You are out on the go and just realized there are no mains to plug in your laptop charger. Or perhaps you don’t have your laptop charger with you, or the main charging port is damaged. Thankfully, in this article, we will see how to charge a laptop with another laptop using a supported USB port.
You simply need to plug one end of the USB-C into the PC you intend to charge and the other end of the USB cable into the PC you want to use for charging.
First up, before commencing with the article, the first question to ask is, can you really charge a laptop with another laptop, and what type of USB will you need?
Can I Charge a Laptop With Another Laptop?
If your laptop is designed to be powered by a USB port, the answer is yes; you can charge a laptop with another laptop. Your computer must have the USB C type port, found in modern laptops specifically. Standard USB ports like the larger USB-A cannot be used to charge your PC with whatever power source you have.
Otherwise, a short circuit can occur, and it is one of the ways to have your laptop fried; you may even damage the motherboards of both laptops.
If your laptop is discharging, you do not have a charging adapter, and you have another laptop with a free USB port nearby, you can charge your laptop via the USB charging cable.
You have several options to try if you want to charge your laptop via USB. But your laptop must have a USB-C interface. If so, there should be a loading icon right next to it. This can come in either battery or flash. So what is a USB C?
How USB Charging Works in Laptops
A USB-C is a 24-pin USB connector system used for power transfer. If USB 3.1 technology is installed in a USB C port, it can also be used as a charging port.
USB C can transmit up to 100 watts of energy output. The advantage is that the manufacturer no longer has to install an additional charging port. But most PC manufacturers still include a standard charging port and USB C.
For laptops like MacBooks with USB C charging ports, this saves space and makes them even slimmer. For example, if a USB C port is not used to charge the device, a mouse or hard drive can be connected to it.
A USB C port can be equipped with the Thunderbolt 3 interface protocol. Developed by Apple and Intel, this technology replaces the charging port and even makes the HDMI cable obsolete. It lets the computer output the image to a compatible monitor or television.
How to Charge Laptop With Another Laptop Using a USB-C
If your laptop has a powerful USB C port and you have access to another laptop, then you can charge using the other device. This charging system has long been known in mobile phones and is also found in modern laptops such as the latest MacBooks.
Simply plug one end of the USB C into the PC you intend to charge and the other end of the USB cable into the PC you want to use for charging.
However, as earlier mentioned, not all laptops can be charged via the partner USB port. You can usually find this information in the laptop manual.
Other Ways to Charge Your Laptop Without Its Charger
With a USB PD
If you just forgot your charger, you can also use USB Power Delivery (USB PD). You need a USB-C cable, a USB PD power supply, and a USB port with the corresponding symbol on your laptop.
The reason why USB PD can theoretically charge laptops is simple: These can have a voltage of five to 20 volts at five amperes and a power of up to 100 watts. A disadvantage could be that your laptop loads much more slowly than usual.
With Power Bank
If there is no socket available, you can charge your laptop via USB if you have a decent power bank. You must know roughly how many milliampere hours (mAh) your laptop has.
You can charge your laptop with a power bank via USB if you have a USB-C interface. If this is not the case, you can also use a classic DC output. Adapters are also suitable for this if you do not have USB-C output.
You should also know the battery capacity of your power bank. A power bank with a 20,000 and 50,000 mAh capacity is needed. It is also essential that the power bank has a 16 to 20V outlet.
With a Car Charger
There is a car cigarette lighter adapter for almost all laptop models. With the help of this adapter, you can also charge your laptop without your charging cable while driving. While one end of the car charger cable fits into the cigarette lighter, the other fits into your laptop’s USB port or the power connector.
These adapters are highly recommended, especially for business travelers. They are very inexpensive and compatible with almost all laptops. However, if the adapter ends in USB, you must pay attention to which USB version your laptop supports because many adapters only work from USB 2.0.
Conclusion
You’re on the road and urgently need to charge your laptop. Unfortunately, there’s no socket nearby. You can charge your laptop with another laptop, a power bank, or a car charger. You need to ensure that you have the appropriate charging cables, adapter, and power source.
