USB Switch

USB Switch - Use your USB devices on multiple computers

Do you want the ability to use your USB devices on multiple computers without having to switch the plug between the computers?

Then a USB Switch might be the right product for you, as this smart device allows you to do exactly this, as you can connect the same USB device to as many computers as you need.

For example, you might want all your computers to have access to your USB printer, and the pure USB switch allows you to do that, as you just need to connect your printer to the USB switch, which will ensure that both computers can use the connection.

It makes it easier for you to use your devices on different computers, without having to change the USB plug here and there each time you want to switch computers.

4 things you should consider when buying a USB switch

If you want a USB switch so you can better use your USB devices on multiple computers, you should make some considerations to ensure you get the right USB switch home.

Therefore, we provide some examples below that you can use as inspiration, so you can better assess which type of USB switch fits your needs.

#1 - Which devices should be connected to your USB switch?

The first thing you should consider is which USB devices you want to connect to the computer.

Here you can find many different USB products that use a USB connection, but some are better suited for multiple devices than others, and you may therefore need different types of switches.

For USB devices you don't use very often, such as a printer, external hard drives, webcams, etc., which are not used constantly, you can easily use an automatic USB switch, as it is intelligent enough to adjust the connection between the devices itself.

If you need to use devices that are constantly used and connected, such as a mouse, keyboard, headset, etc., it may be that you prefer a USB switch with manual control.

If you use these devices with an automatic USB switch, the signals will most likely be sent to both computers simultaneously, potentially making it difficult and inefficient to work on them.

Therefore, it may be important for you to consider which USB devices you will use for your USB switch, as it can influence which USB switch is suitable for the purpose.

#2 - The number of devices that will use your USB switch

You should also consider how many devices you want to connect to your USB switch, so you can get a switch with the number of USB ports you need.

If you don't need many devices connected to several computers, such as just a regular USB printer, it may be that you don't have such a big need, so you don't need a USB switch with many USB ports.

In that case, you can get a USB switch with as few as one USB device for two computers, so there is no waste of potential extra ports in your USB switch.

On the other hand, if you have several different USB devices that you want to connect to your computers, it may be that you need a USB switch with many USB ports, so you can be sure that all your devices can be used on your computers.

This can be especially good if you have a setup with a keyboard, mouse, speakers, headset, etc. that you want to use for both computers, and you need several USB ports to be able to use all your USB devices at the same time.

Therefore, it may be a good idea to consider how many devices you need to connect to your USB switch so that you can find a model that has the right number of ports for your needs.

#3 - Automatic or manual USB switch

There are primarily two different types of USB switches on the market, the automatic and the manual USB switch.

The automatic USB switch is good because it can automatically measure when a signal comes in from the computer and switch the connection, so the connected USB device gets connected to the relevant computer.

This means you don't have to worry about which computer the USB switch is set to, as it automatically switches the connection based on where the signal comes from.

This is very useful if you have multiple computers connected to the same printer, where the USB switch can measure which computer is asking the printer to print, after which it switches the connection accordingly.

So you don't have to manually switch between computers every time you want to print, but can use the computer you're already sitting at, without having to worry.

A manual USB switch cannot switch between computers by itself, but this can also be an advantage if you want to ensure that the USB devices don't change connections when you least expect it.

This can especially be an advantage if you're using the same set of mouse, keyboard, headphones, and others, where you prefer not to have the USB switch switch to another computer while you're, for example, working on a report.

Here, it can be beneficial to have a manual USB switch, as you then have full control over when the switch should change connections between the computers.

#4 - The USB type

When you buy a USB switch, you can find models with different types of USB ports, and it can be important to consider which types of ports you want, as it greatly affects your transfer speed.

In general, you can find USB switches with either USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 port types.

There is not a big difference between the two types, as all standard USB plugs fit them, the difference lies in how fast they are at transferring information between devices.

USB 2.0 has been the industry standard for many years, but has started to become quite old and is significantly slower than the modern USB 3.0 connection.

If you only need the USB switch to maintain a connection between smaller devices like the keyboard or mouse, you do not need the very large and fast connection, as there is not a lot of information being exchanged.

So a USB 2.0 connection will likely be more than enough for your needs.

If you, on the other hand, need to use your USB switch for one or more external hard drives, where you want the ability to move large amounts of information and files between the computers and hard drives, then it might be a good idea to invest in a USB switch with USB 3.0 ports.

This gives your ports a much faster transfer speed compared to USB 2.0 ports, and means that you can save a lot of waiting time when you have to make large file transfers.

USB 3.0 speeds:

• USB 3.0 Gen 1 - 5GB/s
• USB 3.0 Gen 2 -10GB/s
• USB 3.0 Gen 2x2 - 20GB/s

So no matter what you plan to use your USB switch for, you should consider what type of USB ports it should have, as it can greatly impact both the speed of file transfers and the price of the USB switch.