I have been using this item for quite a while now. It has worked flawlessly. I didn't need to hook it up to external power. But if you have a light-up keyboard and mouse (or other peripheral), you may need to. Setting it up was extremely easy. And it comes with two USB cables to connect the two computers. This product has my recommendation.

Photo shows the routing of how I used it. Worked well right out of the box. I COULD NOT use a USB-A to USB-C 5gb data cable to connect directly to my MacBook. Instead a Hub (like shown here) or a USB-A to C adapter would probably need to be used.

Works as described and I was able to unify my work laptop and person desktop onto one desk. I plugged in a wired RGB mechanical keyboard, wireless mouse, and wireless headset. No issues with any of them. Even though the keyboard needs a lot of power for the RGB, I didn't need the power input to make it work.I am giving the USB port 4 stars because it didn't come a micro-usb cable and charger that I would need if I required more power for my peripherals. Nonetheless, I highly recommend this USB switch because it's low profile, has 4 ports, comes with the 2 USB 3.0 cables, and works well.

This switch selector is a must-have for anyone working with two computers. It’s a total game changer, allowing you to effortlessly share a mouse and keyboard between two devices. The setup couldn’t be easier—just plug it in, and it’s ready to go without any complicated installation or software.The seamless functionality makes switching between computers a breeze, saving time and desk space. Whether for work or gaming, this device delivers exactly what you need for smooth multitasking.

Update: 12/2/2021I have been using this switch for nearly 3 years, switching between personal and work computers every single weekday, sometimes multiple times a day in that time, as well as moving it to a new desk setup, and it has worked and continues to work flawlessly. I am very pleased with this device and cannot recommend it highly enough, even if it were to fail tomorrow.Original Review:I set up a docking station for my work laptop at my home office desk where I also use my personal computer. I quickly realized that swapping USB adapters for mouse and keyboard every time I wanted to switch between work and personal computers was a hassle and unnecessary wear and tear on the ports. Once I also realized that the built-in DAC in my work laptop was garbage when I was trying to listen to some music on Pandora while I worked, I decided to look for a USB switch and came across this one.I am happy to report that the UGREEN USB 3.0 switch works almost perfectly with my setup. I have it connected to my personal computer and my laptop dock. Plugged into the front, I have my mouse adapter, wired keyboard, and a standalone DAC. I even used the 4th USB port for another keyboard adapter so that I can use my wireless keyboard from my couch when I want to switch the computer display over to my TV, and this works great as well.Pressing the button on top of the UGREEN unit quickly switches control from one computer to another with no delay. A small, non-intrusive blue LED indicates which computer is active. Mouse, keyboard, and the audio DAC all immediately work correctly on the selected computer. The only thing that I sometimes have issues with is if the computer I am switching to is asleep. In that case, moving the mouse or pushing a key on the keyboard does not wake up the computer like it normally would, and I have to press the power button on the computer to wake it up. I'm not sure why this happens but it seems like if the USB connection was not active when the computer was put to sleep, it does not make the connection until it is manually woken up. I have checked in my power settings to make sure that USB ports are not turned off when the computer is asleep, as this would be an obvious cause for the issue, but that is not the case. This is a minor inconvenience since my personal computer and dock power buttons are both easily accessible, but would be nice if it worked.The UGREEN unit is quite small and sits inconspicuously on my desk on top of my audio mixer. To keep the cables managed cleanly I do have to make a 180 degree bend with my two wired connections (keyboard and DAC) to route the cables back behind the switch. If I just had 4 USB adapters plugged in, that wouldn't be an issue. The only way to fix this would be to have all the ports on the back, and then the unit would have to be larger in size to accommodate 6 ports on one side instead of 4.The switch is very lightweight (which means stiff cords sometimes lift it so it doesn't sit flat) and has a cheap feeling plastic housing with no mounting provision if you wanted to attach it to something, but these are minor complaints as it works well enough.It appears you can power the switch with micro USB if your devices require a lot of power (if you were wanting to charge something via USB for example), but even with the backlit keyboard I am using, I do not have this switch connected to power, and it and my devices work just fine.Overall I am happy with the UGREEN USB 3.0 switch. If it were able to always make a connection with a computer that is asleep when switched to, I would be even happier, but that may not even be the fault of the switch. I definitely recommend this if you are looking to share inputs between two computers without having to plug and unplug cords, dongles and adapters.

I really wanted to like this thing. I have two computers at work and wanted to be able to share a keyboard, mouse, headphones, and flash drive between the two. This device perfectly fit the bill and I excitedly ordered it. I really thought I would be soon showing off my new toy to the other office drones, proud of my mastery over desk space utility and efficiency. Today, I have finally completely given up on it and will be tossing it in the trash (aka, selling it on craigslist lol)The problem started with my mouse, a brand new Logitech G603. At first I thought there was an issue with the mouse because it would work perfectly, but then, without warning or reason, I would get ridiculous mouse lag. I am talking over a second between mouse movement and cursor movement. Removing and reinstalling the usb receiver would alleviate the issue temporarily, but it would always come back. I did a bunch of research into the problem and found that usb switches can be the problem. I plugged it directly into my tower and sure enough... no more issues.Onto the headphones. I use a bluetooth receiver to connect to my Beats Studio Wireless. I've had these headphones for about five years now and they have been absolutely rock solid, they connect to everything and never lose connection. I've loved and used them so much I recently replaced the ear cups because they were falling apart! Now, with plugging the BT USB receiver into this switch I would intermittently experience a background static. Again, reinstalling the receiver would temporarily alleviate the issue but it always comes back. Furthermore, it has started dropping the connection. At first I was worried my trusty beats were finally failing me. A distressing thought with replacements commanding a hefty price tag. But again, I've plugged the receiver directly into the tower and now experience clear audio with no drop outs.Now, to be fair (but not so fair I give a star back, lol), my keyboard, a Logitech G613 and my thumb drive, a sandisk whatever micro thingy, have had no issues. Also, it switches back and forth just fine. Maybe you think that deserves an extra star. Maybe there are inherent issues with USB switches that are technically impossible to overcome to work with the high bandwidth devices I am trying to use them with. Maybe... maybe. But I don't care. If all my devices don't switch from computer to computer, it's useless to me and therefore one star. Sorry not sorry. Ignore my review if you have a different use case or (gag) a low bandwidth mouse.