Can I connect an external hard drive or a printer to it?
Yes, with one caveat: the combined power of the connected devices must not exceed 10 W. Above 900 mA per device — a 3.5-inch hard drive, a printer — it is advisable to power the hub through its dedicated port with a 5 V / 2 A adapter, not included. Mice, keyboards, USB flash drives and card readers are among the peripherals it is designed for.
Can this hub charge the computer or console it is connected to?
No. It does not charge the device it is connected to, and its power port carries no data: this port is used solely to supply power to the hub itself when the connected peripherals are power-hungry.
In what order should I connect hard drives to avoid losing data?
First connect the drives to the hub, then the power supply, and finally the hub to the computer. Above all, never plug in or unplug a drive while it is in use: that is what causes data loss and damage to the storage media.
Do I need to install a driver, and which systems does it work with?
No driver: it is plug and play, and the four ports appear as soon as it is connected. It works with Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista and XP, as well as macOS and Linux, on devices with a USB-A port.
Does it work with a PS5, an Xbox or a MacBook?
Yes. It is compatible with the PS5, PS4 / PS4 Pro / Slim, Xbox One X, Series and 360, as well as Surface Laptop, Chromebook, Lenovo Yoga and MacBook models with a USB-A port. Enough to connect a USB flash drive, keyboard or external drive to a console that is short of ports.
What real speed gain does it offer over a USB 2.0 hub?
5 Gbps, i.e. ten times USB 2.0: roughly 1 GB transferred in 5 seconds. Enough to copy videos or back up a folder from a flash drive or external drive without sitting in front of the progress bar.
How can I tell it is working, and does it protect connected devices?
A blue LED indicator lights up as soon as the hub is working normally. Inside, a smart chip protects the connected devices against overheating, short circuits and power surges.
Is the 1-metre cable an advantage or just clutter?
It is what lets you bring four USB ports up onto the desk when the tower sits on the floor or the laptop's ports are awkwardly placed. The casing itself stays tiny: under 8 cm long and 90.8 g, it slips into a laptop bag without weighing it down.
Is the Ugreen hub new and under warranty?
Yes: a new Ugreen product, reference 20291 (EAN code 6957303822911), in black, supplied with its invoice, which serves as a 1-year warranty. You receive the hub with its 1-metre cable and its four USB 3.0 ports, ready to plug in.