Free Mobile Accessories and Connectivity practice questions
10 free 220-1201 questions on Mobile Accessories and Connectivity, each with a full explanation — no account needed. This section sits in the Mobile Devices part of the exam. Answer every question to see your score, then read the lessons below for anything you missed.
A user reports that their USB-C laptop charges more slowly than expected when connected to a 100W-rated charger. The cable used is rated for 60W. According to USB Power Delivery behavior, what is the EXPECTED charging outcome?
USB Power Delivery negotiation limits charging to the lowest-rated component in the charging chain. Even with a high-wattage charger, a lower-rated cable restricts power delivery. The system will negotiate a safe, supported power level rather than defaulting to maximum charger output.
A smartphone with a USB-C port intermittently loses connection to a laptop during data transfer. The cable works only when flipped one way, despite USB-C being reversible. What is the MOST likely cause?
USB-C is designed to function identically in either orientation. If a connection only works in one direction, the most likely cause is internal cable damage affecting certain signal paths. Port speed limitations or controller design would not cause orientation-specific failures.
You are troubleshooting an Android smartphone that supports USB On-The-Go (OTG). The user cannot access files from a USB flash drive when connected through an OTG adapter. Which action should you take FIRST?
USB OTG functionality may require manual activation in device settings. Verifying that OTG support is enabled is the first troubleshooting step before replacing peripherals or adding external power. Flash drive capacity and operating system updates are not relevant to basic OTG functionality.
A technician connects a USB 3.0 external hard drive to a laptop’s USB-C port using a USB-A to USB-C cable, and transfers are capped at USB 2.0 speed. Swapping in a different USB-A to USB-C cable on the same port and drive gives about 5 Gbps. What is the MOST likely explanation?
A USB link runs at the speed of its slowest component, and the only thing that changed between the slow and fast tests was the cable, so the original cable lacks the SuperSpeed wire pairs. The port cannot be USB 2.0-only because it reached 5 Gbps with the second cable, and the same logic rules out a drive firmware limit. USB-A connectors carry USB 3.0 perfectly well through their extra contacts.
A technician is preparing devices for deployment in a school lab and must ensure compatibility with existing Lightning-based accessories. One device model will NOT support those accessories without replacement adapters. Which device most directly creates this compatibility issue?
The correct choice identifies a device that does not natively use the Lightning connector, making existing accessories incompatible without adapters. The other listed devices are explicitly noted as using Lightning connectors and therefore remain compatible.
While diagnosing a data sync issue, a technician confirms that an Apple mobile device charges successfully but transfers data at slower-than-expected speeds when connected to a computer. The device uses a Lightning connector and functions normally otherwise. Based on documented connector capabilities, what explains this behavior?
The correct answer reflects the documented limitation that Lightning typically supports USB 2.0 data transfer speeds, which explains slower sync performance. Reversibility does not impact speed, orientation is irrelevant, and video adapters do not affect data syncing rates.
You are a help desk technician assisting a user with an iPhone 12 that intermittently charges and frequently displays an "Accessory not supported" message when connected to a third-party cable. The user reports the issue occurs across multiple wall chargers. What is the MOST likely underlying cause?
The correct answer addresses both the charging inconsistency and the specific system message, which commonly results from dirty Lightning ports, damaged cables, or non-certified accessories. Battery failure is not indicated by accessory warnings. USB data speeds do not affect charging recognition. An adapter change is unnecessary because Lightning-to-USB cables are already supported.
A user reports that Bluetooth tethering connects successfully between a phone and a Windows laptop, but performance is extremely slow and unstable in a crowded office environment. The cellular signal is strong and the data plan supports tethering. What is the MOST likely contributing factor?
Bluetooth operates on the 2.4 GHz frequency, which is prone to interference from Wi-Fi networks and other devices common in office environments. Strong cellular signal and supported plans rule out carrier limitations. Encryption standards and PAN profile issues would typically prevent connection rather than cause intermittent slowness.
A technician enables Bluetooth tethering on a smartphone, but the paired Windows laptop cannot access the internet. Bluetooth pairing is confirmed and active. Which action should the technician take NEXT to establish connectivity?
After pairing, the receiving device must explicitly connect using the Access Point option to establish the Bluetooth PAN for internet sharing. Enabling Wi-Fi hotspot uses a different tethering method. Rebooting may help later but does not address the missing configuration step. Disabling encryption is unnecessary and unsupported.
A small team needs temporary internet access for five laptops during a meeting. Speed is critical for video calls, and battery life of the phone providing access is a secondary concern. Which solution BEST satisfies these requirements?
A Wi-Fi hotspot supports several simultaneous clients at Wi-Fi speeds, which is what five laptops on video calls need; the phone's battery cost is acceptable because the scenario makes it a secondary concern. Bluetooth tethering serves one client at a time at a fraction of the speed, so cycling through laptops is not usable for a meeting. USB tethering links a single laptop by cable, and a USB hub cannot fan one phone out to five hosts. Wi-Fi Direct is a device-to-device link for file transfer or casting; it does not share the phone's internet connection.
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Every lesson that covers Mobile Accessories and Connectivity on the 220-1201 exam.