If you’ve ever felt like USB connectors always need flipping, you’re far from alone. It’s a near-universal annoyance—wrong side first, followed by more confusion on the second try.
According to SlashGear, the rectangular USB Type-A ports that still appear on many laptops, desktops, and flash drives can be reliably used without guesswork, thanks to a consistent physical feature present on all USB connectors.
The USB Type-A Trick: Follow the Plastic Tab
The solution to proper USB plug orientation lies inside the connector itself. Each USB Type-A plug has a flat plastic tab that holds its contact pins. To plug in USB correctly, the key is to look for that tab—it always goes opposite the tab inside the USB port.
For laptops, the port’s plastic side generally faces upward. This means the USB plug should have its plastic tab facing downward. On desktops, orientation may vary, so check the tab placement before inserting.
How to Spot the Right Side—Every Time
Aside from the tab, there are visual clues you can use. Look at the metal part of your USB connector—if you see two square holes, and they appear hollow, the plastic tab is on the opposite side. There’s also a jagged seam along one side of the metal shell. That seam is always on the same side as the plastic tab, giving you another way to know how to plug in USB correctly.
“The plastic tab in the male connector should always be oriented in the opposite direction of the plastic tab in the female connector.”
USB ports may also vary in color—green, blue, black—but this doesn’t impact functionality. These differences indicate features like fast charging but don’t affect how you insert the plug.
Universal Tip for a Universal Plug
The beauty of USB—short for Universal Serial Bus—is its standardized design. That consistency means once you know this trick, you can apply it across devices, no matter what kind of computer or USB gadget you’re using.
So the next time you’re about to flip your connector in frustration, remember: check the USB plastic tab, spot the jagged seam, and connect it right the first time.
Article updated 4 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
