Most of the cheap ones that are available online are completely passive, meaning they take the data pins from the USB-A plug and just wire them over to some pins on the USB-C receptacle. The problem is that the geometry of the USB-C plug vs. the USB-A plug means that if they just pick 6 data wires to pass from A to C (4 superseded wires and 2 USB 2.0 wires), only half of the superspeed pins in the USB-C receptacle will actually be functional, meaning your USB3 device will only work in one orientation, but not the other. Remember, USB-C has 8 superspeed pads, while USB-A has 4. In order to do it right, the adapter needs to have something called a multiplexor, or "mux" for short, which routes the 4 superspeed wires that come from the USB-A plug to the appropriate 4 superspeed pins depending on the orientation of the device you plug in. I won't ever use it for charging or anything like that. Whether you intend for it to be used for charging or not, like it or not, the USB system always guarantees power is sent on Vbus wires. Even if you're plugging in a DAC, the DAC is drawing power from your PC via the USB-C or USB-A port... so yes, that's "sinking power". Power is a concern. The USB-C port has more safety features built in from its original design than the USB-A port, meaning that when nothing is plugged in, the 5V main voltage is not present on any pin. All of the correct behavior of a USB-C female port requires active components to cut power to Vbus, and to route or mux signals. Passive adapters don't do that, and can't be recommended. Luckily for you, there are companies that make active adapters that check off more of the boxes: https://www.amazon.com/Female-Adapter-3-Pack-CableCreation-Peripherals/dp/B074V4QRNK?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&smid=A21TE5CLHZDYA7&th=1 That one will work in both orientations, and cuts Vbus when disconnected on the USB-C receptacle. Answer from LaughingMan11 on reddit.com
Walmart
walmart.com › c › kp › usb-c-adapters
USB C Adapters
$799current price $7.99Gray USB to USB C Adapter 2 Pack,USB C Female to A Male Charger Type C Converter for Apple Watch Ultra iWatch 7 8 SE,iPhone 14 13 12 11 Plus Pro Max Mini,AirPods,iPad Air,Samsung Galaxy S23 S22
Amazon
amazon.com › usb-c › s
Amazon.com: Usb C To Usb
usb c to usb adapter · usb c to usb b · usb c to usb cable · usb c to usb a · usb to usb c · usb c to usb c · Previous · 1 · 2 · 320 · Next · Visit the help section or contact us · Go back to filtering menu · Skip to main search results · Eligible for Free Shipping ·
Videos
10:50
Cheap USB-C programmable PD voltage module for 5,9,12,15,20V - YouTube
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The Frustrating Reality of USB-C (and why it never works) - YouTube
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How to Upgrade Any Old USB Device to USB-C - YouTube
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The BEST USB-C to USB-A Adapters that YOU CAN BUY!!! #Inexpensive ...
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What Exactly Is USB-C? (And Why Every Gadget Uses It Now) - YouTube
Why are USB C to USB A adapters bad?
Most of the cheap ones that are available online are completely passive, meaning they take the data pins from the USB-A plug and just wire them over to some pins on the USB-C receptacle. The problem is that the geometry of the USB-C plug vs. the USB-A plug means that if they just pick 6 data wires to pass from A to C (4 superseded wires and 2 USB 2.0 wires), only half of the superspeed pins in the USB-C receptacle will actually be functional, meaning your USB3 device will only work in one orientation, but not the other. Remember, USB-C has 8 superspeed pads, while USB-A has 4. In order to do it right, the adapter needs to have something called a multiplexor, or "mux" for short, which routes the 4 superspeed wires that come from the USB-A plug to the appropriate 4 superspeed pins depending on the orientation of the device you plug in. I won't ever use it for charging or anything like that. Whether you intend for it to be used for charging or not, like it or not, the USB system always guarantees power is sent on Vbus wires. Even if you're plugging in a DAC, the DAC is drawing power from your PC via the USB-C or USB-A port... so yes, that's "sinking power". Power is a concern. The USB-C port has more safety features built in from its original design than the USB-A port, meaning that when nothing is plugged in, the 5V main voltage is not present on any pin. All of the correct behavior of a USB-C female port requires active components to cut power to Vbus, and to route or mux signals. Passive adapters don't do that, and can't be recommended. Luckily for you, there are companies that make active adapters that check off more of the boxes: https://www.amazon.com/Female-Adapter-3-Pack-CableCreation-Peripherals/dp/B074V4QRNK?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&smid=A21TE5CLHZDYA7&th=1 That one will work in both orientations, and cuts Vbus when disconnected on the USB-C receptacle. More on reddit.com
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April 26, 2024Any reliable USB-C (female) to USB-A (male) adapters yet?
I picked up one of these this week. https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-CableCreation-Converter-Charging-Chargers/dp/B074V4QBS4 I haven't done a deep dive on it, but it avoids common mistakes I've seen in this category of device thus far. Vbus on USB-C side is well controlled. Only applies 5V to Vbus on USB-C receptacle if Rd is present from sink SuperSpeed USB pins are properly routed, so that SuperSpeed USB devices with a USB-C plug work in both orientations at 5Gbps (without active components, it would only work in one) Diodes protect from backfeed of Vbus voltage in case a legacy A-to-C cable is used on the C plug (ie, if the user tries to create an A-to-A cable, the adapter will prevent Vbuses from being attached to each other) Correct Rp resistors are used to advertise Default USB power only Relatively low power consumption. (8.6mW) Yeah, it's not a passive adapter. It's definitely got some active smarts. The manufacturer claims it's using a VL160 chipset internally, and VIA is a reputable chipset vendor. More on reddit.com
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36
March 18, 2021USB-C to USB-A, Safe?
Converting from C (female) to A (female) is fine spec-wise. Get an adapter from a bigger brand like Aukey to be on the safe side.
More on reddit.com 4
3
December 24, 2019In a USB-A to USB-C cable (for example the ones that come with phones for charging) does the -A side bottleneck the whole cable?
A USB 2.0 Type-A plug and receptacle have only 4 pins (Vbus, Ground, D+, D-). A USB 3.1 Type-A plug and receptacle have 9 pins. The USB-C connectors have 24 pins in total. The short answer is that, yes, because the USB-A connectors have far fewer pins, they are fundamentally less capable that USB-C ones, and a legacy USB-A to USB-C has a long list of things that it cannot do, including: USB Power Delivery, for higher voltage and higher current USB 3.2 2-lane operation, for 20Gbps on a USB 3.2 system DisplayPort Alternate Mode for native DP signals over USB-C USB4 Thunderbolt 3 More pins means more bandwidth, and more possibilities for mixing different functions together. The A-to-C cable was created as simply a legacy solution to connect newer USB-C-only devices to USB-A hosts. It was not meant to unlock next-gen use cases. More on reddit.com
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May 9, 2021Best Buy
bestbuy.com › site › searchpage.jsp
usb c to usb adapter - Best Buy
UGREEN - USB-C Hub, 4 Ports 10Gbps USB-C 3.2 Adapter (2 USB-C 3.2 + 2 USB-A 3.2), for MacBook, PC, Laptops - Black
Reddit
reddit.com › r/usbchardware › why are usb c to usb a adapters bad?
r/UsbCHardware on Reddit: Why are USB C to USB A adapters bad?
April 26, 2024 -
I have been searching Reddit for a budget USB C (female) to USB A (male) adapter, and have heard many people advice against getting them at all. Why is this? I know that they could potentially feed back the power into the USB port, but will they still be harmful if I use for data transfer? I would be only ever use it to convert a type C dongle DAC to USB A since my PC does not have any USB C ports. I won't ever use it for charging or anything like that. The one I'm currently using disconnects whenever it moves in the slightest, so I was looking for a replacement.
Top answer 1 of 3
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Most of the cheap ones that are available online are completely passive, meaning they take the data pins from the USB-A plug and just wire them over to some pins on the USB-C receptacle. The problem is that the geometry of the USB-C plug vs. the USB-A plug means that if they just pick 6 data wires to pass from A to C (4 superseded wires and 2 USB 2.0 wires), only half of the superspeed pins in the USB-C receptacle will actually be functional, meaning your USB3 device will only work in one orientation, but not the other. Remember, USB-C has 8 superspeed pads, while USB-A has 4. In order to do it right, the adapter needs to have something called a multiplexor, or "mux" for short, which routes the 4 superspeed wires that come from the USB-A plug to the appropriate 4 superspeed pins depending on the orientation of the device you plug in. I won't ever use it for charging or anything like that. Whether you intend for it to be used for charging or not, like it or not, the USB system always guarantees power is sent on Vbus wires. Even if you're plugging in a DAC, the DAC is drawing power from your PC via the USB-C or USB-A port... so yes, that's "sinking power". Power is a concern. The USB-C port has more safety features built in from its original design than the USB-A port, meaning that when nothing is plugged in, the 5V main voltage is not present on any pin. All of the correct behavior of a USB-C female port requires active components to cut power to Vbus, and to route or mux signals. Passive adapters don't do that, and can't be recommended. Luckily for you, there are companies that make active adapters that check off more of the boxes: https://www.amazon.com/Female-Adapter-3-Pack-CableCreation-Peripherals/dp/B074V4QRNK?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&smid=A21TE5CLHZDYA7&th=1 That one will work in both orientations, and cuts Vbus when disconnected on the USB-C receptacle.
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I know I'm a little late to the game, but came across this post while researching and now here to say I ended up getting this , and can thoroughly recommend - super fast etc.
Apple
apple.com › all accessories › charging essentials › usb-c to usb adapter
USB-C to USB Adapter - Apple
USB-C to USB Adapter
The USB-C to USB Adapter lets you connect your iOS devices and USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) enabled Mac. Buy now a apple.com
Price $19.00
StarTech.com
startech.com › home › cables › usb-c cables › usb31caadp
6in (15cm) USB-C to USB-A Adapter, USB 5Gbps, 3A, USB-C Male to USB-A Female Converter, USB-IF Certi
6in (15cm) USB-C to USB-A Adapter, USB 5Gbps, 3A, USB-C Male to USB-A Female Converter, USB-IF Certified - Thunderbolt Compatible
Have you purchased a new device that only came equipped with a USB Type-C™ or Thunderbolt™ 3 port, such as a laptop or tablet? Do you need to connect to older USB 3.2 Gen 1 or 2.0 devices?
This USB-C™ to USB-A adapter makes it easy to connect USB 3.2 Gen 1 and 2.0 devices to new USB-C devices. Simply plug the adapter into the USB Type-C port to turn it into a USB Type-A port, and you’re ready to connect your older devices. The adapter is compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 1 enabled computers, such as the Dell Latitude 11 5000 2-in-1, and more.
Provide superior connections with a USB-IF certified ad
Price $16.99
Hero's Armory
herosarmory.com › products › usb-a-to-usb-c-adapter
USB A to USB C Adapter – Hero's Armory
USB A to USB C Adapter
Connect your new 3.0 Sword USB Drive to modern devices that only accept USB-C, such as Apple's newest line of Macbooks & Mac.
Perfectly compatible with our line of USB Swords
Transfer data up to 10x faster than USB 2.0 Drives
For use with newer devices that only accept USB 3.0
Price $5.99
Amazon
amazon.com › Adapter-JXMOX-Charger-Compatible-Samsung › dp › B092JNHDSB
Amazon.com: JXMOX USB C Female to USB Male Adapter 4-Pack, Type C to USB A Charger Cable Converter,Compatible with iPhone 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Pro Max,iPad Pro Air 4 Mini 6,Samsung Galaxy S25 S24 S23 S22,Pixel : Electronics
Amazon.com: JXMOX USB C Female to USB Male Adapter 4-Pack, Type C to USB A Charger Cable Converter,Compatible with iPhone 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Pro Max,iPad Pro Air 4 Mini 6,Samsung Galaxy S25 S24 S23 S22,Pixel : Electronics
Belkin
belkin.com › p › 3.0-usb-c-to-usb-a-adapter-usb-c-adapter › P-F2CU036.html
3.0 USB-C to USB-A Adapter (USB-C Adapter) | Belkin US
The Belkin USB-C to USB-A Adapter lets you charge your USB-C device as well as sync your photos, music and data to your existing laptop at transfer speeds of 5Gbps.
eBay
ebay.com › electronics › computers/tablets & networking › computer cables & connectors › usb cables, hubs & adapters › usb type c usb adapters
Usb Type C USB Adapters for sale | eBay
Adapter performs flawlessly. Does exactly what I needed it to do which is convert Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 for my... see all reviews ... Great usb-c adapter. The usb-c powerdirect port also works as an audio out port which is great. The device feels very hi...
StarTech.com
startech.com › home › cables › usb-c cables › usb31caadg
USB-C to USB-A Adapter - M/F - USB 3.0 (5Gbps)
USB-C to USB-A Adapter - M/F - USB 3.0 (5Gbps)
This USB-C™ to USB-A adapter lets you connect standard USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 2.0 devices to your USB-C equipped phone, tablet or computer. Simply plug the adapter into the USB Type-C™ port to turn it into a USB Type-A port, and you’re ready to connect your older devices. The adapter is compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 1 enabled computers, such as the Dell™ Latitude™ 11 5000 2-in-1, and more.
The USB31CAADG is backed by a StarTech.com 2-year warranty for guaranteed reliability.
Note: USB 3.2 Gen 1 is also known as USB 3.0 (5Gbps).
Price $14.99
EZQuest
ezq.com › usb-c-female-to-usb-a-male-mini-adapter-2-pack.htm
USB-C Female to USB-A Male Mini Adapter 2 Pack
The EZQuest USB-C Female to USB-A Male Mini Adapter lets you charge/sync your iPhone, iPad, tablets or smartphones through converting the USB-C to USB-A connectors. The EZQuest USB-C Female to USB-A Male Mini Adapter also converts your USB-C ...
Monoprice
monoprice.com › adapters, switches, & splitters › av & computer adapters › usb adapters › 35254
Monoprice USB-C Female to USB-A Male, 3.1 Gen 2 Adapter - Monoprice.com
Monoprice USB-C Female to USB-A Male 3.1 Gen 2 Adapter
Do you have all new USB Type-C™ devices, but no more USB-C™ ports? With this Monoprice USB-C to USB-A 3.1 Gen 2 Adapter, you can connect your USB Type-C device to a compatible USB Type-A port. With the ability to identify the orientation of the Type-C connector, you don't have to worry about losing any data speeds if connected the wrong way. Supporting the USB 3.1 Gen 2 standard, this adapter can connector and transfer data at speeds up to 10Gbps through a compatible connection.Features: Up to 10Gbps data transfer speeds when connected to a supported deviceProvides Power Deliver (PD) through a
Price $7.99
iStore
istore.co › home › usb-c to usb-a adapter set
USB-C to USB-A Adapter Set
USB-C to USB-A Adapter Set
Embrace the future of connectivity without discarding older USB-A devices and cables. The iStore USB-C Adapter Bundle is the ultimate solution to merge the usability of your legacy devices with your most updated devices.
Price $26.99
Staples
staples.com › computer-accessories-peripherals › cables-cable-accessories › adapters-splitters › tripp lite usb-c to usb-a adapter, female to male, black (u329-000)
Tripp Lite USB-C to USB-A Adapter, Female to Male, Black (U329-000) | Staples
Tripp Lite USB-C to USB-A Adapter, Female to Male, Black (U329-000)
Get Tripp Lite USB-C to USB-A Adapter, Female to Male, Black (U329-000) fast at Staples. Free next-day delivery when you spend $35+.
Price $15.29
Rocstor
rocstor.com › product › 6-inch-rocstor-premium-usb-c-to-usb-a-adapter-m-f-usb-2-0
USB-C to USB-A Adapter (USB 2.0) – M/F – rocstor.com
USB-C to USB-A Adapter (USB 2.0) - M/F
Rocstor Premium USB-C to USB-A Adapter (USB 2.0) - M/F- USB 2.0 - USB Type C to A Converter - For use of USB C devices such as Macbook Pro, MacBook, Chromebook, and other USB-C devices - 1 Pack - 1 x USB Type C Male - 1 x USB Type A Female - Nickel Connector - Black
Price $10.95
Satechi
satechi.net › products › aluminum-usb-c-to-usb-a-adapter
Type-C to USB Adapter Converter | Satechi - Apple and PC Accessories
Aluminum USB-C to USB-A 3.0 Adapter
Thanks to the Satechi Type-C USB A...Type-C USB is here – but that doesn’t mean you can’t use your old USB peripherals! Thanks to the Satechi Type-C USB Adapter, you can easily convert a Type-C USB port to a standard USB 3.0 port.
Price $14.99
Native Union
nativeunion.com › home › belt cable (usb-c to usb-c)
Belt Cable (USB-C to USB-C)
Belt Cable (USB-C to USB-C)
Unlock the new standard of charging. An everyday charging solution designed with Power Delivery support for the fastest charge ever in refined style. Learn more about Power Delivery.
For Type-C phones & tablets
Made better for the Earth with an innovative eco-friendly construction: 100% recycled PET braiding, 100% recycled TPU housing & 75% recycled bonded leather strap
Stay tangle-free with the genuine leather strap
4ft length for effortless on-the-go carry
Reinforced braiding & ultra-strong aramid fiber core withstand wear & tear
Choose quality - USB-IF certified
This product is
Price $19.99
Moshi
us.moshi.com › home › usb-c to dual usb-a adapter
USB-C to Dual USB-A Adapter – us.moshi (US)
... Two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports with up to 5 Gbps data transfer speed.Connect any standard USB device (hard drive, mouse, keyboard, and printer) to your USB-C laptop.Thunderbolt-3 compatible and 100% plug-n-play, no drivers needed.Anodized aluminum ...
Satechi
satechi.net › products › usb-c-to-usb-3-0-adapter-cable
USB-C to USB 3.0 Adapter Cable | Satechi - Apple and PC Accessories
USB-C to USB 3.0 Adapter Cable
The Satechi USB-C to USB 3.0 Adapter Cable is your sleek, convenient solution to connecting USB-A devices to your USB...The Satechi USB-C to USB 3.0 Adapter Cable is your sleek, convenient solution to connecting USB-A devices to your USB Type-C ...
Price $14.99