Our lives have changed a lot over the past few decades due to rapidly evolving technology. Today we have things many of us never imagined would exist. For example, we now have access to wireless phone charging, electric cars, and numerous other crazy technological developments.
But, perhaps you’re wondering; what about in the world of computers? Do we still need to use the conventional methods of transferring data between two computers?
Technically speaking, moving large data files from one computer to another using a memory card or USB stick can take so much of your precious time. Burning a CD/DVD-ROM takes even longer. And in this fast-past world, the time has become a limited resource.
So, is there a quicker and more effective way to move data between two PCs? Can you use a USB cable to transfer data from one computer to another? Well, continue reading to find out.
Can You Transfer Data From One Computer To Another Using A USB Cable?
The answer to whether or not you can transfer data between two computers depends on the type of USB cable you’re referring to.
Generally, you can use a USB cable to move data from one PC to another. A USB saves you time as you don’t need to upload the data first to an external device to transfer it to a different computer. USB data transfer is even faster and more reliable than data transfer through a wireless network.
Therefore, if you’ve two computers with USB ports, you can easily connect them to another using a pluggable USB-A 3.0. This special type of cable is known as a “bridging cable,” “USB link cable,” or “USB networking cable.” A pluggable cable comes with software that makes the data transfer possible.
You need to meet the basic requirements to accomplish the data transfer between your two computers. That is, you should first install the USB bridge cable driver.
How To Transfer Data From One Computer To Another
Step #1: Find A USB Bridging Cable
The most important step to transfer data from one computer to another is to find the proper USB cable. There are so many varieties out there.
But as we’ve mentioned, there’s only one special type that can connect two computers for data transfer – the Bridging cable. Both of its ends come with USB-A male connectors, and at its center, there’s an electronic circuit.
Step #2: Install USB Bridging Cable Software
You have to install the USB bridging cable software driver on both computers. The computers will likely not recognize the cable when you plug into them without this software. When you buy the cable, it may come with a DVD or CD containing the software.
- Insert the disc and “Run” the installer when it shows on your screen. Alternatively, press the “Windows + E” buttons on your keyboard to open the “File Explorer” tab. Go to the CD/DVD-ROM drive on the screen and double-click the file with the name “Installer” or “Setup.”
- If your cable didn’t have the software, visit the manufacturer’s official website and find a section known as “Drivers” or “Software.” Download the driver designed specifically for the cable.
- You can also follow the link, “USB bridge cable drive,” we’ve provided above to download the software on both computers.
Step #3: Plug the USB Cable Into The Computers
- Hopefully, you’ve installed the software successfully (Step #2 above). Now transferring your files from one computer to the other is a couple of steps away.
- Begin by plugging each end of your USB bridging cable into a USB port of each computer.
Ensure you don’t stretch the cable out so much. Instead, move your computers closer to one another. You don’t want to break or damage the cable before it accomplishes its purpose.
Step #4: Launch the USB Bridging Cable Software
- You should see an entry for the software in the Windows Start menu. So, click on the “Start” button. Choose “All Programs” (or “All Apps“) and click on the software from the menu.
- Launch the software on both computers. You can transfer all the data you need from one computer to the other from that point.
Step #5: Share Files
Browse one of your computers’ files from the other now that both are connected. You’ll notice that the transfer software is similar to a file manager. This software has two windows (the “remote” and “local“), one for each PC. The local window shows data on the PC you’re using currently, while the remote shows the data on the other PC.
You can copy anything from the remote computer to the other one you’re using currently. Just drag the files you want from the Remote window to the desired location in the local window. Moreover, you can move files from the “local computer” to the “remote computer” by dragging them the same way.
You can also connect two Mac computers using USB. However, you must have an Ethernet cable and USB-to-Ethernet adapter. Transferring data files will be quick once you connect the two computers successfully.
Final Words
You don’t have to use conventional methods to transfer data from one computer to another. These methods include burning a CD/DVD-ROM, which can be very time-consuming. A USB bridging cable is a fast and quick way to move files between computers.
Connecting two computers using this special USB cable is easy and involves the five steps described above. “Can you use a USB cable to transfer data from one computer to another?” We hope that this question is no longer a “puzzle” to you!
Frequently Asked Questions
The direct transfer method allows you to move files from one computer to another. You only need to have a suitable cable and the two computers side by side. Plug the cable and drag and drop your desired files across the computers.
Only a data cable can transfer files across computers. There are mainly two types of cables – the charging cable for charging the battery and the data cable for transferring files. Both are easily distinguishable.
No USB cable holds data. A USB cable can only transmit data. You can use a USB drive (Flash-drive) to store data files.
