USB Hubs: Add More Ports to Your Laptop So You Can Plug In More Things at Once

Many modern laptops — especially slim ones — have very few ports. Some have only one or two USB-C ports, which makes it hard to plug in a mouse, charge your phone, and connect a flash drive at the same time. A USB hub solves this problem by turning one port into four, six, or even more ports.

A USB hub is a small device, often about the size of a deck of cards or smaller. You plug it into your laptop's USB port. And it instantly gives you multiple new ports. Most hubs offer a mix of port types: standard USB-A ports (the rectangular ones used by most mice, keyboards, and flash drives), USB-C ports, an SD card slot for camera memory cards, and sometimes an HDMI port for connecting a second monitor.

There are two kinds of USB hubs. A basic "bus-powered" hub draws its power from your laptop, which means you do not need a separate power cord. These work well for mice, keyboards, and flash drives. A "powered" hub comes with its own power adapter and is better if you want to charge devices or use power-hungry accessories like an external hard drive.

When shopping, look for terms like "USB 3.0" — this refers to the version of USB technology. USB 3.0 hubs transfer files much faster than older USB 2.0 hubs, which matters when you are copying photos or videos. Popular and affordable options include hubs from Anker, HooToo, and Sabrent, available at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart for $20–$50.

A USB hub is one of the most practical accessories you can add to a laptop. And it requires no technical knowledge to use. You plug it in and it works.