How to Tell if Your Computer Has USB 2.0 Ports

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Some external peripherals, or USB devices are only compatible for use with USB 2.0 ports. You can verify whether your computer has USB 2.0 ports by reviewing system specifications on your Windows or Mac computer.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Checking USB Ports in Windows

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  1. Step 1 Click on the “Start” button and select “Control Panel.
    ” The Control Panel window will display on-screen.
  2. Step 2 Click on “System and Maintenance” and select “Device Manager.
    ”
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  3. Step 3 Double-click on, or open “Universal Serial Bus controllers.
    ”
  4. Step 4 Verify whether any of the USB controllers in the list are labeled as “Enhanced.
    ” If your USB controllers are listed as “Enhanced,” then your Windows computer has USB 2.0 ports installed.[1]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Checking USB Ports on Mac OS X

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  1. Step 1 Open the Applications folder and select “Utilities.
    ”
  2. Step 2 Open “System Profiler.
    ” The System Profiler window will open and display on-screen.
  3. Step 3 Click on “USB” in the left pane under Hardware.
  4. Step 4 Review the list of USB ports in the top pane to determine whether your computer contains any USB 2.0 ports.
    Each USB port will be labeled specifically as “USB 1.0,” USB 2.0,” or “USB 3.0.”
    • If the USB ports aren't labeled appropriately, click on each port and make note of the value next to “Speed” in the bottom pane. If the speed is listed as “480 Mbp/sec,” then the USB port is capable of 2.0 speeds.
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References

  1. ↑ http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/tips-for-solving-problems-with-usb-devices

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 64,319 times.
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Co-authors: 4
Updated: July 30, 2025
Views: 64,319
Categories: Basic Computer Skills
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