You might be surprised to learn that you can’t convert an HDMI port to a USB. Many of us have become accustomed to the versatility of USB ports, which can be used for a variety of things. So, it stands to reason that you would be able to use a USB port to connect devices that use HDMI ports, such as TVs, gaming consoles, and Blu-ray players. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Here’s a closer look at why you can’t convert HDMI to USB and what you can do instead.
HDMI vs. USB
In order to understand why you can’t convert HDMI to USB, it’s important to first understand the difference between the two types of ports. HDMI ports are primarily used to send video and audio signals to a display. USB ports, on the other hand, are much more versatile. They can be used for everything from transferring data to charging devices.
The Difference in Signals
Another key difference between HDMI and USB is the type of signal that each one uses. HDMI uses TMDS (Transition Minimized Differential Signaling), which is a type of digital signaling. USB, on the other hand, uses LVDS (Low-Voltage Differential Signaling). The fact that these two types of signals are incompatible with each other is another reason why it’s not possible to convert HDMI to USB.
So, What Can You Do Instead?
If you need to connect an HDMI device, such as a TV or gaming console, to your computer, there is a workaround that will allow you to do so. By connecting a capture card to one of the computer’s USB ports, you’ll be able to record live video from the HDMI port onto your computer. While this solution isn’t as simple as using a standard HDMI cable, it will get the job done if you need to connect an HDMI device to your computer.
Adapters, like this USB to HDMI Adapter (available on Amazon), make it easy to add an HDMI port to your computer. They let your computer talk to another device through HDMI.
USB to HDMI Adapter, USB 3.0/2.0 to HDMI Cable Multi-Display Video Converter
As much as we would all like it to be true, there is no way to convert an HDMI port into a USB port. The two types of ports are just too different. However, if you need to connect an HDMI device, such as a TV or gaming console, to your computer, you can do so by connecting a capture card to one of the computer’s USB ports.
