# Framework 16 USB Confusion **URL:** \ **Category:** Community Support\ **Tags:** expansion-cards, framework-laptop-16-amd-7040\ **Created:** [May 19, 2025, 4:38pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/framework-16-usb-confusion/69429 "2025-05-19T16:38:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Edward\_Ned\_Harvey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ec9cab/32.png) [@Edward\_Ned\_Harvey](https://community.frame.work/u/Edward_Ned_Harvey)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 4:38pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/framework-16-usb-confusion/69429/1 "2025-05-19T16:38:10Z")
On a Framework 16 laptop, I have seen the expansion slot guide [Expansion Card Slot functionality on Framework Laptop 16](https://knowledgebase.frame.work/en_us/expansion-card-slot-functionality-on-framework-laptop-16-rkUjGm7cn?_gl=1*1a1gmyj*sg_ga4w_production_ga*NTMwODE5ODA1LjE3NDc2NzA0NDE.*sg_ga4w_production_ga_PYG8X65YJJ*czE3NDc2NzA0NDEkbzEkZzEkdDE3NDc2NzIxNTEkajU0JGwwJGgwJGQ2Tjg4bVhPQUM1ak5vLU45OUFXUTBqeW5iMXp0cmdCTmtR) I have an external USB3 hard drive. I have USB-C expansion cards in slots 1 & 2, and I have a USB-A expansion card in slot 3. When I plug the hard drive into slot 2 using a USB-A to USB-C adapter, it works. When I plug the drive into slot 3 using USB-A without the little conversion adapter, nothing happens. This expansion slot works for other peripherals. Why would slot 3 fail to recognize the existence of a drive that works on slot 2? The drive has external wall power. - Ubuntu 24.04 - AMD 7040 Series ---
**Author:** ![James3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@James3](https://community.frame.work/u/James3)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 5:49pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/framework-16-usb-confusion/69429/2 "2025-05-19T17:49:18Z")
It is probably a power issue. On that web page, it says in a paragraph above the picture that ports 3,6 are lower power than the rest. ---
**Author:** ![Xavier\_Jiang](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/xavier_jiang/32/2793_2.png) [@Xavier\_Jiang](https://community.frame.work/u/Xavier_Jiang)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2025, 6:16am UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/framework-16-usb-confusion/69429/3 "2025-05-20T06:16:56Z")
> [@Edward\_Ned\_Harvey](#): > > Why would slot 3 fail to recognize the existence of a drive that works on slot 2? try swaping port 3 and 2. (put the type-C in 3 and type-A on 2); or just put type-A on 2 and try again. You can also try flipping the cable (the A to C adapter). > [@James3](#): > > a power issue. He mentioned that his drive take external wall power (presumably a 3.5) enclosure ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_Ned\_Harvey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ec9cab/32.png) [@Edward\_Ned\_Harvey](https://community.frame.work/u/Edward_Ned_Harvey)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2025, 12:57pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/framework-16-usb-confusion/69429/4 "2025-05-20T12:57:21Z")
Interesting. When I put the USB-A in slot 2, it works. This still doesn’t explain why. (Thank you for reading my previous comment that the drive enclosure takes external wall power). I guess I don’t need any explanation why. I’ll just move on… Thanks… ---
**Author:** ![James3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@James3](https://community.frame.work/u/James3)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2025, 2:24pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/framework-16-usb-confusion/69429/5 "2025-05-20T14:24:43Z")
Whether is works in one slot and not another is a bit of a mystery. Looking at the public schematic, it appears different ports are served by different USB chips. I have found ports 1, 4 to be the most stable for data. Ports 3 and 6 seem to be incompatible with a few devices. Ports 2 and 5 seem to be compatible with more devices, but port 1, 4 seem to be the best. ---
**Author:** ![Xavier\_Jiang](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/xavier_jiang/32/2793_2.png) [@Xavier\_Jiang](https://community.frame.work/u/Xavier_Jiang)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 4:00am UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/framework-16-usb-confusion/69429/6 "2025-05-21T04:00:22Z")
> [@Edward\_Ned\_Harvey](#): > > When I put the USB-A in slot 2, it works. probably a dead cable or expansion card somewhere. Extremely infrequently the 16 will think the port is still connected to something (on a USB expansion card), even though there isn’t. This again is probably a connection issue somewhere. Maybe dirty connector or something. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_Ned\_Harvey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ec9cab/32.png) [@Edward\_Ned\_Harvey](https://community.frame.work/u/Edward_Ned_Harvey)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 1:17pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/framework-16-usb-confusion/69429/7 "2025-05-21T13:17:52Z")
Nope. It’s as James3 said - Different ports are served by different USB chips. Ports 3 and 6 seem to be incompatible with a few devices. When I connect other devices to port 3 (whether using the USB-A or USB-C expansion card) they work, but this external drive does not work on port 3, and it’s not a power issue. All the devices work on Port 2, whether using USB-A or USB-C. I was able to move on, by just swapping the expansion cards in ports 2 & 3, so my external drive is connected on port 2 via USB-A ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/uploads/framework3/original/1X/64c81a89f963ddb07633887baceb642a4b056046.png) [@system](https://community.frame.work/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 1:18pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/framework-16-usb-confusion/69429/8 "2025-11-17T13:18:14Z")
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