USB-C has never been the universal solution it was meant to be. Is Microsoft changing that?
USB-C has almost never had the same function on any device. You’re never sure if you can charge your laptop and transmit video signals. Microsoft wants to put an end to this in Windows 11 with the Windows Hardware Compatibility Program (WHCP).
Two Promises
It promises to ensure that all USB data, charging, and display functions “just work on all USB ports,” Microsoft writes in a blog. There, it cites an example called ‘The Blank Display’: an employee connects their monitor via a USB-C port and receives no video signal. Additionally, all 40 Gbps ports on Windows 11 PCs must be compatible with USB-4 and Thunderbolt 3 devices. These rules are said to already be in effect for certified Windows 11 laptops and tablets with Windows 11 24H2.
In the above graph, Microsoft shows the requirements. We see that USB-C ports support the three functions, but it differs per standard. This makes sense, as USB-3 ports, for example, don’t provide as much power with Power Delivery as USB-4 ports. Power Delivery can supply up to 240 Watts of power
The certification will be updated with each Windows release to offer better solutions.