You are probably already using HDMI or displayport to connect your monitor, but do you know that you can use its USB port? Often unseen monitor USB ports can provide electricity to your devices, reduce cable dislocation, and even unlock the characteristics you do not know your monitor offer.
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Charge your device and power accessories
Like the USB port on your laptop or desktop, you can supply an electricity on your monitor. This means that you can use it to charge all types of gadgets, from wireless earbuds and smartwatches to fitness trackers and even small USB-operated fans.
This will not charge your phone or power bank faster, but for a quick top-up when working or working with low-power equipment or working. If your monitor has both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports, you will see different charging speeds – USB 2.0 to 2.5 watts and USB 3.0 to 4.5 watts. So if you have an option, be sure to plug the high-power goods in the sharp port.
Of course, you are not limited to charging just. You can do goods like desk lamps, LED light bars, or even a cooling pad from your monitor. If you do not want to disorgan your desk with a power strip or adapter, those additional USB ports can work surprisingly on your monitor.
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keyboard mouse
Until you have a smart monitor that can work on your own, nothing will be planned to plug a keyboard or mouse directly into the USB port of your monitor. However, once the monitor is connected to a computer, this is a different story.
If your monitor contains an underlying USB hub (which is many modern), plugging your keyboard and mouse to your monitor can be a convenient solution. This will not only help you keep your desk clean, but will also save you from reaching your laptop behind your desktop or stretch cables to add your input devices.
Keep in mind that it will not work with every monitor. On some monitor, USB ports are only for firmware updates or basic power distribution. In fact, to use its monitor as USB hub, it needs to support the USB data passthrough. In other words, it is not enough to connect it through HDMI or displayport – those cables only carry videos and audio, not data.
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Turn your monitor into a full USB hub
You probably plug all types of USB devices in your computer, such as flash drives, hard drives, printers, and more. This is a default, no-grain move. But if your monitor has an underlying USB hub, it can also handle those devices.
Once you connect the monitor with your PC with the USB upstream cable (usually USB-B to USB-A or USB-C), the USB ports of the monitor acts as an extension of the USB system of your computer, which means that you are the usb storage drive, your phone, or even the usage of your computer. Plug can be plugged into the peripheners. Your PC will recognize them as they are directly connected to their own USB port.
In this way, instead of taking out the wires in every direction from your PC, you can plug everything neatly to your monitor. This is especially convenient if your computer is stuck under a desk or if you are using laptops with limited ports.
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Connect USB speaker
If your monitor does not have an underlying speaker (and there is still a stunning number), then plugging into the USB speaker is one of the easiest solutions. Most USB speakers use a single cable for both power and audio, so connecting them to the USB port of their monitor keeps things simple and cuts on cable dislocation.
This setup also works for microphones. If you are using USB MIC for video calls, streaming, or in-game chat, it is a convenient option to plug it into the USB port of your monitor.
A single monitor may not always be enough. If you are editing the video, writing code, or raising the spreadsheet on a large scale, a double or even triple monitor setup can create a big difference. The good news is that the USB port of your monitor can help you expand your screen space without the need of a complex docking station or a group of additional cables.
This will not work with the standard USB-A port on your monitor, as they are usually designed for external devices such as keyboard, mice, or flash drives and cannot transmit videos. However, if your monitor has a USB-C port with a displayport optional mode, thunderbolt with multi-stream transport (MST), or a displayport that supports MST, you are in luck.
These technologies let you connect multiple monitors through a method called “Daisy Chenning”, where each display links to the next using a single video output. For example, you can connect your laptop to the primary monitor using USB-C, then first one can link each other monitor via USB-C or Displayport.
This is particularly easy for laptop users who want to set several monitors, but only one HDMI port. Of course, compatibility is a major factor here. Your laptop, both monitor, and even cables you use need to support daisy-chaining and suitable video protocols.
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Play video and files directly from USB drive
Before you are very excited, please note that it will not work with any monitor just. Most standard monitors with USB ports cannot read flash drive directly. In most cases, those ports are useful only for firmware updates – you download the update file on the drive, plug it, and use the physical button of the monitor to start installation.
However, if you own a smart monitor, such as Samsung’s smart monitor series (which comes with your own operating system), you can use a USB flash drive to play media without the need of PC. Just plug into a drive loaded with videos, music, photos, or even documents, then use the remote to navigate the built-in media player and browse your content directly to the screen.
In this way, you will be able to play the content directly from the USB drive, like you will be on a smart TV. File compatibility may vary depending on the monitor model, but most smart monitors support common formats such as MP4, AVI, JPG and PNG.
You can check the user manual or manufacturer’s site for the complete list, but there is a possibility, your holiday photos and downloaded videos will work fine.
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Easy access and webcam for cable management
As long as you are not using DSLR as a webcam, you probably plug your webcam all the time. But instead of connecting it directly to your computer tower, plugging it into the USB hub of your monitor can make everything simple.
In this way, you will be able to keep a USB port free and will hang dirty cables from your desk or get entangled around your keyboard. And if you ever need to unplug your webcam-you are traveling or switching the device-you can easily do it, without walking in hard-to-wool places.
When most people think of computer monitor, they think it only as a screen – something that displays your work, your game or your favorite show. But its USB ports can be useful for everything from charging your gadgets to connecting peripherals to everything that you normally connect with your desktop or laptop.
The number and type of USB port on your monitor may vary by model, but likely, you will find a way to keep them for good use. So, next time you are going to plug some of your tower or behind your laptop, don’t forget about your monitor – you can find that it can also handle the job, and with less trouble.
