USB port that supports power-off charging will continue to operate on non-chargeable devices.
USB port that supports power-off charging will continue to operate on non-chargeable devices.
There is a blue USB port on my laptop labeled "USB port with power-off charging" that can charge mobile devices even when the laptop is off or in sleep mode. I intend to use it for a microphone since other ports are occupied by the keyboard and mouse. I want the port to stay connected continuously, so if I connect the microphone while the laptop is off, will it maintain power and consume battery as long as it remains plugged in? Is there a way to turn this off or should I be concerned if it’s not a charging device? I also learned that some non-certified 3.0 devices might not function properly, is this something I need to consider if I’m only plugging in non-charging equipment? What does this feature mean, and should I disable it or worry about its impact on my mouse and keyboard when the laptop is asleep or powered on?
The USB port can power on any connected device without knowing its type. For unapproved devices, performance may not match expectations due to lack of certification. The "USB Selective suspend" feature is designed to disable USB devices when they're idle for a period (refer to the documentation link). This setting probably won't impact certain devices such as input peripherals.
This setting probably doesn't influence mouse and keyboard functionality, but it might manage microphones to conserve power until sound is detected. Yes, these choices could keep the connected microphone active regardless of whether it's connected to the laptop.
Usually, computers supply power through USB ports when off, and this is managed by BIOS configurations. But there doesn’t appear to be any Acer documentation about BIOS settings, making it hard to learn about this. If you’re willing to explore all the BIOS options yourself, that’s an option. Otherwise, you might need to seek help from a specialist.
My prediction leans toward a balanced outcome. On one side, Windows is aware of microphone usage. On the other, certain functions need the microphone active continuously. Therefore, I’ll lean more conservatively and assume it’s always on.
As you noted, you can also disable USB power when the laptop is off via the BIOS settings.
It completely changes the situation. And it only impacts the particular USB port. All other ports will remain off regardless.
It seems there are a few different tools and settings involved. Acer Quick Access can prevent the laptop from shutting down, but it runs quietly in the background. Removing and readding it restores previous settings. The Nitro 5 doesn't offer a power-off option directly in BIOS; it's only available via the Quick Access App. In BIOS, USB Wake Support allows devices to wake the laptop, but it doesn't necessarily mean a device can power the system on.