USB hub or sharing switch? Choose who controls the device

Quick answer

A USB hub gives one computer more ports. A USB sharing switch lets two or more computers take turns controlling a peripheral. If you also want to switch the monitor with the keyboard and mouse, compare a suitable KVM switch rather than assuming a basic USB switch carries video.

Start with the job, not the number of sockets. Two computers using one printer is a different problem from one laptop using a printer, keyboard and mouse together.

Choose the connection pattern

Plugable’s hub and switch guide explains the host distinction. StarTech’s KVM compatibility guide adds the monitor connection checks.

Count computers and peripherals separately

A “two-input, one-output” switch is not necessarily a two-port hub. Read which sockets connect to computers and which connect to devices. One device port might suit one printer; a separate wired keyboard and mouse need two device connections, unless a compatible hub or combined receiver provides them.

For example, Plugable documents its USB3-SWITCH2 and USB2-SWITCH2 as sharing a single peripheral, or a connected hub, between two computers. That is evidence for those models, not permission to attach any hub to any switch. Confirm the complete combination and its power requirements before buying.

A Buy2Fix example for a single-device setup

If your plan is two computers taking turns with one supported USB peripheral, compare the AM-U301 two-input, one-output USB 3.0 switch. The listing identifies two computer inputs and one device output, with printers and mice among its examples. Confirm the selection method, required cables and support for your exact peripheral before ordering. The listing does not establish that it will switch your monitor, support every dock or make a printer compatible with both operating systems.

Your shared-device worksheet

Fill in these five lines before choosing a product. They turn “I need more USB ports” into a checkable connection plan.

1. Computers: name each computer, its operating system and its available USB connection.
2. Shared items: list each peripheral separately, including its model and connector. Count a separate keyboard and mouse as two items.
3. Control: write “one selected computer at a time” or “both need access together”. The second answer needs another solution, such as a printer’s supported network connection.
4. Screen: decide whether you will select the monitor input separately or require a KVM to switch it.
5. Proof: check the manufacturer’s supported devices, cables, power arrangement and selection controls against your list.

Worked example: a home PC and work laptop sharing one USB printer need two host connections and one device connection. Both computers must already support that printer. Adding a separate keyboard and mouse changes the requirement to three peripheral connections; it does not create more ports on a one-device switch.

Two limits worth checking first

USB-C is not a feature guarantee. Plugable states that its USB-A USB3-SWITCH2 does not carry USB-C Alternate Mode or Power Delivery. Do not assume a connector adaptor preserves a dock’s video and laptop-charging features. If that is your goal, first check our USB-C dock compatibility guide.

Storage needs extra care. A sharing switch can disconnect a drive from the current computer. Plugable warns of data loss or corruption if storage is switched while in use. Do not include a live backup drive in a casual button-switching setup; follow its safe-removal instructions before any disconnection.

This is a selection guide based on manufacturer documentation and the product listing, not hands-on testing of the AM-U301.