A few days after completing my PC build, I noticed that devices connected to the case's front USB ports indicate that they are charging, but their battery levels do not increase. The same thing happens when connecting them directly to the motherboard's rear USB-A and USB-C ports, so the case's front-panel wiring does not appear to be the only issue.
I tested an iPhone 14 Plus, DualSense controller, Xbox Series controller, and Keychron Q1 Max keyboard. Each device detects a charging connection, while USB data communication works normally for devices such as my mouse and wireless keyboard receiver. I also tested with the computer both powered on and shut down, including the BIOS option to keep USB power available while the system is off.
Could this be a motherboard, BIOS, USB power-delivery, cable, or configuration problem? I expected at least the controllers and keyboard to charge from a normal USB port, even if they charged slowly.
2 Answers
A normal USB port may only provide basic 5V power, often around 2.5–5W, unless it specifically supports a charging standard or USB Power Delivery. That can be enough for a controller or keyboard when it is idle, but the device may use power as quickly as it receives it, making the battery percentage stay the same. Phones are especially likely to show a charging indicator without charging quickly from a basic computer port.
Since the issue affects both the case ports and the motherboard ports, it is probably not just the front-panel connector. Try a known-good, charge-capable cable and compare the same device and cable with a wall charger. Also check the USB port’s documented current rating and update the motherboard BIOS and chipset drivers. If the devices charge normally from a wall charger but never gain charge from any motherboard port, the board may have a USB power-delivery fault or limitation and could be worth testing under warranty.
Wouldn’t even basic 5W power normally be enough to charge the controllers, though? They still report charging, but their battery levels do not increase.