Your monitor's USB ports act as a built-in hub for your computer, not the display itself. You can connect keyboards, mice, webcams, or flash drives to the monitor, which then communicates with your PC via an upstream connection. The setup varies: some monitors require a separate USB upstream cable alongside HDMI or DisplayPort, while USB-C models with DisplayPort Alt Mode can handle video, data, and laptop charging over a single cable. A monitor typically has upstream ports (to the PC) and downstream ports (for accessories), though configurations differ—some use USB-B for upstream, others USB-C. Always check labels or the manual to identify port roles.

The best use is keeping permanent desk accessories like keyboards, mice, and wireless receivers plugged into the monitor. This frees up laptop ports and reconnects all peripherals at once when you dock. Side-mounted ports are also convenient for temporary flash drives, though bandwidth is shared with the upstream link, making them better for quick transfers than massive file moves. Some downstream ports charge devices even in standby; Dell monitors, for example, offer an "Other USB Charging" setting to control this behavior.