Got a vacant USB port or two on your PC? You’d like to use it for something useful, but don’t know exactly what? Check out five practical things you can connect to your free USB ports, some of which can reinvent the way you control your PC.
1
Add wireless connectivity
If you’ve got a desktop PC and your motherboard doesn’t have Wi-Fi, plugging in a USB Wi-Fi adapter or a Bluetooth dongle can be a real game-changer.
For instance, after I plugged a Bluetooth dongle into one of my PC’s vacant USB ports, I was able to use wireless earbuds as well as other Bluetooth peripherals. This came in handy after I got a Mac Mini for work. I had to plug my MX Master 3S’ wireless dongle into the Mac Mini because the performance over Bluetooth was jittery on macOS. But thanks to that dongle, I was able to continue using the MX Master on my PC via Bluetooth.
- CONNECTOR
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USB-A
- Color
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Golden, Black
The TP-Link UB500 is a versatile, easy-to-use, and affordable Bluetooth adapter that supports multiple devices and has a strong range, making it ideal for various home and office setups.
A USB Wi-Fi adapter can come in handy if you can’t run an Ethernet cable to your desktop PC. There are decent options out there with a pretty solid range and connection stability for every use case except gaming. If you’re a gamer, I don’t recommend using Wi-Fi at all.
My advice is to either try to somehow run an Ethernet cable to your PC, use a MoCA adapter if you’ve got a coax port in the room where your PC is, or opt for a PCIe Wi-Fi card if establishing a wired connection is out of the question.
2
Add a hardware security key
Hardware security keys are the ultimate 2FA method and are the best way to virtually eliminate the risk of phishing and account takeovers. If you’ve got a vacant USB port, simply plug in a hardware security key and call it a day.
I recommend using a USB extension cable, which you can place on your desk and plug the security key into. This keeps the key easily accessible, which is super handy because you’ll need to tap it whenever you log in to accounts secured with it.
USB foot pedals are probably the best-kept secret in the PC peripheral market. Not many PC users know about and use them, but those who do probably can’t live without them. I can’t blame them—if you need a hands-free way to activate various functions, shortcuts, and actions in apps you use and games you play, a USB foot pedal is the best choice out there.
While they’re primarily used to streamline transcription work by letting you type while controlling video playback, USB foot pedals can do so much more. You can use one to control streaming software, like OBS, or map various shortcuts in your favorite apps, such as activating presets or applying filters in Photoshop.
You can also use it as a push-to-talk button in games and chat apps, map certain game controls to the pedal, and so on. A USB foot pedal is more than worthy of taking up a vacant USB port.
4
Connect a macro pad
A macro pad can be even more helpful than a USB foot pedal. It’s a practical piece of hardware you can program to do virtually anything: from activating shortcuts in your favorite tools to multimedia controls, to assigning various commands to devices connected to your PC, and so on.
The great thing about macro pads is that you can opt for a simple—and affordable—knob-like device you can map just a few controls to, splurge on a pad with a dozen or more buttons that could also include a knob, or opt for a big-brand macro pad-like device such as the Stream Deck that supports tons of useful plugins. Just get whichever fits into your plans and budget.
- Connectivity
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USN
- Color
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Black
A fully-customizable 15-button desktop controller for content creators, quick actions, and maximizing productivity.
5
Plug in a USB desk fan
Do you live in a hot climate, and the room your PC is in doesn’t have AC? Just get a USB desk fan. They aren’t super powerful, but they can turn unbearably hot days into tolerable ones. This doesn’t sound like a lot, but it can make the difference between not being able to think and being able to function just enough to get your work done.
Personally, I prefer pointing a fan at my feet during hot days. It’s because my AC is in the hall outside the room where my PC is, so I can direct the cool air from the hall right to my feet, which is the best feeling ever during scorching summer days. That said, I did use desk fans in the past and having a fan, even a feeble USB one, is infinitely better than the alternative once the heat kicks in.
- Bladed
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Yes
- Dimensions
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3″D x 4.6″W x 5.4″H
The Gaiatop USB Desk Fan is a compact, portable fan with three speeds and a 30-degree adjustable head, perfect for your desk. It’s quiet and USB-powered, so you can easily plug it into your PC or laptop.
Did reading this piece give you the itch to equip your PC with even more accessories? If so, check out which PCIe cards you can plug into your secondary PCIe slot, and what gadgets your motherboard can support.