The reason why some USB ports are orange

An orange USB port is an indicator, but not set in stone by industry standardization.

By Thomas Godwin Oct. 27, 2026 11:15 am EST Andikha_2882/Shutterstock Add Engadget on Google: Google Discover

Take a look at some of the USB ports throughout your home. If you notice any orange ones, congratulations: there's a chance you have an "always-on" charging option. With these, the USB ports provide power through the power supply or internal battery even if the computer is shut off.