Do you have a smartphone? I think everyone has one now. This gadget has enslaved modern man. We have become so attached to him that we begin to feel discomfort if he is not with us. Active use of the gadget during the day reduces its charge. And in search of a charging source, we often plug it into the first USB socket that catches our eye - the connector of a laptop or desktop computer. And some people use USB radios in their cars. Is it possible to charge a phone via USB from a computer?
Let's start the dive.
I am sure that almost every modern person has a smartphone, or an older push-button device for voice communication and access to the Internet. A similar statement applies to the computer (laptop), which today is present in every home and office.
Often we have to connect gadgets to a PC using a cable in order to exchange data, dump photos to a hard drive, or send the necessary files to a smart device.
In addition to this function, the connection to a computer can also be used to “replenish” the battery. For example, on my Xiaomi Redmi Note 4, immediately after connecting to the laptop, the “Charging from USB” notification appears. That is, this action is supported in the phone itself, is not blocked, and therefore is not prohibited/undesirable.
This is very convenient, because sometimes you are too lazy to reach for the outlet and get distracted from work. It’s easier to take a cord, plug the ends into the necessary connectors and keep the device at hand while waiting for charging to complete.
But still, the question is interesting -
How to charge a phone from a laptop via a USB cable?
In principle, the procedure here is approximately the same as with the option of charging through the system unit of a PC device, except with one minor nuance. The thing is that a PC, as we all know, does not have a system unit, which means connecting the USB cable not to the system unit, but to the device itself. So, where to look for an input on a laptop for connecting a USB cord?
Well, most often this connector is the same as the input for a flash connector or for connecting to the mobile Internet. There are at least 3 such connectors in the notebook, so even if one of them is occupied, the other two are definitely suitable for connecting to a PC through them. When the USB 2.0 standard plug is connected, connect the second plug to the mobile device and, just like when connecting to a computer, the phone will immediately begin to take charge from the laptop, and the battery will show this.
- Just don’t forget to take into account one nuance - when the cell phone is connected to a laptop that is not powered by the network, but on a battery, the device will take on part of the PC’s battery charge and, of course, this will affect the amount of charge of the device. In other words, a PC or notebook will discharge much faster, but it is still a very good option for recharging a mobile device. Now you know how to charge your phone via USB.
Charging your phone from the TV via USB
Is it possible to charge a smartphone from a computer?
As mentioned above, there are a lot of legends and horror stories about this. Some on the forums write that the “body” turned off after such manipulations, and then they could not start it, they had to contact service centers.
But these are isolated cases that can be caused by completely different factors (voltage surges, accumulation of static charge on the system unit case, etc.).
If you compare the speed of “recharging” the battery, then it is ideal to use the native charger supplied in the kit. This approach guarantees maximum compatibility and matching of voltage and current, which will allow charging faster and with better quality.
But suddenly there is no such possibility? Then feel free to use the “cable + computer” combination and nothing bad will happen. It’s just better to connect to USB 3.0 (if available, it’s marked in blue), which will speed up the procedure significantly:
Just don’t get carried away, as experiments prove that too frequent supply of “low current” can, over time, reduce the nominal capacity of the battery, and the phone will begin to discharge faster.
By the way, some laptop manufacturers are introducing special technologies into their equipment, like ASUS USB Charger+. This uses a separate connector.
Good to know: why isn't my phone charging?
What if the USB port stopped working after charging
Sometimes the phone puts a lot of load on the USB port, and it stops working, as if it freezes. In such cases, you may also see the message “The USB device is not functioning properly and has exceeded the power limits for its hub port.” Then it is better to disconnect the phone from the computer and it is better not to charge it from it. In the window with a message about the problem, click the “Reset” button, if there is one.
But even after stopping charging, the USB port may still not work. In this case you can:
- Go to Device Manager
- find a broken “USB Root Hub” that will be marked with an exclamation point
- go to “Properties -> Power”:
- Click the “Reset” button.
But if this does not help, then disconnect the computer completely from the power supply. If this is a laptop, then it is also better to remove the battery for 10 seconds and put it back. Now turn it on and check.
How to charge correctly?
Finally, I would like to give a few recommendations that can change your ideas. I dug deep into the topic and compiled the following rules:
- It is best to keep the charge in the range from 20 to 80%, avoiding zero or oversaturation;
- If possible, the recharging procedure should be performed several times a day, “feeding” the battery in small portions;
- Protect the “energy source” from high (more than +40) and low temperatures (-10). It is better to keep the gadget in a warm pocket in frosty weather;
- Do not install it overnight if you are not sure that your smart device has an automatic power supply blocking system;
- Perform calibration periodically.
Buy a universal portable battery (Power Bank)
Battery Xiaomi Mi Power Bank 2 5000
577 rub.
Battery ZMI QB810
RUB 1,050
For fast charging away from sockets, it is worth purchasing a Power Bank with high power. The more amperes in such a device, the faster the charging speed. For phones and smartphones, this figure should be at least 1 ampere.
The charging speed, compared to a standard charger, will speed up significantly, and depending on the capacity of the external battery, it may be enough for several “top-ups” of your phone.
Electric generator to help
Portable power generators, including solar panels, are one way to quickly recharge electronic devices. They charge the battery quickly and safely, which is convenient when there is no access to a 220 V power supply. How does recharging occur? Use an adapter to connect the generator to the laptop charging socket. Check how stable the devices are after connecting to each other. If everything is fine, all you have to do is wait until the battery is fully powered and the laptop is ready for use.
About USB ports on laptops
The presence of a USB port on electronic devices has greatly simplified the lives of users. Essentially, the connector is intended for information exchange, but in low-power devices it is used to recharge batteries. Today, laptops use the following versions of popular connectors:
- 2.0;
- 3.0.
The throughput power of versions 2.0, 3.0 is no more than 4.5 Watts, and to recharge a laptop of average power, at least 30 Watts are required. What to do? There is an alternative - this is Type-C, a new modification of the classic USB port. A connector with a throughput power of 100 W solved all problems with one click. Type-C USB version 3.1 is not only fast, but also convenient, it will charge the most sophisticated gadget. It has a symmetrical design, which will eliminate the incident when the cable is inserted the wrong way, and its compactness allows you to take it with you anywhere.
Wireless charging for iPhone iQi Mobile
Recently, the gadget market has been replenished with another new product - the iQi Mobile wireless charger for Apple iPhone, sold at prices ranging from 1,200 to 3,000 rubles. The principle of operation is very simple - electromagnetic energy is used, acting inductively on a special battery attached to the phone. It sounds complicated, but in reality everything couldn’t be simpler: this is a thin plate 0.5 mm thick, which fits under any case and is connected to the smartphone connector with a lighting cable. After this, the iPhone is placed on a special docking station and charged wirelessly.
When will your phone charge quickly using a laptop charger?
Before you can expect to charge your phone quickly with a laptop charger, several conditions must be met:
Fast charging protocols
Having a USB-C connector does not mean that one charger will work with another. For successful charger compatibility, your laptop and phone must have compatible charging protocols.
If your laptop has a USB-C connector, it should be capable of delivering high power. Otherwise, it would be impossible to charge the laptop using just a standard USB port. And since USB PD is also a protocol for your phone's fast charging technology, they'll likely be compatible with each other.
Regulating input
At the same time, the amount of charge as well as the speed at which the power is delivered must be coordinated between your phone's battery and the charger. You are unlikely to find a modern battery that does not have a built-in controller that regulates the amount of charge received. Combined with the fact that most chargers also support multiple voltage levels, they work together to determine how much charge your phone is receiving. withstands without overheating.
Even if your phone doesn't support fast charging, these rules will ensure that the default charger matches what the phone can handle and at least charges at the standard 5V/1A rate.
It's always recommended to buy at least decent hallway chargers (if you purchase them separately). This is because there are a lot of fake USB-C chargers out there that don't adhere to the protocols and regulatory input standards we mentioned earlier. Even though they only make up a small and shrinking minority, the importance of checking your USB-C PD charging cable cannot be overstated. You wouldn't want to end up with a fried phone just because of a faulty cable that doesn't communicate with the phone to adjust to the required voltage and current.
Ultimately, if your laptop charger and your phone's fast charging protocols are the same, you should have no problem charging your phone quickly using a laptop charger.
Why doesn't my phone want to charge from my laptop?
There are times when for some reason the laptop does not charge the phone. What is the reason?
- Pollution interferes. Over time, contacts on USB device ports and cable plugs inevitably become covered with dust and dirt particles. Once accumulated, debris creates resistance that prevents the connection between the phone and laptop. It is enough to carefully clean the contacts with a match dipped in alcohol and use a toothpick, the contact will be restored.
- The cable is damaged. Breaking or breaking the conductor is a common situation that arises due to kinks and external influences. Try using a different cord.
- Broken USB port on laptop. It often burns out, the second reason is controller burnout. What to do? Take a working flash card or another USB device, check the functionality of the socket. If the laptop does not respond, it means the port is broken and there is no contact with the motherboard.
- The phone connector is damaged. USB ports of any cellular devices are subject to frequent breakdowns. Sometimes it's enough to pull out the cord unsuccessfully for the mobile phone socket to stop working. Only urgent repairs will help here.
- The portable device is in sleep mode. If you look at the laptop settings, you will see that the option to disable USB ports is usually in sleep mode. This is done to save battery power. Just change the settings and you can charge your mobile phone.
Conclusion
You can charge your phone from your laptop. But it is recommended to do this only in cases of extreme necessity. At the same time, observe safety precautions. You cannot constantly charge your phone using this method.
All friends. I think that I have closed the topic of whether it is possible to charge a phone from a laptop. I hope I explained everything to you simply and clearly.
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And that’s all I have for today. Good luck to everyone and see you soon!
About food hygiene
When you connect your phone via a USB cable to your computer, the phone does not just start receiving power from the system unit. It begins to exchange data with the desktop computer. In automatic mode, the device name and type, manufacturer name, serial number, information about the firmware, operating and file systems are reported. The data set is individual in each specific case and depends on the manufacturer and operating system that is installed on the phone.
Information relating to the owner of the phone, such as contacts, photos, calendar entries, is not immediately transmitted. But under certain conditions, the computer can download this data.
Typically, the user prefers to set a PIN code, a complex password, or set up fingerprint access and uses only the official application store, said Kaspersky Lab researcher Alexey Komarov. Most users trust that these measures ensure the safety of their data. But it's not that simple.
A computer phone is essentially a modem (a device through which communication can be established). And using one of the commands for the modem, the phone can be rebooted in firmware update mode. And with the “new” firmware, an application for managing the file system will be installed on the phone, which cannot be removed by standard means. The user data remains in place, but the gadget is completely compromised. Thus, this method gives attackers the ability to install and remove applications, copy messages, photos and videos, application and file caches, encrypt and delete data, experts warn.
With an update, you can introduce anything into your smartphone’s operating system—from advertising to ransomware. “And even an unprofessional hacker can do this, because the necessary information can easily be found on the Internet. Employees of large companies who are responsible for making decisions should be especially wary of such attacks,” says Alexey Komarov.
And if you enter developer mode and ADB (Android debugging bridge), you can make changes to the phone at a distance that will not be detected, since they are not actually malicious. It will take little time, the expert says.
And what can they do with the phone in this case? It turns out to be anything. You can install and uninstall applications, back up messages, photos and videos, application cache and data files. You can encrypt your data and demand a ransom to return the data. In March 2016, according to Avast, more than 138 million attacks were registered against PC users in Russia, which represents approximately 31 percent of the country's personal computer owners. Ordinary Internet users in Russia suffer most from hacker ransomware, which blocks access to data and demands ransom.
It turns out that even at the airport it is not safe to charge your phone. If there is no other option, at least turn it off before connecting to someone else's port, experts advise. It’s better to take a portable battery with you, experts recommend. By following the rules of “hygiene” in the digital space, the risk of becoming a victim of cyber fraudsters is significantly reduced.
“You have to be a little paranoid,” says Alexey Raevsky, an information security expert at the IT company Zecurion. — Do not open suspicious links received in messages even from people you know, do not open messages received by email from unfamiliar addresses, do not open links from email messages that say that your account is blocked, or you need to cancel a transaction, or anything like this that encourages the commission of rash actions.”
In addition, the computer must be equipped with up-to-date anti-virus software with a valid subscription to update the virus database. This will help you avoid becoming a victim of hacker attacks.
