how do i find out if my usb port is 2.0 or 3.0

[phantom8]

Wanting to purchase an external hard drive for my notebook to back up my photos.  How do I determine if I have a USB 2 or 3.

[Dragon-Fur]

Phantom8,

Welcome the forum!

You will love this. Low Tech Solution - quick and easy.

Get a flashlight (or a torch if you are British), point it at the bottom of the notebook along the edge next to the USB port --- and peer ever so closely at the USB port.  Brilliant designers; print is black on gray.

Look for the logo   , that is the "SS", next to the network sign; "SS" USB denotes the SuperSpeed USB 3.0. 

No "SS"?  USB port is USB 2.0

Dragon Tips:

USB  3.0 devices do not plug in all the way - this is normal.

NOTES:

• USB 3.0 ports are likely located on the left side edge of the notebook, toward the front.
• USB 3.0 accomodates most 3.0 devices and many USB 2.0 (and USB 1.x)

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Available on some models:  USB-c

Proper use of the charging feature requires attention to detail; all cables are not equal.

USB Type C Cables and Accessories Reviews

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2012 Year of the Dragon!

[csorcabal]

Good job.
finally founfd answer

[Graham007]

Great - i did not know that!!

[Boosan]

Easy way to identify a USB  port is to peer inside and check what colour the connecting part inside is.

USB 3.0 are coloured Blue.

USB 2.0 are coloured Grey

[Sbergstc]

Yep, there it is printed just below the port itself. Never would have thought it would be that easy... 🙂

sberg

[Hashim-Shafiq]

good

[Sb001]

Not so fast Waldo, HP did NOT color code my HP 18-5110 3.0 usb ports, they only marked them with with the letters SS in black. Maybe I got a very low end HP PC and the blue ports were too expensive to include, they only come with the high end models.

[Lorenz_the_wizz]

Thanks, Dragon Fur! I was looking for the same as phantom8. This really helped.

[Stankod5]

Well, ok then!   No collors in my case, not in the port, nor in the usb device. Thanx.