USB-C or barrel? How to tell which charger your laptop needs
The single biggest cause of buying the wrong laptop charger. Here's how to tell in 5 seconds whether your HP or Dell charges over USB-C or a round barrel plug.
Look at the plug, not the port
USB-C chargers end in a small, flat, reversible oval that fits either way up. Barrel chargers end in a round pin. The fastest check is the tip of your old charger.
A USB-C port is not always a charging port
Many HP Pavilion laptops have a USB-C port for data/display but charge only through a round 4.5mm barrel. Don't assume USB-C just because the port exists — check that the port (or the original adapter) is used for power.
When in doubt, photograph the label
Read the OUTPUT line on your old charger, or the power sticker on the underside of the laptop. Or upload a photo and we'll read it for you.