HOW TO SHARE USB DEVICES

Olga Weis Jun 14, 2023

Sometimes you can face the problem of sharing a USB device with another computer using a network connection. In this article, we want to give you a full tutorial on different ways to share USB. We will talk about software solution and some TOP USB-sharing hardware. Here you also can find a video guide on how to share USB over LAN/WAN or the Internet.

So, let's check the main sharing options for USB devices!

The easiest way to share USB devices over Network

USB Network Gate is an essential USB sharing solution by Electronic Team, Inc. that lets you share USB devices over network. Please go on reading to find out how to share USB port with a device plugged into it using USB over Network software.

USB sharing software tutorial

1

Install USB Network Gate at the computer you are going to physically connect the device to.

2

Now launch the application and switch to "Share local USB devices" tab. In a USB devices tree you can select which device you want to share.

Switch to 'Share USB devices tab' and select USB device (Windows version)

3

After the device was selected, click "Share" button. After that you can customize some additional settings like TCP port, which will be used in connection, encryption and authorization, traffic compression.

Customize USB sharing settings (Windows version)

4

When you are done customizing additional settings, press "Share" button. IMPORTANT: If you are sharing the device over Internet, make sure that this computer has external IP address that can be visible and accessible from other computers.

Video Tutorial to Share USB Device

USB Sharing Software Benefits

When sharing a USB device you can enable password authorization. In this case connection with your shared device from a remote side will be secured with a password.
In an environment where a remote computer is shared, any USB device that is connected will be accessible by all other connected users. This is not ideal as the USB device may contain sensitive data. Fortunately USB Network Gate makes it possible to isolate the device and grant access on a Per-User Isolation.
It's also possible to enable traffic encryption. All data sent via network will be encrypted. However this may slow down the communication speed.

Top Three USB Sharing Hardware Solutions

An alternative to USB sharing software is to use a hardware solution. A USB sharing switch allows you to share a USB device with remote users over a network. Many hardware products let you share USB between two computers. The following are some of the most popular options for sharing a USB device over the network using hardware.

IOGEAR USB Switch - IOGEAR manufactures multiple hardware solutions that allow you to implement a USB share over a network. You can easily share USB printers, hard drives, or other peripherals without having to swap cables or install any additional software. IOGEAR offers switches with different configurations that allow two or four computers to share up to four USB devices. Some of the units feature an Auto-switch feature that automatically switches to the required shared device, for instance, a printer.

SABRENT USB Sharing Switch - SABRENT’s hardware solutions for sharing USB devices over a network are flexible and easy to use. They feature a single button that makes it easy to swap devices between computers. The plug-and-play hardware lets you share USB devices without installing software drivers. You can share USB devices at speeds up to 5Gbps. Blue LEDs let you identify which computer is currently sharing a USB device.

ATEN USB Sharing Switch - This hardware solution for sharing USB equipment allows two computers to share up to four USB 3.2 Gen 1 devices. The switch supports data transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps and features additional power via a micro USB jack. Remote port selection enables you easily select a shared device and lets you place the switch in any location. This solution to share USB devices is also available in a configuration that enables four computers to access the equipment.

FAQ

1. How do I share a USB printer on Windows 10?

Windows 10 lets multiple network-attached computers share a USB printer. Many companies designate a network-connected computer as a printer server and allow users to access the USB device remotely. This USB share scenario saves money by eliminating the need to buy multiple printers and is more convenient than sharing a device by swapping cables between computers. Our printer sharing guide offers additional information that can help you get the most out of your USB peripherals.

2. How do I share a USB hard drive over the network?

A USB hard drive can be accessed over a network using a WiFi router or a USB sharing app like USB Network Gate. You may also have additional options when setting up a USB share if you are running Windows 10 or 11. We have detailed tutorials that have all the information you need and will show you how easy it is to share USB hard drive over a network.

3. Is sharing a USB dongle over a network possible?

USB dongles are sometimes required to activate the features of software products. The device can be shared using hardware or software solutions. We have comprehensive guides that cover both ways of sharing a USB dongle and suggest you give it a read if you'd like more information.

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Requirements

Requirements: OS: Windows 7 SP1/8/8.1/10/11; Windows Server 2008 R2/2012/2012 R2/2016/2019/2022
Architectures: x86, x64, ARM64, 9.25MB free space

Latest version

Latest version: v10.0.2450, Released 13 Jan, 2022 Release notes