Your new monitor is the perfect addition to your home office. Its streamlined design and high-quality resolution make it both aesthetically pleasing and extremely useful.
You plan on connecting your laptop/PC to the monitor, but you quickly notice that your computer is lacking an HDMI port.
Instead, your laptop/PC only has some USB ports. But is it possible to connect an HDMI-compatible monitor to your laptop/PC’s USB port?
Yes, it is. However, the laptop/PC’s USB port must support this connection type and you’ll need to use a compatible USB to HDMI adapter.
Let’s get started!
Quick Navigation
Is USB-A/B/C the Same as USB 2.0/3.0/4.0?
No, they are not the same.
USB-A, B, and C are all different USB connector types, meaning they vary physically and are compatible with different ports. You cannot, for instance, plug a USB-A plug into a USB-C port, and vice versa.
On the other hand, USB 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 are different specifications for the connector type. You cannot tell which USB specification your laptop/PC has by looking at it.
USB-A and USB-C ports are usually found on computers.
Meanwhile, USB-B ports are rarely featured on laptops or PCs. However, they are usually found on printers, scanners, docking stations, and hubs as input ports.
For USB-A Port on a Laptop (USB 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2)
Almost all modern laptops/PCs have a USB-A port which can be used to connect it to a monitor. However, your laptop/PC’s USB-A port must meet the required specifications. Skip to the following section How to Check Your USB’s Specification on your Laptop? to learn how to verify your USB port version.
Once you’ve confirmed that your USB-A port is compatible with this connection, you’re ready to connect your laptop/PC to your monitor by following the instructions below.
Materials Needed
Instructions
Step 1: Connect your monitor and PC to the power. If you’re using a laptop with a built-in battery, ensure it’s sufficiently charged and connected to its charging cable if needed.
Step 2: Plug one end of your HDMI cable into your monitor’s HDMI IN port.
Step 3: Then, connect the other end of the HDMI cable to the USB-A to HDMI adapter’s HDMI port.
Step 4: Next, connect the adapter’s attached USB-A cable to your laptop/PC’s USB-A port. Double-check that all cables are secure.
For USB-C Port on a Laptop (USB 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 4.0)
If all of your laptop’s USB-A ports are occupied, consider using its USB-C port instead. While USB-C ports are marginally less common than USB-A ports, they can still be found on countless laptops/PCs.
As always, your laptop/PC’s USB-C port must meet the required specifications.
You can connect your USB-C-compatible laptop/PC to an HDMI-compatible monitor using a USB-C to HDMI adapter.
Let’s learn how!
Materials Needed
Instructions
Step 1: Ensure your HDMI monitor and laptop/PC are both connected to power or sufficiently charged.
Step 2: Connect one side of an HDMI cable to one of your HDMI monitor’s HDMI IN ports.
Step 3: Plug the other end of the same HDMI cable into the HDMI port found on the USB-C to HDMI adapter.
Step 4: Plug the adapter’s attached USB-C connector into your laptop/PC’s USB-C port.
How to Check Your USB’s Specification on Your Laptop?
You know that your laptop/PC has a USB-A or USB-C port, but you’re not sure if it’s the correct specification to be connected to a monitor via an adapter.
Sometimes, the older laptop/PC will only support this type of connection if it’s fitted with the correct USB specification, so it’s crucial to verify this information before purchasing the necessary adapter.
Follow the steps below to check your Windows or Mac OS laptop’s USB port specifications.
Windows OS
Step 1: Press the Start button in the bottom-left corner of your screen.
Step 2: Type “Device Manager” into the search bar and select it from the results.
Step 3: Scroll down and find the Universal Serial Bus controllers section. Then, select it to see its contents.
Step 4: Look for the following specifications to see if your laptop/PC’s USB ports support them:
- USB 2.0
- USB 3.0
- USB 3.1
- USB 3.2
- USB 4.0
macOS
Step 1: Launch the Apple Menu.
Step 2: Go to About This Mac.
Step 3: Head to System Report.
Step 4: Under Hardware, go to USB.
Step 5: Search for one of the following USB specifications:
- USB 2.0
- USB 3.0
- USB 3.1
- USB 3.2
- USB 4.0
You can also check for Thunderbolt/USB4 (if any).
Is USB Better than HDMI at Transfering Visual Content?
Yes, USB can be better at transferring visual content than HDMI.
HDMI was specifically designed to transfer AV content and has been the standard for audio and visual transmission, finding its way onto every TV and projector, and most monitors.
It’s also fast, delivers high-quality video, and made AV setups with several different cables a thing of the past.
However, the invention and popularity of USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4 have made HDMI the inferior AV cable/port.
While HDMI 2.1a only supports a maximum resolution of 10K, USB 4.0 can output a max resolution of 16K. This makes the USB 4.0 the obvious choice for anyone trying to facilitate an ultra-high resolution setup.
If it’s the speed you’re looking for, the USB 4.0 also has a clear advantage over HDMI. USB 4.0 supports a maximum bandwidth of 120 Gbps. On the other hand, HDMI 2.1a only supports a maximum bandwidth of 48 Gbps.
Additionally, as laptops become slimmer and sleeker, USB-C is the obvious choice for most manufacturers since it’s thinner than HDMI. This allows manufacturers to continuously design leaner computers while still ensuring they can be connected to monitors via a USB-C port.
Wrapping Things Up
You can absolutely connect your laptop/PC to an HDMI monitor via its USB port. However, the USB port should have a compatible specification. Luckily, you can verify this information in your laptop/PC’s settings.
To connect your laptop/PC to a monitor, you’ll need to use a USB-A/USB-C to HDMI adapter, depending on which port your device has.
While HDMI used to be the end-all-be-all of AV transmission, USB 4.0’s abilities have far surpassed them. USB-C has also become the obvious choice for most manufacturers since it can fit on thin, modern laptops.
What’s your experience connecting an HDMI monitor to your laptop/PC’s USB port?
Let us know in the comments below!
Yesenia Achlim is a technical copywriter and editor with a focus on AV equipment. She aims to break down complicated topics and make technology accessible, no matter your technical expertise. When she’s not teaching you how to replace a projector lamp, you can find her reading and baking.