USB Charging/Data Cables - can't believe I didn't know.

[rj144]

I am a very tech literate person. I have lots of gadgets that I know how to use well. I just realized, after years of using these things, there's a difference between a USB charging and data cable. I thought every USB cable can both charge and transmit data, but no.

I was just trying to connect my phone to my computer, but the phone did not show up. It was only charging. I thought it was a USB problem and restarted... same thing. Then I thought it might be the cable, so I switched the cable and it worked. But, then I looked at the cables and the ends are different.

I never knew that and it's weird I didn't.

 

[SSgt Dickweed]

 

[Ares Black]

 

[SCTrojans]

I am a very tech literate person. I have lots of gadgets that I know how to use well. I just realized, after years of using these things, there's a difference between a USB charging and data cable. I thought every USB cable can both charge and transmit data, but no.

I was just trying to connect my phone to my computer, but the phone did not show up. It was only charging. I thought it was a USB problem and restarted... same thing. Then I thought it might be the cable, so I switched the cable and it worked. But, then I looked at the cables and the ends are different.

I never knew that and it's weird I didn't.

Every cable I've ever owned did both. I didn't know that either. I knew there were different types though lol.

 

[SalvadorAllende]

I didn't knew either.

Fuck this is to much to process on a monday morning.

 

[Phlog]

Poverty cables only doing one thing, pray for rj144.

 

[El_Dyablo619]

 

[Pliny Pete]

I knew this cause the cheap after market charging cables I buy never let my phone get recognized by my PC
Never looked into it so I didnt know there was an actual thing called a data cable though

 

[Naught2Sixty]

Hory shet. I didn't know this either.

 

[MicroBrew]

I am a very tech literate person. I have lots of gadgets that I know how to use well. I just realized, after years of using these things, there's a difference between a USB charging and data cable. I thought every USB cable can both charge and transmit data, but no.

I was just trying to connect my phone to my computer, but the phone did not show up. It was only charging. I thought it was a USB problem and restarted... same thing. Then I thought it might be the cable, so I switched the cable and it worked. But, then I looked at the cables and the ends are different.

I never knew that and it's weird I didn't.

In my expereince every charging cable for my phone has worked as a data transfer cable.

 

[kimocomplex]

dont buy cheap knock offs

 

[Slobodan]

In my expereince every charging cable for my phone has worked as a data transfer cable.

Most halfway decent cables are able to charge and transfer data without issue

It's the really cheap aftermarket ones that are usually charge only

 

[Prutfis]

Found that out when trying Android Auto. Thought it didnt work. Got the right cable and voila

 

[dirtypablo]

Technically, these aren't USB cables, they're two wire cables wired to USB form factor connectors. USB is a data communications (and hardware interface) standard. Without the data lines, its not really USB - just cheap cable manufacturers saving on copper and taking advantage of the fact that power is only on two of the lines.

 

[My Spot]

Even the cheap ones I’ve bought have always done both.

 

[rj144]

The charging only cables are the ones that always come with other things like power banks for phones. I'm not buying these cables.

 

[dirtypablo]

The charging only cables are the ones that always come with other things like power banks for phones. I'm not buying these cables.

That makes sense - they're probably labeled specifically 'charging cables included!' instead of USB cables.

 

[Nimrod]

I am a very tech literate person. I have lots of gadgets that I know how to use well. I just realized, after years of using these things, there's a difference between a USB charging and data cable. I thought every USB cable can both charge and transmit data, but no.

I was just trying to connect my phone to my computer, but the phone did not show up. It was only charging. I thought it was a USB problem and restarted... same thing. Then I thought it might be the cable, so I switched the cable and it worked. But, then I looked at the cables and the ends are different.

I never knew that and it's weird I didn't.

https://www.dignited.com/50330/usb-data-cable-vs-usb-charging-cable/

 

[dc007]

Explains why every cheap cable I've bought didn't work and Apple ones did.

 

[method115]

In my expereince every charging cable for my phone has worked as a data transfer cable.

Same I didn't even know this was a thing.