How To Tell If A USB Cable Is Charge Only

You might want to utilize a connection you already have in your house to transfer data between devices, but you're not sure if it's a data cable or a USB charging cable. Fortunately, there are a few methods you can use to figure out what kind of cable you have and if you need to buy a new one or not:

Data transfer test

The quickest and easiest fix is to do a brief data transfer test. The quickest and most accurate approach to learning is to do it; it should only take a few seconds. Simply connect an external device to your PC or laptop first, such as a smartphone.

It is a data cable if a message on your display indicates that it has been linked to a media device or if it is asking for authorization to connect. On the other hand, you can tell it is only a USB charging cable if the only clue that anything has happened is a charging sign indicating that your smartphone has been linked to a power source.

Physical examination

Given that you will need to carefully separate your connections, this isn't always a viable solution. The better option is a data transfer test, yet a physical examination would definitely better satisfy your curiosity if you're curious about how things function.

Four wires are typically present in a data cable: one positive, one negative, one for receiving data, and one for sending data. However, a charging cable normally just has the positive and negative wires—none of the data cables are present. Because they include more wires and hence have thicker outer insulation, data cables are frequently somewhat thicker than charging cables.

Using the right cable

When cables seem to be defective, damaged, or not functioning properly, they may be a major cause of annoyance and confusion. But it's possible that you're not utilizing the cable in line with its intended use.

Data connections are frequently criticized for charging connected devices but not really transferring data, which is one of the most frequent complaints. However, it is extremely possible that the data line is actually a charging wire and not at all a data cable.
Since these two kinds of wires are practically identical from the outside, it is a very widespread mistake. Knowing which is which is helpful since they serve quite distinct functions and will help you stay out of trouble.