Thumbnail of Infographic showing one-way adapter from Mini DisplayPort computer (output) to HDMI display (input)

Thumbnail of MDP-HDMI lined up with laptop and HDMI cable

Thumbnail of Laptop connected to 4K television with MDP-HDMI

Thumbnail of Compatibility with laptop, desktop, tv, monitor, projector

Plugable Mini DisplayPort/Thunderbolt to HDMI 2.0 Active Adapter

SKU: MDP-HDMI
List Price : $17.95
Amazon Rating : (934 Reviews)

Features

mDP TO HDMI ADAPTER- Converts a Mini DisplayPort output on your laptop or desktop to HDMI for easy connection to an HDMI capable display, monitor, or HDTV
SUPPORTED RESOLUTIONS—Supports HDMI displays up to 3840x2160 @ 60Hz (4K) resolution
AMD EYEFINITY COMPATIBLE—VESA (DisplayPort) certified. Compliant with VESA Dual-Mode DisplayPort 1.2, High Bit Rate 2 (HBR2), and HDMI 2.0 standards
COMPATIBILITY—Active Adapter is compatible with Older Macs and Surface PCs with Mini DisplayPort 1.2 output ports and HDMI 2.0 displays. Not bidirectional. Note your source and display both need to support desired resolution
2 YEAR WARRANTY—We love our Plugable products, and hope you will too. All of our products are backed with a 2-year limited parts and labor warranty as well as Seattle-based email support

MiniDisplayPort to HDMI adapter connected to Laptop

Product Description

Plugable's Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Active Adapter (MDP-HDMI) allows you to easily connect the Mini DisplayPort/Thunderbolt 2 output on your Mac or PC laptop, desktop, or tablet to virtually any HDMI-enabled display. Active adapters use an integrated chipset to convert the DisplayPort signal from the computer to a HDMI signal, compatible with HDMI displays. This adapter supports resolutions up to 4K (3840x2160 @ 60Hz) refresh rate for computer monitors and televisions with Standard Dynamic Range (SDR), 4K 30Hz with High Dynamic Range (HDR) capable televisions and monitors.

Apple Notes: While our mDP adapters work with Apple Thunderbolt ports, the maximum supported resolution will depend on the model of Mac and monitor in use. Please be aware that with an update to macOS Mavericks, Apple disabled 4K video output on the vast majority of Mac models—even models which previously were able to output 4K. Only Macs with “official” 4K support from Apple will be capable of 4K output using this adapter, while most will be limited to 1080P output. Additionally some Apple systems will not be capable of outputting audio from Thunderbolt 2 to the HDMI display.

The adapter has passed the extensive testing requirements necessary for VESA certification, and is compliant with VESA Dual-Mode DisplayPort 1.2, High Bit Rate 2 (HBR2), and HDMI 2.0 standards. The adapter is also compatible with both AMD Eyefinity and NVIDIA Surround technologies.

Compatibility

Compatible with PC and Mac laptops, desktops, or tablets that have Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt 2 output ports to add a HDMI-capable monitor, TV, or projector
In order to display a 4K resolution the host's graphics processor and attached display need to be 4K capable

Applications

Connect a HDMI-equipped display to a Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt 2 output from your computer
Connect additional HDMI displays to AMD Eyefinitiy or NVIDIA Surround capable graphics cards
Portable for traveling professionals to connect to other HDMI displays.

Incompatible Setups

This adapter is not bi-directional and will not convert video in the other direction
Not compatible with HDR (requires HDMI 2.0b or HDMI 2.1)
Refresh rate may be limited to 30Hz on 4K HDR televisions

In the Bag

Plugable Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Active Adapter.

Please note that an HDMI cable is not included.


	MDP-HDMI	MDPM-HDMIF	DP-HDMI
HDMI (Output)	✓	✓	✓
Supports resolutions up to	4K (3840x2160)	4K (3840x2160)	4K (3840x2160)
Max Refresh Rate (4K SDR)	60Hz	30Hz	60Hz
Max Refresh Rate (4K HDR)	30Hz		30Hz
Max Refresh Rate (Below 4K)	60Hz	60Hz	60Hz
Converts audio	✓	✓	✓

What is an active adapter? How is it different from a passive adapter?

An Active DisplayPort adapter has an integrated circuit to convert a DisplayPort signal to a HDMI, DVI, or VGA signal. DisplayPort uses a different digital signaling type than HDMI and DVI (which use the same type), both of these signaling types are very different from VGA's analog signal.

Passive adapters rely on the graphics controller to selectively output the correct graphics signal using the DisplayPort output and generally will have reduced resolution or refresh rate compared to Active Adapters. Additionally using passive adapters may limit the number of connected displays in AMD Eyefinity and NVIDIA Surround setups.

Why doesn't this work with HDR 4K televisions?

HDR or HDR10 is a new technology that requires additional color and brightness data to be transmitted from the computer to the display. This requires the host computer to support DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.0b or HDMI 2.1, our adapter is designed for SDR (non-HDR) displays and converts from DisplayPort 1.2 to HDMI 2.0, and is incompatible with the HDR specification.

When connected to a HDR television, the television will attempt to enable HDR over the connection even though it is not supported causing reduced refresh rate or image quality. Some televisions provide options to disable HDR but most will enable and prioritize HDR over image quality and refresh rate.

Why am I unable to set a 3840x2160 resolution at a 60Hz refresh rate from my MacBook Pro/Mac Pro (Retina, Late 2013 and later)?

Mac OS X/macOS has limited the 4K video output from mDP ports to a maximum of 4K (3840x2160 @ 30Hz) when using our adapter with an HDMI 2.0 rated cable and HDMI 2.0 compatible display. Some customers have been successful in achieving a 4K resolution at 60Hz refresh rate when using 3rd party applications, like SwitchResX.

Why does audio not pass from my Apple Thunderbolt 2 system to the HDMI display?

Apple transmits audio over DisplayPort/Thunderbolt in a unique way. Implementing support for this feature on Apple systems would have resulted in the adapter no longer qualifying for VESA (DisplayPort) certification.

In The Box

Item and Quantity	Item Notes
1x Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Active Adapter	HDMI cable not included

Video

Port	Placement	Specification	Max Resolution and Refresh Rate	HDCP	Chipset
1x Mini DisplayPort (Input)	Rear	DisplayPort 1.2	3840x2160 @ 30Hz 3840x1600 @ 30Hz 3440x1440 @ 30Hz 2560x1440 @ 60Hz 1920x1080 @ 60Hz 1600x900 @ 60Hz 1280x1024 @ 60Hz 1280x800 @ 60Hz 1280x720 @ 60Hz 1152x864 @ 60Hz 1024x768 @ 60Hz 800x600 @ 60Hz 640x480 @ 60Hz 3840x2160 @ 60Hz	Supported	PS176 Parade
1x HDMI 4K (Output)	Front	HDMI 2.0	3840x2160 @ 30Hz 3840x1600 @ 30Hz 3440x1440 @ 30Hz 2560x1440 @ 60Hz 1920x1080 @ 60Hz 1600x900 @ 60Hz 1280x1024 @ 60Hz 1280x800 @ 60Hz 1280x720 @ 60Hz 1152x864 @ 60Hz 1024x768 @ 60Hz 800x600 @ 60Hz 640x480 @ 60Hz 3840x2160 @ 60Hz	Supported	PS176 Parade

Audio

Port	Placement	Connection	Max Bit Depth and Sample Rate	Signal Output	Channels	Chipset
HDMI Output	Rear	HDMI	24-bit 96KHz	Digital	6*	PS176 Parade

Recommendations for 4K 60Hz displays:

Computer:
- Mini DisplayPort 1.2 output port
- Intel UHD, NVIDIA, or AMD graphics controller capable of 4K 60Hz output
Display:
- 4K 60Hz capable display without HDR (See below for HDR limitations and recommendations)
- HDMI 2.0 (sometimes labeled "HDMI 60Hz") input
HDMI Cable:
- Recommended cable length not to exceed 6ft/2m
- Longer cables may not support 4K 60Hz with this adapter due to the limited power output of DisplayPort computer outputs

Recommendations for use with 4K HDR displays:

The display may be limited to 30Hz refresh rate, or may have Y'CbCr 4:2:2 or 4:2:0 compression enabled when first connected
For Windows 10, disable HDR for the connected display. HDR is not supported by this adapter or by the DisplayPort 1.2 specification
Set the display for Ultra HDMI Deep Color if available ( disabling this setting may cause limited refresh rate or display compression )
Both AMD and NVIDIA graphics card software has custom output modes that can help to enable 4K 60Hz with 8-Bits per color channel and RGB or Y'CbCr 4:4:4 uncompressed video data

Connect the HDMI cable to the display's HDMI input
Connect the other end of the HDMI cable to the HDMI to DisplayPort Active Adapter
Connect the DisplayPort to HDMI Active Adapter to the computer's DisplayPort output
The display should be detected by the computer, if not immediately detected please restart the computer

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No Sound? How to Change Your Default Audio Device to Your Plugable Product

Whether you're on Windows, macOS, or Linux, it's common to add new audio devices to your computer.

Some examples of additional audio devices you may want to switch to include:

Bluetooth headsets, headphones, and speakers
Speakers built into a display, such as a TV or monitor
A USB sound card, digital audio converter (DAC), or analog to digital converter (ADC)
USB microphones
Audio jacks on a docking station

These steps don't apply to the Plugable Performance NIX HDMI Capture Card (USBC-CAP60).

Here are the steps that you need to set a new default audio recording or output device on different operating systems.

Set Audio Output Device

Set Audio Recording Device

Set Default Playback Device in Windows

Check that your device is properly connected, and that any necessary drivers are installed
- It is also a good idea to make sure that your sound device is turned on, and that the device's volume control is not at the absolute minimum setting
Right-click on the speaker symbol in the Windows taskbar/system tray
- Windows 7/8.x—Select Playback Devices. The Sound window will open with the Playback tab highlighted
- Windows 10/11—Select Open Sound Settings then click the link under 'Related Settings' for Sound Control Panel, then click the Playback tab
  - Alternatively, after selecting Open Sound Settings, use the dropdowns under the Output header
Find your device in the window
- A Plugable USB 3.0 docking station or sound-enabled display adapter will appear as Plugable Audio
- A Plugable USB 3.0 Silicon Motion docking station or sound-enabled display adapter will appear as SMI USB Audio
- A Plugable USB 2.0 docking station will appear as USB Multimedia Audio Device
- A Plugable USB Audio adapter will appear as USB Audio Device
Right-click on the device you found in step 3 and select Set as Default Device. A check mark should appear next to your device, and sound should now play through it
Click OK to exit the window

Additional Configuration for Bluetooth

Please see our pairing and configuration guide for Bluetooth devices.

Set Default Playback Device in macOS

Open System Preferences
Click Sound
Select Output
Select the most appropriate device
- A Plugable USB Audio adapter will appear as USB Audio Device

Set Default Playback Device in Linux

Ensure that you audio device is connected to the PC
- If the audio device is self-powered, it is a good idea to make sure that it is powered on, and that the device's volume control is not at the absolute minimum setting
Launch the 'Settings' application in your distro
Go to the 'Sound' option
Find the dropdown for your 'Output Device', and change it to your preferred output device
For additional sound device controls, you may want to consider using Pulseaudio Volume Controls (package name pavucontrol)

Set Default Recording Device in Windows

Check that your device is properly connected, and that any necessary drivers are installed
- It is also a good idea to make sure that your sound device is turned on, and that the device's volume control is not at the absolute minimum setting
Right-click on the speaker symbol in the Windows taskbar/system tray
- Windows 7/8.x—Select Recording Devices. The Sound window will open with the Recording tab highlighted
- Windows 10/11—Select Open Sound Settings then click the link under 'Related Settings' for Sound Control Panel, then click the Recording tab
  - Alternatively, after selecting Open Sound Settings, use the dropdowns under the Input header
Find your device in the window
- A Plugable USB 3.0 DisplayLink docking station or sound-enabled display adapter will appear as Plugable Audio
- A Plugable USB 2.0 docking station will appear as USB Multimedia Audio Device
- A Plugable USB Audio adapter will appear as USB Audio Device
Right-click on the device you found in step 3 and select Set as Default Device. A check mark should appear next to your device, and sound should now play through it
Click OK to exit the window

Additional Configuration for Bluetooth

Please see our pairing and configuration guide for Bluetooth devices.

Set Default Recording Device in macOS

Open System Preferences
Click Sound
Select Input
Select the most appropriate device
- A Plugable USB Audio adapter will appear as USB Audio Device

Set Default Recording Device in Linux

Ensure that you audio device is connected to the PC
- If the audio device is self-powered, it is a good idea to make sure that it is powered on, and that the device's volume control is not at the absolute minimum setting
Launch the 'Settings' application in your distro
Go to the 'Sound' option
Find the dropdown for your 'Input Device', and change it to your preferred input device
For additional sound device controls, you may want to consider using Pulseaudio Volume Controls (package name pavucontrol)

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Can I Connect a DisplayPort (DP) Monitor to the HDMI Port on This Device Using an Adapter or Cable?

No, this is not possible. Please note that DisplayPort to HDMI cables (as with most cables involving protocol/signal conversion) are not bidirectional adapters, which means they only work in one direction -- from a DisplayPort output to a HDMI input.

Connecting these type of cables backwards will not allow an HDMI output port (such as those on a dock) to function with a DisplayPort input on a monitor.

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My Docking Station/Adapter Works Well With My Windows Laptop, but When I Close the Lid the Displays and Laptop Turn Off. How Do I Fix This?

Windows has special power management settings that control what happens when the laptop lid is closed. If this happening, these settings need to be changed. Please right-click on the Start button and select ‘Power Options’ from the menu.

From the choices present on the left-hand side of the 'Power Options' window, please click on ‘Choose what closing the lid does’.

Note: If you are running the Creators Update (or newer) to Windows 10, you will have to first click on the ‘Additional power settings’ option to access this window.

Make sure the setting for ‘When I close the lid’ under the ‘Plugged In’ column is set to ‘Do Nothing’.

Click the ‘Save Changes’ button and restart the system (making sure that the laptop’s power adapter is also connected) and test the behavior again.

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What’s the Difference Between an Active and Passive DisplayPort Adapter?

DisplayPort to HDMI/DVI/VGA conversion is deceptively complex because the two standards use different electrical signalling. DisplayPort comes in two versions—"Dual Mode" DisplayPort (DP++), which allows the port to actually switch its electrical signaling to a different format, and "pure" DisplayPort (DP), which is intended for DisplayPort monitors without any conversion.

Passive adapters rely entirely upon DP++ functionality to produce the appropriate output signal. In other words, passive adapters do not work when connected to a regular DisplayPort port (only supported through a DP++ port).

Active adapters on the other hand contain extra components that perform the necessary signalling conversion on their own, so they do not have the same reliance on a DP++ port as a passive adapter would. In other words, active adapters are more flexible and can be used on either a pure DisplayPort output or a DP++ port. To hit the point home, passive adapters only work through DP++ ports.

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