Microsoft tests higher USB speeds in Windows 11

Microsoft has begun testing increased USB transfer speeds in Windows 11 using the USB4 version 2.0 specification. This update, available in the Windows 11 Insider build, aims to significantly increase data transfer speeds up to 80 Gbps over USB Type-C cables, up from 40 Gbps.

The USB4 version 2.0 standard, introduced in September 2022, is designed to accelerate data transfer speeds, which is especially useful for high-performance displays, USB hubs, docking stations, and storage devices. USB4 Gen 4 is backward compatible with older peripherals, so users don’t have to change peripherals immediately.

These improvements are being tested in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23615, released on the Dev Channel. However, to make full use of them, you will need 14th-generation Intel Core HX-series processors, as testing of 80 Gbps USB Type-C support in Windows 11 is still limited to these chips.