on Home windows 11 laptops should help an exterior show

Microsoft / Pocket-lint

With its newest WHCP replace, Microsoft is establishing a minimal requirement for PC producers to satisfy when implementing various kinds of USB-C ports on their laptops and tablets. Beforehand, these had been non-compulsory, however now Microsoft has made them a requirement for brand new laptops or tablets to obtain the WHCP seal of approval.

In line with Microsoft’s blog post, there are two totally different units of WHCP necessities: one for USB-C ports with USB 4 and one other for USB 3.

For USB 4, Microsoft states that each one USB-C ports supporting USB 4 should be able to knowledge transfers at both 40 Gbps or 80 Gbps and be suitable with Thunderbolt 3. They need to additionally present charging of at the very least 15 watts for laptops or 7.5 watts for tablets. Crucially, they have to all help USB Energy Supply, PCI Categorical Assist (for exterior GPUs), and work with twin 4K screens at 60Hz.

USB 3 Kind-C ports have a decrease minimal requirement than USB 4. For starters, all USB-C ports with USB 3 should be capable to switch knowledge at both 5 Gbps, 10 Gbps, or 20 Gbps, and help charging between 4.5 watts and seven.5 watts. USB 3 Kind-C ports should not required to have Thunderbolt 3 compatibility or PCI Categorical help, however are required to have the ability to help one show.

Earlier than this replace, OEM producers might skip including options like USB Energy Supply or DisplayPort Alt Mode to the USB-C port on their PCs, however due to the WHCP’s new necessities, that is not the case.

Microsoft states that the above necessities are already in place, having begun with the rollout of Home windows 11 model 24H2. With these adjustments to the WHCP, Microsoft intends to meet two core guarantees to Home windows 11 customers buying a brand new laptop computer or pill. Firstly, USB-C knowledge, charging, and show “simply works,” and secondly, PCs with USB-C ports supporting 40 Gbps have “full compatibility with USB4 and Thunderbolt 3 peripherals.”

Most significantly, all USB-C ports are actually required to help DisplayPort Alt Mode, that means that quickly each USB-C port on a Home windows 11 laptop computer will be capable to hook up with an exterior show with a USB-C port. That is important for any laptop computer missing an HDMI port, which many PCs at the moment don’t have, given the rising thinness of laptops.

Earlier than this replace, PC producers might forgo including options like USB Energy Supply or DisplayPort Alt Mode to the USB-C ports on their PCs. Nevertheless, as a result of new WHCP necessities, that is not allowed. Microsoft signifies that almost all PC producers “are on observe to attain WHCP compliance throughout most programs within the coming years.” Hopefully, because of this by the tip of 2026, the USB-C port confusion on Home windows 11 laptops will largely be resolved.

Personally, I am glad Microsoft is lastly addressing the USB-C confusion that has continued for thus a few years. Not everyone seems to be a USB-C port professional, and by updating its tips for OEMs, Microsoft is elevating the requirements for future Home windows 11 laptops and making issues simpler for customers. Not solely will customers profit from improved {hardware}, however all USB-C ports on Home windows 11 laptops shall be extra versatile and fewer complicated, as they need to be.