This article was published in 2011 and updated in October 2026.

Keyboards, mice, external drives, webcams, phones, printers — almost every device connects to your computer via USB. But modern laptops have fewer ports than ever, and many thin models offer only two USB-C ports. A USB hub solves the problem by turning one port into several. Here’s what to look for and how to set one up.

What is a USB hub?

A USB hub is a small box or adapter with several USB ports that plugs into one port on your computer. Instead of unplugging one device to connect another, you can connect them all at once. Many modern hubs also add other connections, such as HDMI for an external monitor, an Ethernet port or an SD card reader.

Bus-powered or self-powered?

• Bus-powered hubs draw all their power from the computer’s USB port. They are small and great for travel, and work well with low-power devices such as a mouse, keyboard or USB stick.
• Self-powered hubs have their own power adapter. They’re the better choice for power-hungry devices such as external hard drives, scanners or for charging phones and tablets, and for connecting many devices at once.

Choose the right USB standard

Hubs are limited by their slowest link, so match the hub to your computer and devices:

• USB 2.0 (up to 480 Mbit/s): fine for a keyboard, mouse or printer, but slow for external drives. In 2011 this was the fastest standard; today it’s the budget option.
• USB 3.x (5, 10 or 20 Gbit/s, depending on the version): the standard choice for external SSDs, hard drives and fast USB sticks.
• USB4 and Thunderbolt (40 Gbit/s and more): for high-end docks that drive several monitors, fast storage and networking through one cable.

All versions are backward compatible: older USB devices work in newer hubs, just at their own speed.

USB-C hubs and docking stations

If your laptop has USB-C ports, look at a USB-C hub or docking station. Many support USB Power Delivery pass-through, so you can charge your laptop through the hub while using it. With a dock on your desk, one cable connects your laptop to monitor, keyboard, mouse, network and power. Check which display standards and resolutions your laptop supports over USB-C before buying a hub for an external monitor.

Setting up a USB hub

1. Connect the power adapter first if your hub has one.
2. Plug the hub into a free USB port on your computer. Windows and macOS recognise it automatically — no drivers needed in most cases.
3. Connect your devices to the hub. Put devices that need the most speed, such as external SSDs, into the hub’s fastest ports or directly into the computer.

Tips

• Buy from a reputable brand: cheap hubs can overheat, drop connections or deliver unstable power.
• Don’t chain several hubs together if you can avoid it.
• If a device disconnects randomly, it may need more power — try a self-powered hub.

Suggested reading: Choosing the right hard drive · Choosing the best photo printer · Why choose a laser printer

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