Phone & Tablet

Beginner

4 min read 5 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026

What You Can Do With the USB-C Port on iPhone 15 and 16

iPhone 15 and later replaced the Lightning port with USB-C. Learn what this new port can do — from faster charging to connecting accessories you probably already own.

At a Glance

Charging with USB-C

~27s

Plug any USB-C cable into your iPhone's port at the bottom. Connect the other end to a USB-C power adapter (wall charger). Any USB-C charger works, but for the fastest speeds, use one rated at 20W or higher. You can also charge from a laptop's USB-C port or a portable battery pack with USB-C.

Quick Tip

Your old iPhone's Lightning charger and cable will NOT work with iPhone 15 or 16. Look for the cable that has the same small oval connector on both ends — that's USB-C.

Transfer photos to a computer

~20s

Connect your iPhone to your Mac or Windows PC using a USB-C cable. Unlock your iPhone and tap "Trust" when the computer asks. On Mac, open the Photos app and your iPhone appears in the sidebar under "Devices." On Windows, the phone appears in File Explorer under "This PC." You can then copy photos and videos to your computer.

Connect to a TV or monitor

~20s

Buy a USB-C to HDMI adapter (search online for "USB-C to HDMI cable" — they cost around $10–15). Plug the USB-C end into your iPhone and the HDMI end into your TV or monitor. Your iPhone's screen will mirror to the larger display. You may need to change your TV's input to the HDMI port you plugged into.

Use wired headphones

~17s

If you have wired headphones with a standard 3.5mm headphone plug (the round metal connector), you'll need a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter. These are available at Apple, Amazon, and most electronics stores for under $10. Plug the adapter into your iPhone's USB-C port, then plug your headphones into the adapter.

Charge other devices from your iPhone

~24s

To charge another USB-C device from your iPhone's battery, connect them with a short USB-C cable. Your iPhone will share its battery power with the other device. This works with AirPods (with USB-C case), another iPhone, or any small USB-C device. Note that your iPhone's battery will drain while doing this.

Quick Tip

You cannot charge your iPhone from itself — this only works for charging other devices from your iPhone's battery.

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Starting with the iPhone 15, Apple switched from its proprietary Lightning connector to the industry-standard USB-C port. This is the same type of port used by most Android phones, MacBooks, iPads, and many laptops and accessories sold today.

The change means you may already own cables that work with your newer iPhone. If you have a MacBook, an iPad Pro, or an Android phone, that USB-C cable you use for those will also work with your iPhone 15 or 16.

Here's what you can do with the USB-C port on your iPhone:

Charge your phone

— Any USB-C charger works, though charging speed varies. A standard USB-C charger (like the one that comes with an iPad or MacBook) will charge your iPhone at a good speed. USB-C Power Delivery (PD) chargers can charge even faster. The old white brick Lightning chargers and cables do not work.

Transfer photos and videos to a computer

— Connect your iPhone to a Mac or Windows PC with a USB-C cable to import photos and videos directly. On iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro, the transfer happens much faster thanks to USB 3 speeds.

Connect to a monitor or TV

— With a USB-C to HDMI adapter (sold inexpensively online or at electronics stores), you can display your iPhone's screen on a TV or external monitor. Great for showing a slideshow or watching a video on a larger screen.

Use wired headphones

— With a USB-C to 3.5mm headphone adapter, you can plug in standard wired earbuds or headphones.

Charge other devices from your iPhone

— iPhone 15 and 16 can actually charge other USB-C devices (like AirPods with a USB-C case) directly from the iPhone's battery. Just connect them with a cable.

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Official Resources

Apple Support — iPhone Google Help — Android Samsung Support

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