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Plugable USB 3.0 Sharing Switch
$19.95 USD
SKU: USB3-SWITCH2Amazon Rating : (1391 Reviews)
Features
- Effortless USB Sharing—This USB 3.0 sharing switch allows simple one-touch control to switch USB peripherals - like flash drives, printers, and hubs between two computers, perfect for a USB switch setup.
- One Button Toggle—Connect your USB docking station, keyboard, and mouse via this USB switch to enable an all USB KVM switch setup - ideal for streamlined workflows.
- Plug and Play—Instantly switch two laptops to one USB device without installing drivers. LED indicators show active host, making this the perfect USB 3 switch for home or office use.
- Compatibility—Works with most standard USB peripherals. Not compatible with USB-C/Thunderbolt docks using Power Delivery or Alt Mode. Use the included 1m cables and keep peripherals within 1.8m for optimal performance.
- Boost Productivity & Efficiency—Streamline your workflow and enhance productivity by effortlessly sharing multiple USB devices like keyboards, mice, and docking stations, between two computers using a single switch.
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Effortless USB Switching Between Two Computers with One Button
The Plugable USB 3.0 sharing switch for multiple computers makes it easy to share USB devices between two systems with a single button press. This high-performance USB switch supports USB 3.0 speeds and is perfect for pairing with a powered hub or docking station. Create an efficient KVM switch setup to control a keyboard, mouse, and display across devices. This versatile USB keyboard switch offers driver-free, plug-and-play functionality with LED indicators to show which computer has control.
A: No additional software or drivers are needed for the switch itself. Plug-and-play USB switch compatible with any computer (Windows, macOS, Linux). However, connected devices like printers or adapters may need drivers on each computer.
A: Yes, as a USB 3.0 sharing switch it also fully supports USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 devices. To enjoy full USB 3.0 SuperSpeed performance, ensure both the computer and the connected devices support USB 3.0.
A: The switch itself does not retain device memory. Each time you toggle between systems, the connected computer will freshly detect the USB devices. This behaviour is standard for most USB switches and works seamlessly in typical productivity setups.
A: Yes. A single press of the button instantly toggles control of the USB devices between the two connected computers. The built-in LED indicators clearly show which system is active, making the switching process smooth and intuitive.
A: No, USB3-SWITCH2 is not compatible with USB-C docks or hubs, as these USB-C devices often rely on optional USB-C features such as Alt Mode and Power Delivery to function. These features are not supported on USB 3.0 Type A ports.
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 |
|
|---|---|---|
Number of Computers Supported |
2 |
2 |
Port Type |
USB 3.0 |
USB 2.0 |
Maximum Data Transfer Speed |
5 Gbps |
480 Mbps |
Ideal When Used With |
USB 3 docks, USB graphics adapters, keyboards, mice, printers, scanners, or other ultra-high speed USB peripherals |
Keyboards, mice, printers, scanners, or other high speed/full speed USB peripherals |
Filter Help Articles and Frequent Questions by Category
Choose one or more filters within each category to narrow down the articles. Each selection will result in only displaying articles that include all of your choices.
Important Articles
I’m Having Problems With My USB 3.0 Dock or Hub That Connected to the USB 3.0 Switch
With more devices connected in the "chain", we'll want to start by better isolating where the problem could lie.
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Do the problems still occur when the dock or hub is connected directly to a USB port on your computer (bypassing the switch)?
- If the answer is yes, then this is not a problem with the switch itself and please refer to the product page of the dock or hub for more help
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Does the problem occur on both computers connected to the switch or just one of them?
- If the answer is just one, we're likely dealing with a host-specific problem
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Does the problem occur when connected to other USB ports on the computer?
- If the answer is no, then there could be a difference between the computer's USB ports
These questions should hopefully help you isolate and understand where the issues could lie. Please contact us at support@plugable.com for more assistance, along with a copy of the answers to the above questions to assist in troubleshooting and we'd be glad to help further.
Can I Use the USB 3.0 Sharing Switch With a USB-C Dock or Hub?
No. Our Plugable USB 3.0 Sharing Switch is not compatible with USB-C docks or hubs, as these USB-C devices often rely on USB-C features such as Alt Mode and Power Delivery to function. The USB 3.0 Type-A connection offered on the USB 3.0 switch does not support these USB-C features, so these USB-C devices are not compatible even with the use of an adapter.
Plugable does not currently offer a USB-C sharing switch at this time.
Additional Articles
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You can always contact support if you need help too!
USB Port Types
USB-A
pietz, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
This is the standard USB connection that most computers offered prior to the introduction of USB Type-C (USB-C). Even after the introduction of USB Type-C, this is still quite common.
It can provide data transfer rates up to the USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 gbps) specification depending on the host and device, but does not directly support video in the way that USB-C Alternate Mode does. This limitation makes DisplayLink USB graphics adapters and docking stations ideal on systems that do not have USB-C, or in instances where more displays are needed beyond available video outputs of a PC.
USB-B
Fred the Oyster, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
IngenieroLoco, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This type of connection comes in a couple different styles depending on whether USB 3.0 and higher transfer rates are supported (bottom graphic). Usually this type of connection is used to plug into USB devices that do not have a fixed cable connected, such as USB docking stations, USB hubs, printers, and others.
USB Mini-B
Fred the Oyster, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
One of the first connectors for charging a smartphone, wireless game controller (such as the Sixaxis and DualShock 3), and other small devices such as external hard drives. Not commonly used today, but is still used in some cases. Most devices using USB Mini B are using USB 2.0, though a USB 3.0 variant does exist. This specification also added USB On-The-Go (OTG) functionality, though it is more commonly implemented with Micro USB.
USB Micro-B
Fred the Oyster, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
IngenieroLoco, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
A smaller connector that serves many of the same uses as the Mini B connector, with added optional features such as Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) to allow devices like smartphones to output video to larger displays without requiring a dedicated port for video output.
The larger variant of USB-B is most commonly used for external hard drives for higher 5Gbps transfer rates.
USB-C, Thunderbolt™ 3, and Thunderbolt™ 4
Niridya , CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The most recent USB connection, USB Type-C (USB-C), represents a major change in what USB can do. The connector is smaller, can be connected in two orientations, is able to carry substantially more power and data, and can directly carry video signals of multiple types (HDMI, DisplayPort, etc.) Intel has also adapted the USB-C connector for use with Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4.
It is important to note that while all Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 connections are USB-C, not all USB-C connections can be used with Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 devices.
More details regarding physical USB connections can be found on Wikipedia . The graphics depicted here are adapted from Wikimedia Commons by various artists under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Does the Sharing Switch Support Autosense functionality?
No, the Sharing Switch does not automatically switch to the active computer input. You must press the toggle button on the Sharing Switch to swap between inputs.
Can I Use USB 3.0 Cables Longer Than the 1.5m Cables Included With the Switch?
USB 3.0 “Super Speed” transfers are very sensitive to attenuation and interference, and these problems can become more pronounced in situations where longer cables are used. We suggest avoiding longer cables for best results and using the 1.5m cables that are included.
Why Is This Switch Is Not Recommended for Use With Hard Drives, Flash Drives, or Other Storage Devices?
When the button on the switch is pressed, the net effect is essentially the same as if you were to unplug the storage device from one system, and then plug it into the other. As such, the same same storage removal precautions and “best practices” must be followed to minimize the risk of data loss or corruption.
A bit of additional background may help to clarify this recommendation further. To access data on any storage device, the file system must be “mounted” by the operating system. (This is the process that results in the user seeing a corresponding drive letter for the device in Windows.) If the device is disconnected or loses power without going through the proper unmounting/ejection process, data corruption can sometimes occur. This potential data corruption is why Windows performs a lengthy chkdsk (“check disk”) process when booting back up after a power failure or a crash, and it’s the same reason you see Windows pestering you to “check the drive for errors” when you insert a flash drive that was not properly ejected.
It is also the very reason we generally do not recommend using storage devices with this switch. If control of the storage device were to be switched between systems while the storage device was being accessed, there would be the same potential for data corruption.
However, if you still wish to use a storage device with the switch, there are two potential methods of doing so while drastically reducing the risk of data corruption:
Method 1: “Eject” the device from within your Operating System prior to switching control of the device. This is the suggested procedure to perform prior to removing/switching any storage device from your system. The process for doing so varies depending which OS you are using.
- Windows: Click the icon in your taskbar/notification area titled Safely Remove Hardware, and stop/eject the appropriate device.
- Mac: Open Finder. Under the Devices category on the left, click the eject icon next to the corresponding device.
- Linux: Unmount the device by ejecting it through your graphical environment, or by using the umount command.
Method 2: (Windows Only) Enable the “Quick removal” setting for your storage device inside your operating system. Windows 7 (and later) will often implement this setting by default on devices that it detects as portable, but it is wise to confirm that this setting is enabled. Please note that while this setting reduces the risk of corruption somewhat, it is not as effective as the steps outlined in Method 1 above.
Do Plugable products support the Apple SuperDrive?
Unfortunately Plugable products do not support the Apple SuperDrive.
The Apple SuperDrive has stringent power requirements that can only be met by directly connecting the SuperDrive to your host laptop. As a result at this time Apple recommends only using their USB-C adapter cables. You can find more information on that here → How to connect the Apple USB SuperDrive
If you have purchased a Plugable product to use with your Apple SuperDrive, and would like some additional assistance please do not hesitate to reach out. You can do so by emailing support@plugable.com, or going to Plugable.com/Support.
Use-Cases and Compatibility for the USB3-SWITCH2 and USB2-SWITCH2
USB switches provide a simple yet powerful way to share USB peripherals like keyboards, mice, and printers across multiple systems. When paired with a USB 3.0 dock, they allow you to easily swap between multiple hosts with the single press of a button.
Common Use-Cases for the USB3-SWITCH2
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Home Office Multi-System Use
Remote workers with separate devices for work and personal use can leverage USB switches and USB 3.0 DisplayLink-based docks such as the UD-3900 or UD-6950Z to share equipment like printers or webcams. This eliminates the need for duplicate peripherals. -
Education and Training
Classrooms and labs can simplify device sharing between teacher and student computers. Adding a USB3-SWITCH2 to your UD-3900 dock setup ensures easy access without constant reconnection.
Common Use-Cases for the USB2-SWITCH2
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Small Businesses or Studios
Photographers, designers, and other professionals can benefit by specialized equipment like scanners between multiple editing or design stations. -
Swapping USB input devices between Laptops
Users can benefit by sharing external mouse and keyboards between multiple computers
However, there are important limitations to consider when using a USB Type-A switch. Both the USB3-SWITCH2 and USB2-SWITCH are not compatible with docks or downstream devices that use USB-C Power Delivery (PD) or USB-C Alt Mode (for video delivery). Additionally, the USB2-SWITCH2 is only intended for use with lower bandwidth devices such as mice and keyboards, or other USB 2.0 Type-A devices.
Understanding Power Delivery vs. Pass-Through Power Delivery
When choosing a docking station or USB hub, it's important to understand the difference between Power Delivery (PD) and Pass-Through Power Delivery. While both terms refer to charging capabilities, they function differently and impact how power is distributed to connected devices.
What is Power Delivery (PD)?
USB Power Delivery (PD) is a fast-charging standard that allows devices to negotiate power levels dynamically. Key aspects include:
- Enables higher power transfer (up to 100W or more, depending on the device and cable).
- Ensures efficient charging by dynamically adjusting voltage and current.
- Commonly used in USB-C chargers, docking stations, and hubs that provide power directly to laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
Example: A USB-C docking station with PD output can charge a connected laptop while simultaneously powering other peripherals. Additionally, these tend to come with their own AC adapter.
What is Pass-Through Power Delivery?
Pass-Through Power Delivery refers to a hub or docking station that does not generate power itself but instead allows power to pass through from an external power adapter. Key aspects include:
- Requires a dedicated power adapter (e.g., a USB-C PD laptop charger) plugged into the docking station or hub.
- Typically, a portion of the incoming power is allocated to the dock’s functionality (such as data transfer and peripheral connections), and the remaining power is sent to the connected laptop or device.
- May reduce the total power available to the laptop compared to direct charging.
Example: A USB-C hub with pass-through PD allows a laptop's original USB-C PD charger to be connected to the hub, which then distributes power to the laptop while also supporting external peripherals.
Choosing the Right Option
- If you need a docking station that can directly charge your laptop, look for one with dedicated Power Delivery (PD) support.
- If your laptop already has a high-wattage charger and you want to maintain power while expanding connectivity, a pass-through PD hub may be a better choice.
- Be mindful of power limitations with pass-through charging, as some hubs may reserve power for their own operation, reducing the power available for the laptop.
Some examples of hubs with PD pass-through would be our USBC-9IN1E with 140w pass-through charging or our smaller USBC-4IN1 with 100w pass-through.
On the flip side, we have our docking stations that power your devices by themselves. Examples such as our UD-7400PD which is capable of 140w of charge and 5 displays.
Understanding these differences will help ensure you select the right docking station or USB-C hub for your setup. If you have any questions or would like a recommendation, feel free to reach out to our support at support@plugable.com
