"USB device might need more power" error message

Question

"USB device might need more power" error message

Anonymous

Recently bought an iPhone 16, plugged in the phone's original USB-C charging cable to my Surface Book 3 USB-C port to charge the phone, and received the notification "USB device might need more power." Phone displays that it's charging, but I'm worried this may cause damage. Laptop is fully up to date. USB-C port seems to charge other devices and older phones just fine. Have tried unchecking "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" in the USB controllers list in Device Manager. Also tried disabling "USB Selective Suspend" in Power Options, but neither of these resolved the issue. Perhaps the iPhone simply draws too much power for the rated wattage of the USB-C port? (Could not find the output wattage info for this port). Thanks!

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2 answers

Answer 1

I received the same message before and after making the same changes, when I plugged our new iPhone 16 pro, the original poster did. My Dell XPS 8940, running windows 11 pro, desktop manual states that the USB 3.1 gen 1 type c port "delivers up to 5V/3A, which is equivalent to 15W" Is that why I am getting the error message?

Data wise, the manual states "USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Type-C) port Connect to external storage devices. Provides data transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps."

So should I install a third party board with the slightly faster USB 3.1 Gen 2 (type c) port that supplies say 50 watts? Any idea what cable I need for the maximum data rate. I waited six months to buy this phone so that this would be worked out.

Thanks in advance.

Answer 2

Hi jsmith_11,

Welcome to Microsoft Community. It sounds like you're dealing with a common issue when charging devices with higher power demands through USB-C ports that may not be designed to handle them at full capacity. The error message “USB device might need more power” typically means that the connected device is trying to draw more power than the port can provide. While your Surface Book 3’s USB-C port support charging, it might not support high-wattage charging. USB-C ports can vary in their power output, and some may not support the higher power delivery required for newer smartphones.

Surface devices often use USB-C for data transfer, video output, and charging, but the power output can differ depending on the specific port. The lack of clear information on the wattage output for your Surface Book 3's USB-C port makes it hard to know if it’s capable of providing enough power for the iPhone 16.

Charging with insufficient power typically won’t damage your iPhone or Surface. The device will just charge slower. The error is more about the system being unable to provide the full required power at once. Charging devices from USB-C ports that don't meet the required power output is more of an inconvenience than a risk, though it’s always safer to use a dedicated charger.

Your Sincerely Hahn. W - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist