Google Pixel phones support USB-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode for wired video output, but due to Android OS limitations, they cannot produce two extended external displays using MST, DisplayLink, or Thunderbolt docking technologies. This is a platform constraint, not a hardware or dock issue.

Understanding the Limitation

Google Pixel phones are limited by the Android operating system’s handling of external displays. While many Pixel models (such as the Pixel 7 and Pixel 8 series) support USB-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode, they can only output to a single external display at a time. Android is designed primarily for screen mirroring, and extended display support is extremely limited across Android phones.

Key Point:

Android OS currently restricts Pixel phones to one external display, regardless of the dock or adapter used.

Dock Behavior with Pixel Phones

MST Docks (e.g., Plugable UD-MSTH2)

MST (Multi-Stream Transport) requires the host device to support splitting one DisplayPort signal into multiple independent video streams. While common on Windows and many Chromebooks, Pixel phones do not support MST for extended displays.

When using an MST dock, a Pixel phone will:

• Output to one external display only, or
• Mirror the same content to two connected monitors
• Dual extended desktops are not supported

DisplayLink Docks

DisplayLink technology works on Android through a companion app (e.g., DisplayLink Presenter). However:

• Android only supports a single external display via DisplayLink
• DisplayLink docks cannot be used to achieve multiple extended monitors from a Pixel device
• DisplayLink is not recommended for dual display use on Android

Thunderbolt Docks

Google Pixel phones are not Thunderbolt-certified hosts. When connected to a Thunderbolt dock:

• They revert to basic USB-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode
• Only a single mirrored display is possible

Visual Summary

Recommended Alternatives

If your goal is to use two independent external displays, consider the following instead:

• Windows laptops with DisplayPort MST support
• Chromebooks that support MST

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I extend my Pixel’s screen to two monitors using any method?
A: No. As of now, Android does not support multiple extended displays. Only mirroring to one display is possible.

Q: Does DisplayLink allow multiple displays on Android?
A: No. Even with DisplayLink’s Android app, you are limited to one external display.

Q: Why do Windows and ChromeOS devices work with MST but not Android?
A: Android lacks support for DisplayPort MST and advanced GPU capabilities required for multiple display outputs. This is a software/platform-level limitation.

Conclusion

While Google Pixel phones are capable of driving a single external display, dual extended monitors are not possible due to Android OS restrictions. This applies across all dock types, including MST, DisplayLink, and Thunderbolt. For users requiring robust multi-display setups, we recommend using a Windows or Chromebook device that supports MST alongside a compatible docking station like the Plugable UD-MSTH2.

If you have any questions or need help selecting a compatible dock, reach out to our support team at support@plugable.com.

Multi-Stream Transport (MST) allows a single USB-C, USB4, or Thunderbolt port to drive multiple independent external monitors. This technology is driverless and can be used to seamlessly set up hotdesking or work-from-home environments. While MST is a standard feature on Windows and ChromeOS, hardware limits still apply. Even if a dock has four ports, your laptop’s internal graphics card (GPU) may only be able to drive two or three displays total.

1. Compatibility

Mac Users: To extend displays on Apple Silicon, use a DisplayLink dock or a Thunderbolt dock (for Pro/Max/M4/M5 chips).

2. Check Your Hardware’s "Display Limit."

Before buying an MST hub or dock for 2, 3 or 4 monitors, you must verify how many displays your laptop's GPU can handle. Note: The laptop’s built-in screen usually counts as one display.

• Intel Iris Xe / Core Ultra: Generally supports up to 4 displays total (e.g., the laptop screen + 3 external monitors).
• Entry-level AMD/Intel (Celeron/Athlon): May be limited to only 2 displays total (laptop screen + 1 external).
• Snapdragon X Elite: Generally supports up to 4 displays total (e.g., the laptop screen + 3 external monitors).
  • ARM Compatibility varies by the specific chip.
  • Some SoCs, such as the Texas Instruments DRA829J, do support MST, while others, such as the MediaTek MT8127, do not. Always check your SoC's technical datasheet for "DisplayPort MST" support.

Tip: If you want to use 3 external monitors and your laptop is limited to 3 total displays, you may need to close the laptop lid to "disable" the internal screen and free up a display slot for the third external monitor.

3. Plugable MST & Hybrid Product Guide

Important Note on the UD-3900C4: This is a "Hybrid" dock. HDMI ports 1 and 2 use DisplayLink (drivers required) and do not count toward your GPU's MST limit. HDMI ports 3 and 4 do use MST and require your laptop's hardware support.

4. Bandwidth: The "Pipe" Problem

Think of your USB-C port as a water pipe. MST splits that pipe. If you try to push three 4K signals through a small pipe (older DP 1.2), the screens can flicker, disconnect or drop to low resolution. It is essential to use certified, high-quality cables to ensure stable and full-bandwidth video transmission.

Maximum Performance Matrix

5. Troubleshooting and FAQ

• "Only one or two of the connected monitors are functioning.": Try closing your laptop lid. If the second or third monitor powers on, you have reached your GPU's maximum display count.
• "The 4th monitor on my UD-3900C4 is mirroring.": This means your laptop likely does not support MST, or you are on an Apple system.
• "I have a Mac, and it's mirroring.": This is the expected behaviour, as Apple does not support Multi-Stream Transport (MST).
• For base Apple Silicon models, you must use DisplayLink technology to overcome limitations of external displays. However, if you have an M4, M5, or a Pro/Max version of Apple silicon, a Thunderbolt docking station can also be used to extend your displays.

5.1 Connection Issues: USB-C & Video Cables

The cables you use are just as important as the dock itself. High-resolution multi-monitor setups require high bandwidth.

• Always use the USB-C cable that was provided with your Plugable dock. This cable is specifically rated to support DisplayPort Alt Mode and the dock's power delivery requirements.
• For best results, use cables that support DP 1.4+ with a maximum bandwidth of 32.4 Gbps. This provides enough room for two 4K UHD streams at 60Hz.
• Use the cables included with your monitors. If you experience flickering or lower-than-expected resolution, try swapping the cables to rule out a faulty or low-bandwidth cable.

5.2 Driver & OS Maintenance

To ensure a stable connection, your software must be up to date with your hardware.

• Ensure Windows or ChromeOS is fully up to date.
• Outdated Intel, NVIDIA, or AMD drivers are a common cause of MST failure. Visit your laptop manufacturer’s website to download the latest graphics drivers.
• If a monitor isn't detected, try a "Power Cycle": Unplug the dock from the laptop, power it off, wait 30 seconds, then reconnect.

Still Unsure?

Email support@plugable.com with your laptop's model number and the monitors you plan to use and we will do our best to determine if an MST solution is right for you. 

No. Most DisplayPort to HDMI cables and adapters are one-way adapters from a DisplayPort Source (computer or docking station) to a HDMI Sink (television, computer monitor, or projector).  These cables do not work in reverse.

DisplayPort uses packet-based data transmission, breaking the video stream into individual packets of data allows for longer cable runs, use in both copper and fiber-optic cables, and allows for higher bandwidth than other video formats.  It is relatively easy to convert from DisplayPort to HDMI (computers with HDMI output ports already do this internally) and dual-mode DisplayPort outputs have built-in adapters to  output a HDMI signal for use with passive DisplayPort to HDMI adapters.

HDMI uses a video signal, similar to DVI, this requires more power to operate at the same cable lengths as DisplayPort and requires significantly more processing power to create DisplayPort packet-based data.

Externally powered HDMI to DisplayPort adapters do exist, these generally have a USB or small barrel plug for power, and can convert from a HDMI Source to DisplayPort Sink.  In most cases they have reduced resolution or refresh rates compared to modern signal sources and can introduce delay in the data connection between the display and computer potentially causing reduced connectivity or display performance problems.

We do not currently recommend using HDMI to DisplayPort adapter with our docking stations.  In our testing they have been unreliable compared to a native DisplayPort connection.  Many of our  newer docking stations include both HDMI and DisplayPort outputs to reduce the need for additional adapters or adapter cables.

Our Plugable ethernet adapters are compatible with USB-C iPhone 15 and 16 / Pro / Pro Max running iOS 17 or newer. Our ethernet adapters are plug-and-play on iPhone, and ethernet connection is identified in the iOS settings app.

These following ethernet adapters from Plugable have been tested and verified to work with iPhone:

1.  USBC-E5000
2.  USBC-E2500PD
3.  USBC-E2500
4.  USBC-E1000
5.  USBC-TE1000

Most Windows notebook computers power management settings will default to putting the computer to sleep with the lid closed, regardless of any external displays, keyboard, or mouse connected to the computer. If this is happening but you would prefer the system to remain active with the lid closed utilizing the external display or displays, these settings can be changed by performing the following:

For Windows 10:

1. Start by right-clicking on the Start button and select Power Options from the menu.
2. From the right side of the Power Options settings page, select the blue link for Additional power settings

   

3. From the choices present on the left-hand side of the Power Options window, please click on Choose what closing the lid does
4. Make sure the setting for When I close the lid under the Plugged In column is set to Do Nothing

   

5. 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.

For Windows 11:

1. Start by right-clicking on the Start button and select Power Options from the menu.

   

2. In the upper left corner of the settings window, in the search box, type "lid" then select Change what closing the lid does from the search results

   

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

   

4. Click the Save Changes button to apply the new settings.

Closing the lid should no longer put the computer into sleep mode when an external display and power source is connected, instead one of the external displays should now become the Primary display with the desktop icons instead of the laptop's built-in display.

The lid may still need to be opened to perform the following tasks:

• To power on the computer from a fully powered off state
• To log into the computer if logged out or if the computer is restarted with the lid closed
• To wake the computer from a deep sleep state ( hibernation, or Windows hybrid sleep states )

If your Windows computer will not boot properly when a docking station (such as the Plugable UD-3900), USB hub (such as the Plugable USBC-HUB7C), or USB hub adapter (such as the Plugable USBC-7IN1E) is connected most often the cause is an external device connected to the product (for example an external USB storage drive) as opposed to the product itself. 

There are also cases where an external USB storage device (such as a Plugable USBC-NVME SSD enclosure) is the only device connected that can sometimes produce a similar result. 

If you are affected by this condition while using a docking station, USB hub, or USB hub adapter, please temporarily disconnect all of the external devices from the product. The only remaining connections should be the product's external power source (if it has one) and the cable connecting the product to the host computer.

While in this simplified physical configuration, reboot the host computer in order to test the behavior. Presuming the host computer boots as expected while in the simplified configuration, reconnect each external device back to the product one at a time and reboot after each one to test the behavior again. This process should isolate the source of the issue.

In cases where only an external USB storage device is in use, please temporarily disconnect the USB storage device from the host computer and then reboot in order to test the behavior again. 

To expand further, in our experience helping others the most common cause of this behavior is an external USB storage drive connected to one of the product's USB ports.  In some cases, a Windows computer may try to boot from an external storage drive by mistake as opposed to the host computer's built-in storage drive.  Since most external USB storage drives are not 'bootable', this can interrupt the boot process. 

If this behavior occurs, the most common way to mitigate the behavior is to access the host computer's System BIOS (also known as UEFI firmware) to change the 'boot order' settings to ensure that the host computer's internal storage drive is the first boot option.  Doing so helps ensure that the host computer will not try to boot from an external USB storage device. 

Every Windows host computer system is different, so the best resource for accessing the System BIOS and changing the settings is the manual for the host computer provided by the manufacturer of the host computer.

There are various reasons and configurations that can benefit from having more than one network adapter present on a PC.

For users with newer networking products, featuring 2.5Gbps link rates or greater, it may be beneficial to prioritize that network connection over others on your PC that are still connected to your network/LAN.

If you find that your Plugable ethernet adapter or docking station is not connecting to the internet or is experiencing slower than expected speeds on your Mac then it may be related to its position in the macOS Network Service Order. This can apply to your Wi-Fi connection, ethernet, and even NAS systems.

macOS attempts to connect to the internet using the network service at the top of your list first. If your Wi-Fi or NAS (Network Attached Storage) is listed above your Plugable ethernet adapter, this often leads to users unknowingly using a slower wireless connection when they intended to use a wired one.

To ensure you are getting the full speed and stability of your wired connection, you must prioritize the Plugable ethernet adapter above Wi-Fi.

Navigate through these steps to Set Service Order:

1. Click the Apple Menu () in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings.
2. In the sidebar, click Network. 
   1. 
3. Look for the Action Menu (a circle with three dots ...) located at the bottom right of the main window area.
   1. 
4. Click the three dots and select Set Service Order.…
5. A list will appear showing all your network interfaces. Click and drag your Ethernet Adapter (often named "USB 10/100/1G/2.5G LAN" or “Plugable Docking Station”) to the very top of the list, above Wi-Fi.
   1. 
6. Click OK to save your changes.

Your network traffic will now automatically prioritize the wired connection, ensuring you receive the best possible speeds and stability from your Plugable adapter.

Yes, this Thunderbolt 4 cable is compatible with any USB-C port for data transfer, charging, or video (capabilities will depend on peripheral used).

Yes, Thunderbolt 4 cables can support up to 240W of power allowing you to keep your devices charged, but some cables may not offer the full 240W capability and instead offer a maximum of 100W of Power Delivery.

Yes, Thunderbolt 4 cables are backward compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C devices.

Below is a list of power adapter models used by Plugable docking stations. We offer refurbished replacement power adapters on eBay as they are available for purchase, however, we may not have replacement power adapters available for all of our docking stations.

If the power adapter for your docking station or region is not listed, out of stock on eBay or if you have any other questions regarding replacement power adapters for our docks please contact us at support@plugable.com and we will be happy to assist further.

We offer a 30-day return period for our replacement power adapters listed on eBay.

If your package is missing one or more of the items that should be included with your Plugable dock (included items are listed on a chart on the side of the box), start by double checking if the part is still in the packaging. Pieces can occasionally get stuck in the corners under the main insert in the box.

If you are still unable to locate the piece, please contact support@plugable.com with the following information:

1.  Amazon Order ID (or other proof of purchase) associated with your Plugable device.

2. A description of the parts that are missing from your order.

3. Your preferred shipping address (and a phone number associated with that address).

4. The serial number of your Plugable Dock.

Most Plugable docks do not officially support monitors over 60Hz including 120Hz or 144Hz refresh rate unless otherwise specified on the Plugable product page or listing. 

DisplayLink USB Graphics technology and Silicon Motion based docking stations and graphics adapters, like our USB 3.0 dual display and USB Type-C triple display docking stations, are limited to 60Hz fresh rate by the USB graphics controller hardware.

USB Type-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode docking station and ports on our USB Type-C Triple Display Docking Stations can support higher refresh rates, but may be limited by the computer's capability and available bandwidth to the docking station.  Additionally, when paired with DisplayLink or Silicon Motion USB graphics, having displays at different refresh rates may reduce overall system performance.  Due to this we normally recommend limiting all connected displays to 60Hz refresh rate when using DisplayLink and Silicon Motion graphics technology with directly connected, or USB Type-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode controlled displays.

Monitors with refresh rates higher then 60Hz may be connected to a docking station operating at up to 60Hz, or connected directly on the computer's HDMI or DisplayPort to ensure the display is powered by the system's native GPU.

Unfortunately Plugable products do not support the Apple SuperDrive.

The Apple SuperDrive has stringent power requirements that can only be met by directly connecting the SuperDrive to your host laptop. As a result at this time Apple recommends only using their USB-C adapter cables. You can find more information on that here → How to connect the Apple USB SuperDrive

If you have purchased a Plugable product to use with your Apple SuperDrive, and would like some additional assistance please do not hesitate to reach out. You can do so by emailing support@plugable.com, or going to Plugable.com/Support.

Please Note

The below guide is an advanced troubleshooting step, and we do not recommend doing so unless you are comfortable manually altering files on your Apple product running macOS. You may not be able to perform the below troubleshooting step if you are unable to execute administrative credentials on your laptop. Please reach out to our support first if you do not wish to attempt the below instructions. You can do so at Plugable.com/Support

How to delete a specific Ethernet adapter from your Network devices on macOS

1. Click on the Apple logo in the top left corner of your primary monitor, and select ‘System Preferences’
2. Next select ‘Network’ in the ‘System Preferences' window.
3. In the now visible list, please select the Plugable Ethernet, or Thunderbolt Ethernet device that may not be working as expected.
4. Once selected click on the minus button in the bottom left of the network window.
5. Click on Apply in the bottom right.
6. Next click on the plus button in the bottom left of the network window, and add the previously removed device.
7. Click on Apply in the bottom right.
8. Test to see if this has resolved the unexpected behavior, and assure that your Ethernet is now working.
9. If this does not resolve the problem, please proceed to the next section (As noted previously the next section is for advanced users only!)

I am still unable to get my Ethernet connection working on my Mac

If this is the case please reach out to our support team. When you do please include a diagnostic log gathered using our PlugDebug tool (instructions are provided on the PlugDebug page). If you are not able to gather the PlugDebug diagnostics do not worry we are still here to help! Please reach out to our support team at support@plugable.com or Plugable.com/Support with a detailed description of your problem, and the model of Plugable product you are using.

The TBT4-UDZ docking station offers two primary modes to output video to attached displays via the dual HDMI 2.0 and dual DisplayPort 1.2 outputs: Thunderbolt 3/Thunderbolt 4/USB4 mode and USB-C DisplayPort Alternate mode.

Systems with Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, and USB4 support and USB-C only systems without Thunderbolt support will have differing capabilities. In addition, some Thunderbolt 3 systems may only support a single display and some USB-C only systems may lack USB-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode video output entirely (no displays will work). Windows versus Mac compatibility varies as well. Due to varying support please see below for more technical details:

Multiple display capabilities for Thunderbolt 4/USB4 systems:

• Thunderbolt 4/USB4 Windows systems with DisplayPort 1.4 HBR3 DSC (High Bit Rate 3 with Display Stream Compression) can offer up to four extended displays at 4K (3840x2160) at 60Hz via 2x HDMI 2.0 and 2x DisplayPort 1.2 video outputs utilizing DisplayPort MST (Multi-Stream Transport) technology built into the dock. (USB4 system support may vary depending on system manufacturer specifications)
  
  
• Apple M1/M2/M3/M4 Pro/Max based Macs do not support DisplayPort MST (Multi-Stream Transport) technology and thus can support up to 2x 4K (3840x2160) 60Hz extended displays via 2x HDMI 2.0 and 2x DisplayPort 1.2 video outputs which can be connected in any combination of HDMI + HDMI, DP + DP, or a mix of HDMI + DP to the "Group 1" and "Group 2" output groups. Two displays cannot be connected to the same group.
  
  
  • MacBook Air and MacBook Pro M4 based Macs (base model, non-Pro/Max) can support up to two displays over Thunderbolt 4.
    
    
  • MacBook Air and MacBook Pro M3 based Macs (base model, non-Pro/Max) can support up to two displays with the lid closed (clamshell mode) over Thunderbolt 4.
    • macOS Sonoma 14.3 or later for MacBook Air M3 is required
    • macOS Sonoma 14.6 or later for MacBook Pro M3 is required 
      
      
  • Apple M1/M2 based Macs (base model, non-Pro/Max) are limited to a single 4K (3840x2160) 60Hz extended display which can be connected to any single HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2 video output on the dock.
    • M1/M2 users should consider a DisplayLink USB graphics based docking station like our UD-ULTC4K instead which can enable up to three 4K 60Hz displays - the TBT4-UDZ does not use DisplayLink USB graphics technology.

Multiple display capabilities for Thunderbolt 3 systems:

• Thunderbolt 3 Windows systems with dual DisplayPort streams can offer up to 2x 4K (3840x2160) 60Hz extended displays via 2x HDMI 2.0 and 2x DisplayPort 1.2 video outputs which can be connected in any combination of HDMI + HDMI, DP + DP, or a mix of HDMI + DP to the "Group 1" and "Group 2" output groups. Two displays cannot be connected to the same group*. (*A configuration with three displays may technically be able to be connected, however, by doing so there will be severe bandwidth limitations and will lead to suboptimal resolution and refresh rate options for all three displays. As such this configuration is not recommended or supported.)
  
• Thunderbolt 3 Windows systems with a single DP stream are limited to a single 4K (3840x2160) 60Hz extended display which can be connected to any single HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2 video output on the dock.
  
  
• Thunderbolt 3 Apple Macs with Intel processors can support up to 2x 4K (3840x2160) 60Hz extended displays via 2x HDMI 2.0 and 2x DisplayPort 1.2 video outputs* which can be connected in any combination of HDMI + HDMI, DP + DP, or a mix of HDMI + DP to the "Group 1" and "Group 2" output groups. Two displays cannot be connected to the same group.
  (*Please note: Older Intel based Macs (non Apple M series processors) are advised to use HDMI for the best compatibility with 4K 60Hz displays if possible. The use of DisplayPort is supported for Intel Macs, however the display(s) may be limited to 4K 30Hz maximum. For Intel based Macs our TBT3-UDZ Thunderbolt 3 dock may be a better choice for DisplayPort displays requiring 4K 60Hz)

Multiple display capabilities for USB-C only Windows systems:

(Non-Thunderbolt/USB4, using USB-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode (DP Alt Mode) operating in USB-C Multifunction DisplayPort Mode (MFDP))

• USB-C DP Alt Mode MFDP Windows systems with DisplayPort 1.4 HBR3 with DSC (High Bit Rate 3 with Display Stream Compression) can offer up to two displays at 4K (3840x2160) at 60Hz via 2x HDMI 2.0 or 2x DisplayPort 1.2 video outputs which can be connected in any combination of HDMI + HDMI, DP + DP, or a mix of HDMI + DP to the "Group 1" and "Group 2" output groups. Two displays cannot be connected to the same group.
  
  
• USB-C DP Alt Mode MFDP Windows systems with DisplayPort 1.4 HBR3 (High Bit Rate 3) can offer one display up to 4K (3840x2160) at 60Hz or two displays 1440p (2560x1440) at 60Hz via 2x HDMI 2.0 or 2x DisplayPort 1.2 video outputs which can be connected in any combination of HDMI + HDMI, DP + DP, or a mix of HDMI + DP to the "Group 1" and "Group 2" output groups. Two displays cannot be connected to the same group.
  
  
• USB-C DP Alt Mode MFDP Windows systems with DisplayPort 1.2 HBR2 (High Bit Rate 2) can offer a single display up to 4K (3840x2160) at 30Hz or two displays 1080p (1920x1080) at 60Hz via 2x HDMI 2.0 or 2x DisplayPort 1.2 video outputs which can be connected in any combination of HDMI + HDMI, DP + DP, or a mix of HDMI + DP to the "Group 1" and "Group 2" output groups. Two displays cannot be connected to the same group.

Multiple display capabilities for USB-C only Mac systems:

(Non-Thunderbolt/USB4 using USB-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode)

• USB-C Apple 12" MacBook Retina Macs (single USB-C port, non-Air/Pro) are limited to a single 4K (3840x2160) 30Hz extended display which can be connected to any single HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2 video output on the dock.

Important Notes:

• Most Thunderbolt 4 Windows laptop systems will require the internal display to be "disconnected" in the Windows Display Settings to enable four external extended displays. (support is dependent upon the system graphics chipset(s) configuration)
  
  
• Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems will try to mirror/clone attached displays by default upon first connect, it will be required to separate any mirrored/cloned displays and change them to be extended in the Windows Display Settings. (for a quad display setup on a Thunderbolt 4 host this step may need to be repeated until all displays are extended)
  
  
• Some Thunderbolt 3 Windows systems will not support dual displays (only one DisplayPort stream). Please check with your system manufacturer to verify dual displays via Thunderbolt 3 are supported. (a common example would be the popular Intel NUC hosts which usually only support a single display through Thunderbolt 3)
  
  
• For Thunderbolt 4 equipped Windows desktop systems with Intel 11th gen processors ("Rocket Lake-S"). Due to limitations of the integrated Intel UHD 730 and 750 graphics these systems will be limited to a maximum of three displays if the Thunderbolt 4 controller is utilizing the Intel integrated graphics as the DisplayPort video signal source. Additionally, 11th gen processors with an "F" or "KF" designation (like the 11900KF) lack integrated video entirely and will not support any displays over Thunderbolt 4 (again, if the Thunderbolt 4 controller relies on the integrated graphics).
  
  If the Intel 11th Gen Thunderbolt 4 desktop has auxiliary DisplayPort video inputs (either on the motherboard, or via a Thunderbolt 4 add-in card) the user can connect the Thunderbolt 4 controller to a dedicated PCI Express graphics card (such AMD Radeon, Nvidia GeForce, or Intel Arc) DisplayPort video outputs and those systems are capable of supporting four displays (as the integrated UHD graphics is not utilized in this configuration). Typically systems with this ability to "loopback" the video signal from a PCIe graphics card into the Thunderbolt controller are rare except for very high end workstation or gaming class desktops.
  
  
• We do not officially support high refresh rate displays above 60Hz. (higher refresh rates under 4K resolution may be selected but performance and stability above 60Hz is not guaranteed)
  
  
• We do not support HDR (High Dynamic Range) or adaptive sync/variable refresh rate (such as AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync technologies)
  
  
• If converting the DisplayPort outputs to a different connector type an active DisplayPort adapter is required. Passive DisplayPort adapters are not supported. (the 2x DisplayPorts do not offer DP++ capabilities required for passive adapters)
  • Users with legacy DVI displays should use passive HDMI to DVI adapters in most cases* rather than active DP to DVI adapters. (*Dual Link DVI displays will require an active DP to DVI Dual Link adapter)
  • Users with legacy VGA displays should use active DisplayPort to VGA adapters (or active HDMI to VGA adapters)
  • Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, USB4, and USB-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode based USB-C displays are not supported
  • Legacy Apple ADC displays are not supported
    
    
• 5K, 6K, and 8K displays are not supported as they require a higher resolution output than what this dock can offer
  
  
• The use of multiple DisplayPort displays daisy-chained via DP MST (DisplayPort Multi-Stream Transport) is not supported
  
  
• Older 4K displays that require DP MST to operate at 4K 60Hz are not supported. (these displays use two 1920x2160 vertical panels in the display via DP MST to achieve 3840x2160)
  
  
• Legacy Apple Thunderbolt (1 or 2) systems being converted to Thunderbolt 3 using Apple's bi-directional Thunderbolt adapter are not officially supported and this combination is at this time untested and not recommended.
  
  

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at support@plugable.com and we'll be happy to assist!

The power button for the TBT4-UDZ is simply to turn the dock on or off. This button does not have any influence on the computer itself (power button will not power on/off the attached host system). 

When the dock is powered off all devices attached to the dock will also lose power and the dock will no longer be recognizable by the system or offer charging (until it is turned back on).

Please note that the dock will automatically power on when attached to AC power and this is indicated by a white (or green) light on the front. A white light means the dock is getting power but that it is not connected to a host system. A green light means the system is getting power and has successfully connected to a host system.

The TBT4-UDZ generally does not require any firmware to be updated. If you are not currently experiencing video issues, this update is not needed. However, in some cases a new firmware version may be helpful if you are experiencing video related issues, and after standard troubleshooting (such as operating system, device driver, and UEFI / firmware updates to the host system) has not helped.

Why You Might Need to Update the Firmware

A firmware update may help resolve the following video-related issues:

• Display instability such as intermittent flickering, flashing, or a black screen
• Display not detected after waking from sleep, or is detected but no image is displayed
• DisplayPort display not detected, but using HDMI for the same display works as expected

Note: Updating the dock firmware will not help with other non-video related issues, if experiencing other issues please contact us at support@plugable.com and we'll be happy to assist.

How to Update the Firmware

To update the firmware, you will need access to a Windows 10 or Windows 11 system with Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 5, or USB4. Standard USB-C systems may also support the update process if they support USB-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode. The firmware update cannot be performed on a Mac or Linux system. 

Please follow these instructions to download and perform the firmware update --> LINK

If you encounter any issues during the firmware update process, or have any additional questions please contact us at support@plugable.com and we'll be happy to assist.

Applicable To

Plugable TBT4-UDZ docking station

The TBT4-UDZ has a front Thunderbolt 4 40Gbps USB-C port that is used to connect a host system. The rear 10Gbps USB-C port is intended for USB-C accessories and will not support connecting a system there. If connecting to the wrong port by accident no damage will occur but the dock will not be recognized properly.

No, the TBT4-UDZ does not use DisplayLink USB graphics technology and does not support the DisplayLink USB graphics driver software.

External DisplayLink based devices connected to the TBT4-UDZ USB ports are supported.

The Plugable TBT4-UDZ docking station has two media card reader slots located on the front of the unit.

The first slot is for full-size Secure Digital (SD) media cards.  The second slot is for microSD media cards.

Media cards can be inserted into both slots, and both can be used simultaneously. 

Full-size SD card slot

The full-size SD card slot is a ‘manual’ slot.  When the docking station is in the horizontal position, you simply insert the full-size SD card into the slot with the SD card label facing upwards. Continue to push the card into the dock until the card stops. 

To remove the full-size SD card, simply pull to remove the card from the slot. 

*** Please note, prior to removing the card from the slot you may have to manually ‘eject’ the media card from within the host operating system. ***

Full-size SD card outside of the docking station

Full-size SD card partially inserted into the full-size SD card slot

Full-size SD card fully inserted into the full-size SD card slot

microSD card slot

The microSD card slot is a ‘spring loaded’ slot. When the docking station is in the horizontal position, you simply insert the microSD card into the slot with the SD card label facing downwards until you hear a ‘click’. 

To remove the microSD card, simply press on the visible edge of the card with your finger nail and then release. A spring inside the slot will gently push the card outward. Once the card has been released, continue to remove the card from the slot.

*** Please note, prior to removing the card from the slot you may have to manually ‘eject’ the media card from within the host operating system. ***

MicroSD card outside of the docking station, label facing upwards

MicroSD card outside of the docking station, label facing downwards

MicroSD card partially inserted into the microSD card slot

MicroSD card fully inserted into the microSD card slot

We are often asked if it is okay to leave a notebook computer connected to one of our USB-C docking stations with Power Delivery for extended periods of time.  The short answer is yes, it is no different from leaving the laptop connected to the manufacturer's original USB-C power supply for the same time.  The long answer is yes for modern laptops, and maybe for older (1990s-early 2000s laptops) and involves going into the different battery technologies used in consumer electronics devices.

Another common question is if it is possible to use the docking station but to disable powering and charging the computer.  When a modern notebook computer runs on battery power it will often set the system to a reduced power state which may impact performance, or connected devices and we recommend always powering the computer when using a desktop docking station.  For all of our docking stations that provide power to the host computer this will not affect the lifespan of the computer's battery.

Modern Laptop Batteries: Lithium-Ion

Lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries are found in a wide range of consumer electronics from notebook computers and cell phones, to electric cars, power tools, and wearable electronics like wireless earbuds.  Li-ion offers fast charging, high-current discharging, fairly long service live compared to other rechargeable battery technologies and are relatively inexpensive.

The life-span of a rechargeable battery depends on many factors including age, temperature history, charging patterns, the chemical composition of the specific battery, and usage.  For example batteries stored at 100% charge will degrade faster than batteries stored at 50% charge, this is why most consumer electronics devices arrive from the manufacturer with between 25% to 75% charge.

Lithium-ion batteries are consumable components, however in most modern computers, cell phones, and tablets these are not user serviceable components.  To help maintain the battery all modern computers and most consumer electronics will include battery charge and protection circuits.  These can be fairly simple, charging up the battery at preset rates depending on the charge level to help maintain the battery life, or complex software controlled charging that monitors battery temperature, voltage and current draw to maintain the fastest charging while maintaining the battery longevity.

Modern notebook computers can be left connected to the original power cable or a docking station with charging capability for extended periods, and do not benefit from regular discharge/recharge cycles.  Our docking stations with charging capability rely on USB Type-C Power Delivery to power and charge compatible computers.  USB Type-C Power Delivery is a negotiated charging protocol between the host computer and the docking station or USB Type-C power supply, this allows the computer to draw only the power it requires, and even select the best voltage level for powering the computer.  In combination with a computer's built-in battery charging controller the computer is capable of maintaining the battery's optimal state even when left connected to a power source for an extended period of time.

Legacy Laptop Batteries: NiCad and NiMH

Older laptops, from the 1990s and some early 2000s, as well as some consumer electronics, and most rechargeable AA or AAA battery replacements use Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad) or Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries.  These batteries are slower to charge and discharge than li-ion batteries, and require very simple charge controllers, and in some cases can even be trickle-charged ( very low-current continuous charging ) if desired.

These batteries generally don't have smart charging controllers and to prolong the life of the battery required "training" or fully discharging and recharging the battery every so often.  Many laptop manufacturers recommended fully charging and discharging a new laptop 2-3 times to train the battery, this is not necessary with modern laptops.

Conclusion

Modern notebook batteries are managed by the computer's built-in battery charging circuit, and require little to no user intervention to maintain optimal battery health.  It does not harm the battery to leave the computer connected to an external power supply, so long as the computer is being used regularly.  If the computer is to be stored for a prolonged period then discharging the battery to between 50-75% can help to maintain the battery life.

Batteries are consumable components and degrade over time, however modern notebook computers can extend the battery life generally to meet or exceed the life of the computer's other electronic components.

UPDATE 1/10/2024

The issue originally described within this article has been resolved by Nvidia with the release of their GPU driver, version 546.33 dated 12/12/2023 → LINK

If you are experiencing lower than expected resolution via the HDMI video outputs of your TBT4-UDZ or UD-4VPD docking station when using either product with a laptop computer with a discrete Nvidia GPU, updating to the GPU driver referenced above should resolve the issue.  

If that does not help, please contact us at support@plugable.com for further assistance.

The original text of this article is being retained below, for historical reference only. 

*** Deprecated information - For historical reference only ***

If you are having issues with your HDMI display(s) not working at their expected native resolution from your TBT4-UDZ or UD-4VPD docking station HDMI outputs, and your notebook computer is equipped with discrete NVIDIA graphics (or hybrid AMD/Intel + NVIDIA graphics), you may need to install an earlier version of the NVIDIA graphics driver to resolve the low-resolution behavior.

This behavior with low resolution over HDMI (usually 800x600 or 720x576) is due to a what we believe is a regression with the NVIDIA graphics driver past version 532.03. Based on our internal testing and reports from customers any newer driver version at this time will cause this low-resolution behavior. 

It is our current recommendation that if you are running a newer version of the NVIDIA graphics driver and are experiencing this issue to roll-back to version 532.03 which can be found below:

https://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/204970/en-us/

Please note that this specific behavior only affects our TBT4-UDZ* and UD-4VPD docking stations and is currently under investigation (*TBT4-UDZ DisplayPort outputs are unaffected). Once there is a newer NVIDIA graphics driver available that does not exhibit this regression this article will be updated.

To update the NVIDIA Graphics Drivers to the compatible version: 
1) Download the latest graphics drivers from NVIDIA linked above, by clicking on the green "Download" button on this and the next page, save the drivers to the Desktop or Downloads directory 
2) Save and close any open applications, unplug the docking station from the computer, and connect the original power supply 
3) Navigate to the downloaded graphics driver, then right-click on the saved driver installation file and select "Run as administrator" to start the installation process 
4) Allow the NVIDIA driver installation through the "User account control" window 
5) Select the "Custom Installation" option, and on the "Custom Installation" screen, select the checkbox next to "Perform a clean installation" near the bottom of the window, then follow the on screen instructions to update the NVIDIA Graphics Drivers 
 - If there are any errors, please take a screenshot ( using the Windows Snipping tool, or screenshot shortcut [Win]+[Shift]+[S] and attach the screenshot of the error message to an email to ‘support@plugable.com’ and we will be happy to help 
6) When complete please restart the computer ( Start > Power > Restart ) before reconnecting the docking station

Please contact us at support@plugable.com for further assistance.

For products which have multiple USB-C ports, normally only one port is capable of connecting the product to a computer. USB-C ports capable of connecting the product to a computer are sometimes called “Host” or “Upstream” ports. 

On Plugable products with multiple USB-C ports, the dedicated port for connecting to the computer will be marked with a small laptop icon or the words “To host”.

A product may not be able to function if it is connected to a computer through a different USB-C port. These ports are also known as “Hub" or “Downstream” ports. 

It's not uncommon for users to notice a certain level of heat generation from electronics and by extension, Plugable products during operation. In this knowledge base article, we'll explore the reasons behind this heat generation and why it is considered a normal experience within reasonable limits.

Electronics, by their nature, generate heat during operation. This is primarily a result of the electrical current flowing through various components, such as integrated circuits, transistors, and other electronic elements. As Plugable products are designed to efficiently process and transfer data (among other functionality), some level of heat generation is inherent.

Factors Influencing Heat Generation:

1. Power Consumption: The power consumption of a device directly influences the amount of heat it generates. Higher power usage, especially during data transfer or charging processes, can lead to increased heat.
2. Enclosure Design: The design of the product's enclosure and its ability to dissipate heat play a crucial role. Adequate ventilation and heat sinks are often incorporated to manage and disperse generated heat effectively. This is evident in our TBT3-UDZ and TBT4-UDZ designs. The metal case in these docks are designed to function as a heatsink with thermal pads placed throughout the enclosure. This allows heat dissipation from inside to the outside, but will also make it feel as if the device is “too hot”. 
3. Ambient Temperature: The external environment may also play a role. Higher ambient temperatures can contribute to increased perceived heat from the product. This means that summer temperatures may increase the heat generation of not just Plugable products, but many other electronic devices.

Normal Heat Levels: While it is normal for electronic devices to generate heat, Plugable products are engineered to operate within safe temperature ranges. We conduct rigorous testing to ensure that the heat generated during normal operation falls within industry-standard safety parameters. While not all products are or need to be UL certified, we try to go by UL guidelines for thermal readings. The UL threshold is 77C/170.6F, and we aim for around 71C/160F.

Tips for Users:

1. Ventilation: Ensure that Plugable products have sufficient ventilation around them. Avoid placing them in enclosed spaces where heat dissipation may be impeded.
2. Usage Patterns: Intensive tasks such as high-speed data transfer or charging multiple devices simultaneously may result in increased heat generation. This is generally normal but may be more noticeable in such scenarios.
3. Accessories: A number of our devices will allow for the connection of USB accessories and as such, these will require power. If too many “power-hungry” devices are connected, this will cause the device to run much hotter than expected. Be sure to keep in mind the power limits of your dock/device.

In conclusion, experiencing heat from Plugable products is a normal aspect of their operation. Users can rest assured that we prioritize the safety and efficiency of our devices. By understanding the factors influencing heat generation and following simple usage guidelines, users can make the most of their Plugable products while ensuring a reliable and efficient user experience.

The Windows Firewall may block some networking features when the local network is not set to Private.  This article will describe the process for setting the local network, either wired Ethernet or Wi-Fi to be a Private network.

Windows 11

1 - Connect the computer to the network, either wired or wireless

2 - Open the Windows Settings - right-click on the Start Menu and select “Settings” from the pop-up menu

3 - On the left column select “Network & internet”

For Wired Networks

4 - Select the “Ethernet” option

5 - The connected network should be expanded, if not click on “Network Connected" to expand the section

6 - Select the “Network profile type” either “Public network” or “Private network” to suite your needs

For Wi-Fi Networks

4 - Select the “Wi-Fi” option

5 - Select your Wi-Fi network name “properties”

6 - Select the “Network profile type” either “Public network” or “Private network” to suite your needs

Windows 10

1 - Connect the computer to the network, either wired or wireless

2 - Open the Windows Settings - right-click on the Start Menu and select “Settings” from the pop-up menu

3 - Select “Network & Internet” fro the bottom section

4 - Select the “Ethernet” option from the left pane

5 - Select the “Connected” network from the right pane

6 - Select the “Network profile type” either “Public network” or “Private network” to suite your needs

Windows PowerShell

If the option does not show up in the Windows Settings GUI, or if you prefer to use the terminal.

1 - Open a new terminal: Right-click on the Start Menu and select “Terminal” 

2 - Run the following command to list the available networks

Get-NetConnectionProfile

PS C:\Users\plugable> Get-NetConnectionProfile
Name                     : Network
InterfaceAlias           : Ethernet Instance 0
InterfaceIndex           : 7
NetworkCategory          : Private
DomainAuthenticationKind : None
IPv4Connectivity         : Internet
IPv6Connectivity         : NoTraffic

3 - Run the following command to set the network to Private

Set-NetConnectionProfile -Name Network -NetworkCategory Private

Where “Network” is the network name from step #2 and “Private” can be either “Public" or “Private”

Overview

With the release of Apple’s M3 CPU chips and the Sonoma 14.6 update your base MacBook Air and MacBook Pro systems with M3 chips can now host two external displays natively in clamshell mode. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up and using two external displays with the lid closed on your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro equipped with an Apple M3 chip.

Requirements

Before getting started, ensure you have the following:

• MacBook Air or MacBook Pro with an Apple M3 chip.
• macOS Sonoma 14.3 or later for an M3 MacBook Air or macOS Sonoma 14.6 or later for an M3 MacBook Pro.
• Two external displays with compatible video inputs (e.g., HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C).
  • A dock or graphics adapter can be used as well.
• External keyboard and mouse (wired or wireless).
• Power adapter or power source for your MacBook
  • A docking station that provides adequate charge can be used in place of the native power adapter, be sure to check the wattage your dock provides.

Steps to Set Up Dual External Displays with the Lid Closed

1. Set Up Your External Keyboard and Mouse

• If you’re using a wired keyboard and mouse, connect them directly to your MacBook or Plugable dock.
• For wireless peripherals, ensure they are paired with your MacBook and functioning properly.
• An AC adapter/power cable of some kind will also need to be connected for clamshell mode to function properly. This adapter can be one from a docking station or the included Apple adapter.

2. Connect Your Displays

• Connect the first external display to your MacBook using the appropriate cable (e.g., HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C)
• Close your laptop’s lid.
• Connect the second external display using a similar method.
• Ensure both displays are powered on and set to the correct input source.

3. Configure Display Settings

• Open System Settings on your MacBook.
• Go to Displays.
• You should see both external displays listed. Arrange them according to your preference by dragging the display icons.
• Adjust the resolution, refresh rate, and other settings as needed.

4. Enable "Clamshell Mode" (Lid Closed Mode)

• With your external displays connected and set up, close the lid of your MacBook.
• Your MacBook will automatically switch to "Clamshell Mode," where the internal display turns off, and the external displays become your primary screens.
• Ensure your MacBook is connected to a power source to prevent it from entering sleep mode.

5. Check the Display Arrangement

• With the lid closed, check that the external displays are functioning as expected.
• If necessary, re-open the Displays settings to adjust the arrangement, resolution, or other preferences.

Troubleshooting Tips

• No Display on External Monitors: If the external displays are not showing anything, open the lid of your MacBook and check the connections.
• MacBook Sleeps When Lid Is Closed: Make sure your MacBook is connected to a power adapter. Clamshell Mode requires the MacBook to be plugged into an external power source.
• Performance Issues: If you experience lag or performance drops, try lowering the resolution or refresh rate of the external displays.

Thunderbolt Dock Users

With these steps, one can use Plugable Thunderbolt docks to enjoy a dual-display setup without the need for additional software installation. The dock leverages the native capabilities of the MacBook Air M3 and MacBook Pro M3, providing a straightforward and efficient solution for expanding your workspace with additional USB ports, audio, and ethernet (as well as the dual displays).

Additional Resources

If you should need any assistance with your setup, please feel free to reach out to our support team at support@plugable.com.

Ethernet technology has come a long way since its inception in the late 1970s when early Ethernet operated at 10 Mbps, which was considered fast for its time. As digital demands increased, so did the need for faster data transfer speeds, leading to the introduction of Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps) and eventually Gigabit Ethernet ( 1 Gbps ), which has been the standard for home and office networking for over 20 years. Over these years, Ethernet continued to evolve, with standards being developed to handle even higher speeds but most often being isolated to the server room, and cloud computing. Today, technologies like 2.5 Gbps and 5 Gbps Ethernet have developed from 10 Gbps Ethernet, catering to modern high-bandwidth applications in both home and office environments. These advancements make it easier than ever for users to connect and transfer data at speeds that support the demands of video streaming, gaming, and extensive network tasks with higher reliability and lower latency than WiFi.

Upgrading a whole network from Gigabit to 2.5Gbps or faster can be costly and time consuming, but it doesn’t have to be done all at once. We have released both 2.5Gbps and soon 5Gbps USB Ethernet adapters that can be used with both notebook computers and desktops to provide up to five times faster Ethernet speeds than the built-in network controller, without having to install any new PCIe cards. Both of our high-speed Ethernet offerings are backwards compatible with current Gigabit Ethernet and in many cases can use the same network cables, however we do recommend replacing Category 5 and Category 5e cables with at least Category 6a or Category 7 cables to ensure future compatibility with both 5Gbps and 10Gbps Ethernet. Desktop 2.5Gbps and 5Gbps Ethernet switches are also coming down in price and can be used to quickly upgrade the network throughput between nearby computers.

As you make the upgrade process there are some steps that can be taken to ensure the network throughput is maximized between the 2.5Gbps or faster computers.

Maximizing 2.5Gbps Ethernet Performance

Maximizing the performance of a 2.5Gbps Ethernet network can enhance both speed and reliability, especially for power users who value efficiency and seamless connectivity in a busy IT environment or at home for the fastest home media center. Here are some best practices for small 2.5Gbps and 5Gbps network setups:

Upgrade Network Infrastructure for Compatibility

Switches and Routers: Ensure your network infrastructure, particularly switches and routers, supports 2.5Gbps or 5Gbps Ethernet. Many older devices are limited to 1Gbps, which will bottleneck the system.

This is most important between the computers that need the higher speed, if you have internet speed at or below 1Gbps then upgrading the router will not improve performance, so long as all computers that need faster local area network access are connected to the same 2.5Gbps or faster Ethernet switches.

Cable Quality: Use high-quality Cat 6a cables or better. While 2.5Gbps is designed to work with Cat 5e Ethernet cables, at least for short distances, for longer runs and to ensure the best performance Cat 6, 6a, or Cat 7 are recommended for 5Gbps networks.

Optimize Device Connections and Settings

NIC Configuration: Adjust your network interface card (NIC) settings to ensure optimal performance. This may involve tweaking parameters such as jumbo frames or flow control for maximum efficiency.

Ethernet data frames with more than 1500 bytes of data are called “jumbo frames”. Setting a larger frame size packs more data into each frame and can potentially reduce the CPU overhead, however to function it must be enabled on both endpoints and supported by all networking hardware in between. For most users there will be no noticeable difference in network performance, however in some specific cases like when a home server is transcoding and streaming video it can help to reduce the CPU overhead of the entire process. This can best be enabled on short point-to-point networks rather than sprawling networks, as packet loss with jumbo frames enabled causes significantly worse slowdowns than with standard frame sizes.

Flow control allows for the receiving system to transmit a pause request to the transmitting system to prevent data loss. This is necessary when multiple computers are communicating to the same server as there is generally not enough bandwidth to service all requests simultaneously, however it can be disabled in a point-to-point network setup where both computers are directly connected and both computers can handle full-speed data throughput. QoS - Quality of Service offers an alternative to Flow Control but requires significantly more setup often including managed switches and may not be an effective choice for the home and small office networks.

Driver and Firmware Updates: Keep all drivers and firmware updated for your network adapters, switches, and routers. This reduces potential compatibility issues and improves performance. Firmware updates are also important for maintaining network security, vulnerabilities in router firmware have been historically exploited to create network back doors, to exfiltrate data, as well as creating bot-nets for DDoS - Dedicated Denial of Service attacks on websites.

Drivers for Plugable devices can be found on our product pages, under the "Downloads" tab.

Consider Network Segmentation

For a network with mixed-speed devices (1Gb, 2.5Gbps, 5Gbps and 10Gbps), segmenting traffic can prevent slower devices from dragging down performance. This can be done physically by using gigabit Ethernet switches separate from 2.5Gbps or 5Gbps switches then bridging the switches together, or virtually by setting up virtual LANs (VLANs) with a managed Ethernet switch. VLANs can help allocate 2.5Gbps and 5Gbps connections exclusively for high-bandwidth tasks while lower speed devices can utilize secondary gigabit Ethernet ports on the server or client computers.

Leverage Multi-Gig Capable Devices for Key Applications

Identify the devices that will benefit the most from 2.5Gbps and faster connections, such as NAS - Network Attached Storage systems with integrated 2.5Gbps or 5Gbps Ethernet, high-performance workstations or desktop replacement notebooks with USB Ethernet adapters, or servers with multi-port bonded Ethernet controllers handling large data transfers. Connect these devices directly to a switch that can take advantage of the higher network throughput to ensure they receive the best performance possible.

Future-Proofing with 2.5Gbps-capable or faster Docking Stations and USB Ethernet Adapters

Many Plugable docking stations now support 2.5Gbps Ethernet, which could be ideal for enhancing productivity for hybrid work setups, at home, or in the classroom by enabling high-speed, wired connectivity. Plugable’s docks also simplify integration across Windows and Chrome OS devices, which can be especially helpful in mixed-device environments​​.

USB Ethernet Adapters

• 2.5Gbps USB 3 Ethernet Adapter ( https://plugable.com/products/usbc-e2500 )
• 5Gbps USB 10Gbps Ethernet Adapter ( https://plugable.com/products/usbc-e5000 )
• 1Gbps USB 3.0 Standard-A and Type-C Ethernet Adapter ( https://plugable.com/products/usb3-e1000 https://plugable.com/products/ubsc-e1000 )

Thunderbolt and USB4 docking stations

• USB4 Dual 4K Docking Station ( https://plugable.com/products/ud-4vpd )
• Thunderbolt 4 Quad Display Docking Station ( https://plugable.com/products/tbt4-udz )
• Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 HDMI Docking Station ( https://plugable.com/products/tbt4-udx1 )

Many modern displays can support above the default 60Hz refresh rate, however this may need to be manually set within Windows 11. Please note, not all computers, graphics adapters, and docking stations can support all resolutions and refresh rates.

Setting the Display Refresh Rate in Windows 11

1. Right-click on the desktop and select Display Settings from the drop-down menu

2. Scroll down to the Related settings subsection and select Advanced display

3. At the top of the Advanced display window, select the external display from the drop-down menu

4. From the Choose a refresh rate drop-down menu select the desired refresh rate

Refresh Rate Limitations

With Windows 24H2 and newer, dynamic refresh rates are supported, this allows the system to adjust the display refresh rate to save power, up to the selected refresh rate. As a consequence of this new mode, when selecting the display refresh rate you may see an asterisk. This indicates that selecting the specific refresh rate may reduce the display resolution or image quality in order to prioritize the refresh rate. This exposes the refresh rate option from the display even if the display cable or computer is incapable of supporting that refresh rate at the native resolution and is the intended behavior per Microsoft. [1]

In the screenshot below the left side shows the 4K 120Hz capable display limited to 60Hz refresh rate without asterisks, and on the right the same display after setting the refresh rate to “120 Hz*”, the “Desktop mode” resolution has been reduced to 2560 x 1440 (1440p) instead of 3840 x 2160 (4K UHD). Unlike when using the display scaling option this also causes a reduction in image quality. On the right side asterisks are no longer shown in the refresh rate list. Setting the refresh rate back to 60Hz does not change the resolution, you will have to go back one page and set the resolution manually.

References

[1] Windows Insider description of new behavior (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/08/31/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-25941-canary-channel/)

USB-C Power Delivery (PD) is negotiated between the power-sourcing equipment (e.g., a dock or multiport hub) and the connected host device. During this negotiation, the device offering power communicates its capabilities, and the host determines whether it can accept the power. If the host does not support Power Delivery, no power will be sent to the computer over the USB-C connection. This will allow you to take advantage of other capabilities such as data transfer or video output without risking damage to the computer.

Extra displays can be added to your docking station by using USB graphics adapters. This allows you to expand your workspace beyond the number of displays natively supported by your dock or computer.

Here’s how it works:

1. Ensure your dock has open USB-A or USB-C ports to connect the USB graphics adapter(s).
2. Select a Plugable USB graphics adapter compatible with your operating system and monitor specifications. Feel free to contact Plugable support (support@plugable.com) for assistance in selecting the appropriate adapter for your setup.
3. Download and install the driver from the "Downloads" section of the product page for the USB graphics adapter on Plugable's website.
4. Plug the adapter into an available USB port on your docking station. 
5. Use an appropriate video cable (e.g., HDMI, DisplayPort) to connect the adapter to your monitor.

Important Considerations:

• Windows supports up to 8 DisplayLink/SiliconMotion-based monitors. 
• macOS has a hard limit of 4 DisplayLink/SiliconMotion-based monitors.
• USB graphics adapters use bandwidth and system resources. Connecting multiple adapters can reduce performance.

Plugable recommends and supports using only the external power adapter originally included in the box with a Plugable product to power the device.

Plugable does NOT recommend or support using any type of alternate or 3rd-party power adapters in conjunction with our products that originally included a power adapter in the box.

This is because 3rd-party power adapters may not work as expected, and in some cases can potentially cause damage to the Plugable product.

Should you require a replacement for an original Plugable provided power adapter, Plugable offers a multitude of power adapters for purchase separately → LINK

Please also note, this provision does NOT apply to Plugable products that do NOT originally include a power adapter in the box with the product.

For example, the PS-10CC → LINK does not include a power adapter in the box with the product. The intention with the PS-10CC (and other similar products like the USBC-9IN1E → LINK) is to use a USB Type-C power adapter that supports USB Power Delivery that you already have in conjunction with the product. 

This works because USB Power Delivery is an industry standard. Products that support USB Power Delivery are intended to work with a variety of different USB Type-C power adapters that support the USB Power Delivery standard. 
 

One helpful way to identify your ethernet link rate speed is through the System Settings app in macOS. This can help us identify if your Plugable ethernet adapter is negotiating either 1Gbps or 2.5Gbps network speeds. Some routers have a mix of 1Gbps or 2.5Gbps ports, and in the macOS System Settings this will be shown in the Speed field. 

In this example, we will be analyzing our USBC-E2500, which is a 2.5Gbps ethernet adapter. This method applies to all of our ethernet adapters, such as:

• USB3-E1000
• USBC-E1000
• USBC-E2500
• USBC-E2500PD

Navigate to the Network section, select the entry named “USB 10/100/1G/2.5G LAN” with the Green - Connected icon. Expand the Details button, and go to Hardware.

At Plugable, we rigorously test our docking stations with the included accessories to ensure they work seamlessly together. One key reason for using the included cable is that not all USB Type-C cables on the market support the same features. Therefore we strongly recommend using the USB Type-C or Thunderbolt cable that comes with your Plugable dock for best results.

Understanding the differences between charging and data cables is essential to fully enable your new docking station, or if you are ever in need of a replacement or longer cable for your docking station. Let’s break it down.

USB Type-C Cables: Charging vs. Data

USB Type-C cables may look identical, but their capabilities can vary significantly. Unfortunately, the USB specifications do not require cables to be clearly labeled, which can make identifying the right cable a challenge.

There are two main categories:

USB Type-C Charging Cables

Charging cables are among the most common Type-C cables available. They typically support:
✔ USB 2.0 data (up to 480Mbps)
✔ USB Power Delivery for charging devices

These cables are often included with smartphones, tablets, and some laptops. They are also frequently sold specifically for charging purposes. However, they lack the necessary conductors for high-speed data transfer and video output.

Fully Featured USB Type-C Cables

Fully featured USB Type-C cables offer full functionality and are required for docking stations. The cables we include with our USB Type-C docks support:
✔ USB4 or USB 3.0/3.1 data (5Gbps or faster)
✔ USB 2.0 data
✔ USB Power Delivery
✔ USB Type-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode for video output

These cables ensure full compatibility with our docking stations, allowing for both high-speed data transfer and external display support.

Thunderbolt Data Cables

Thunderbolt cables are a specialized subset of USB Type-C data cables. They are Intel-certified and typically marked with the Thunderbolt logo (⚡).

✔ Interchangeable with USB Type-C data cables when using USB 3.x devices
✔ Required for Thunderbolt devices to ensure proper functionality

If you're using a Thunderbolt docking station or device, a certified Thunderbolt cable is essential for maximum performance.

What Makes These Cables Different?

The key difference lies in the internal wiring:

🚫 Charging cables lack the conductors required for high-speed data (USB 5Gbps or higher) and video output. Even if a device supports USB Type-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode, a charging cable won’t transmit video.

✅ Data cables include additional wiring to support higher data rates, video output, and greater flexibility in bandwidth allocation.

How Can I Tell the Difference?

🔎 Charging cables are generally thinner and may have smaller connector grips, as they often lack electronic markers. They are typically advertised as:

• "Charging cable"
• "480Mbps data rate"
• Advertised primarily for phones and tablets, not laptops

🔎 Data cables are usually thicker and slightly more expensive due to their additional complexity. Look for statements such as:

• "USB 3.0/3.1," "USB4," or "Thunderbolt"
• "5Gbps" or faster data rates
• Mention of video support for use with external displays

⚠ Cable Length Matters!
Fully featured data cables are typically limited to 1 meter (3.3 feet) to comply with USB Type-C specifications. Charging cables, on the other hand, can be much longer.

Need a Longer or Replacement Cable?

If you need a replacement or a longer cable for your USB Type-C or Thunderbolt docking station, consider these options:

For USB 3.1/3.2 Type-C Docking Stations:

🔗 USB Type-C 10Gbps 1m (3.3ft) Cable

For Thunderbolt & USB4, and USB 3 Type-C Docking Stations:

🔗 Thunderbolt 4 40Gbps 1m (3.3ft) Cable
🔗 Thunderbolt 4 40Gbps 0.8m (3ft) 90° Right-Angle Cable
🔗 Thunderbolt 4 40Gbps 2m (6.6ft) Cable

Note: The USB Type-C 10Gbps cable is only recommended for USB 3.x docking stations, not Thunderbolt docks.

Plugable does not officially support automatic or automated MAC address pass through functionality from the host computer with any of our currently available docking station products.

As of this writing, the only current exception is the upcoming UD-7400PD docking station → LINK and we speak to its capabilities in this regard here → LINK

However, when our docking station products are used within a Windows environment such behavior can be approximated by other means. The methods to do so and their complexity can vary depending upon the Ethernet network technology on which the dock is based. 

To be clear, Plugable does not officially support these approximated solutions. However, we wanted to mention them should they prove helpful to others.

With that said, Plugable docking stations will vary in regard to the Ethernet network chipset used within the product. For general reference, the specific Ethernet chipset used within the product will be listed within the 'Specifications' tab of the docking station's product page. 

For example, here are the specifications for the Plugable UD-6950Z docking station which is based on DisplayLink technology, which also provides the Ethernet network chipset functionality. 

Note, all Plugable docking station products based on DisplayLink technology will have the DisplayLink logo printed on the product. For general reference, we have a list of all of our DisplayLink-based docking stations available here --> LINK

A DisplayLink-based Ethernet adapter can be configured to use a 'virtual' MAC address that is manually configured within the Windows Device Manager via the adapter's 'Advanced' settings tab, specifically the 'MAC Address' field.  

Manually entering a hexadecimal value for the MAC Address field will override the MAC address stored in the Ethernet chipset within the docking station product (in so far as it is presented to the Windows operating system).

To be clear, this only affects the current Windows installation. This does NOT change the Ethernet MAC address stored within the dock itself. 

Further to this, Synaptics (the separate company from Plugable who created the DisplayLink technology and also developed the software), have additional options available for configuring a DisplayLink-based MAC address. Some of these options provide a certain level of automation, while others require manual inputs. 

DisplayLink outlines the available options within this knowledge base article --> LINK which for general reference is part of their broader 'Corporate Deployment' knowledge base category --> LINK   

To be clear, since DisplayLink develops the software DisplayLink also supports the Corporate Deployment options directly.

Should additional assistance be required in regard to the Corporate Deployment options, please contact DisplayLink directly for further assistance --> LINK 

Plugable also offers docking station products based on a variety of Realtek, Intel, and ASIX Ethernet network chipsets.  For those products, the only option available is to manually configure a 'virtual' MAC address in a similar manner to what we described above.  

However, please note that the description of the option to do so within Device Manager will vary. For example, for Intel Ethernet chipsets the option will be called, 'Locally Administered Address'. When using Realtek Ethernet chipsets the option will be called, 'Network Address'.
 

When choosing a docking station or USB hub, it's important to understand the difference between Power Delivery (PD) and Pass-Through Power Delivery. While both terms refer to charging capabilities, they function differently and impact how power is distributed to connected devices.

What is Power Delivery (PD)?

USB Power Delivery (PD) is a fast-charging standard that allows devices to negotiate power levels dynamically. Key aspects include:

• Enables higher power transfer (up to 100W or more, depending on the device and cable).
• Ensures efficient charging by dynamically adjusting voltage and current.
• Commonly used in USB-C chargers, docking stations, and hubs that provide power directly to laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

Example: A USB-C docking station with PD output can charge a connected laptop while simultaneously powering other peripherals. Additionally, these tend to come with their own AC adapter.

What is Pass-Through Power Delivery?

Pass-Through Power Delivery refers to a hub or docking station that does not generate power itself but instead allows power to pass through from an external power adapter. Key aspects include:

• Requires a dedicated power adapter (e.g., a USB-C PD laptop charger) plugged into the docking station or hub.
• Typically, a portion of the incoming power is allocated to the dock’s functionality (such as data transfer and peripheral connections), and the remaining power is sent to the connected laptop or device.
• May reduce the total power available to the laptop compared to direct charging.

Example: A USB-C hub with pass-through PD allows a laptop's original USB-C PD charger to be connected to the hub, which then distributes power to the laptop while also supporting external peripherals.

Choosing the Right Option

• If you need a docking station that can directly charge your laptop, look for one with dedicated Power Delivery (PD) support.
• If your laptop already has a high-wattage charger and you want to maintain power while expanding connectivity, a pass-through PD hub may be a better choice.
• Be mindful of power limitations with pass-through charging, as some hubs may reserve power for their own operation, reducing the power available for the laptop.

Some examples of hubs with PD pass-through would be our USBC-9IN1E with 140w pass-through charging or our smaller USBC-4IN1 with 100w pass-through.

On the flip side, we have our docking stations that power your devices by themselves. Examples such as our UD-7400PD which is capable of 140w of charge and 5 displays.

Understanding these differences will help ensure you select the right docking station or USB-C hub for your setup. If you have any questions or would like a recommendation, feel free to reach out to our support at support@plugable.com

There is currently a known bug on Apple Silicon Mac’s that causes some sets of displays to swap positions on wake from sleep. This issue occurs with sets of identical model displays, as this issue is basically macOS misidentifying these displays as one another, causing them to swap positions.

Because this is a macOS issue, there is not much that can be done to fully remedy this issue until Apple addresses it themselves. However, there is an application called BetterDisplay that has been confirmed by customers to help resolve this issue.

BetterDisplay:

To download BetterDisplay, you can find the latest releases on GitHub below:

https://github.com/waydabber/BetterDisplay

Note that there is a premium upgrade that costs money, and the initial download includes a 14 day free trial. But for the purpose of this specific issue, the free version will still have all the features that we need.

Simply click on the “Download app for macOS” button and follow the instructions to install the application. You will get notified that this app is downloaded from the internet. Click Open to open the application:

Start the app from the Applications folder or from Launchpad / Spotlight. Once you launch the app, you should see a page similar to the one below:

Once the app is opened, we are going to want to change the Display Identification Method to “basic + extended identifiers”. This is supposed to make it easier for BetterDisplay to identify and correctly position identical monitors.

To find this setting: 

1. Ensure that the displays are in the correct arrangement to start
2. Select one of your monitors at the top of the settings menu
3. Select the “Additional settings…” under the “General Settings”
4. Scroll down and find “Display identification method”
5. Select “basic + extended identifiers”

This should hopefully resolve the display swapping positions issue!

Notes:

We do not officially support this application, as it just came recommended to us to solve this specific issue. If you run into issues with this application, consult the documentation provided by the developer on the BetterDisplay Github.

The developer has stated that this will not work on DisplayLink based docking stations or graphics adapters. This fix is primarily intended for natively connected displays.
 

As of this writing, there have been four generations of Apple CPUs, the M1, the M2, the M3, and the M4.  Each generation has offered three variations, a ‘base’ model (without a suffix) and ‘Pro’ and ‘Max’ models.

Mac laptops based on Apple CPUs have varying native external display capabilities via Thunderbolt/USB-C connections.

Each generation offers different capabilities depending upon which generation and variation of Apple processor is in use.

As of this writing, the M4 generation is the most capable CPU in regard to native external display capabilities as compared to all previous generations and variations.

Apple Mac laptops with a base M4 processor or M4 Pro processor can support up to two external displays regardless of the state of the laptop lid.

Apple Mac laptops with a M4 Max processor can support up to a total of four external displays regardless of the state of the laptop lid.

Apple Mac laptops with base M3 processors can support one external display when the laptop lid is open and the laptop’s internal display is enabled. They can support up to two external displays when the laptop lid is closed and the laptop's internal display is disabled.

Apple Mac laptops with M3 Pro or M3 Max processors can support up to four external displays in total, regardless of the state of the laptop lid.

Apple Mac laptops with base M1 and M2 processors support one external display only.

Apple Mac laptops with M1 Pro and M2 Pro processors support up to two external displays.

Apple Mac laptops with M1 Max and M2 Max processors can support up to four external displays in total.

Here are a few things that you can do when contacting Plugable for assistance that can help expedite the process:

1. Provide a clear, detailed description of the issue, and if possible the steps necessary to recreate it

At first glance this may appear somewhat obvious, however a clear detailed description will help prevent our support engineers from making any incorrect assumptions.

If the unexpected behavior is repeatable, then a list of the steps necessary to recreate the issue will help provide us with important context.

2. Provide the model number of your Plugable product

All Plugable brand products have their model number or ‘stock keeping unit’ (aka SKU) printed somewhere on the product.  For example, ‘UD-3900’ or ‘TBT4-UDZ’

When contacting us for assistance, providing the model number will help us route your request to the appropriate support engineer.

3. Provide the purchase information for your Plugable product, such as the Amazon Order ID number

Providing us with the order information for your purchase allows us to do two things:

A. Be sure that we understand precisely which product you are using (we make a lot of different products)

B. Help confirm the unit’s warranty status.

4. Provide us with a diagnostic file from your computer, gathered when the issue is actively occurring or just after the event

Rather than have our customers manually compile and provide information about their computer, we created the PlugDebug utility which automates the process of collecting various pieces of diagnostic information from both Windows and macOS systems. 

A PlugDebug file gathered while the issue is occurring (or just after the issue has occurred) will provide important information that will allow us to help troubleshoot the issue.

5. If possible, photographs or a video of the issue

While not always necessary, in some cases having photographs of the problem and/or a video that documents the issue will allow us to ‘see’ what is happening, which in turn may help provide clues to the cause.

Now, to be clear it is not always necessary (nor is it required) to provide all of the information we described above in order for us to be of help.  However, the more information we have available the faster are able to help. 

As always, if you require assistance with a Plugable product please reach out to us directly via support@plugable.com and we will be happy to assist.

Introduction

At Plugable, we make a lot of different products that can help make your computing efforts more efficient and productive.

Many of those products (such as our extensive line of docking stations → LINK) require an external power adapter in order to function.

In the course of helping our customers, we often receive questions in regard to what type of power adapter is included with the product and how those power adapters can be used in different parts of the world.

This knowledge base article will help answer those questions.

Power Adapter Types

To put it simply, in general there are two types of power adapters included with a Plugable product.

WALL PLUG

The first type is typically referred to as a ‘wall plug’ or in some cases as a ‘wall wart’ due to its size being larger than that of a standard electrical plug.

This is a small AC to DC power adapter that is completely self contained and plugs directly into an electrical power outlet.

For example, here are photos of the ‘wall plug’ included in the box with the Plugable UD-6950Z docking station.

UD-6950Z U.S. Style Wall Plug Power Adapter:

UD-6950Z U.S Style Wall Plug Power Adapter with Prong removed:

Most ‘wall plug’ style power adapters included with Plugable products support all of the electrical voltages and electrical frequencies used throughout the world.

Note, you can double-check the specifications by looking at the label printed on the wall plug power adapter, or by reviewing the ‘Power’ specifications located on each Plugable product page.

However, the electrical ‘prong’ (the small plastic piece that provides the blades that insert into the electrical power outlet) included with the wall plug will only be for the country in which the product was sold.

To put that another way and using the aforementioned UD-6950Z as an example, if the UD-6950Z is purchased from Amazon.com within the United States, the electrical prong included with the wall plug power adapter will be for a United States style power outlet only.

If the wall plug power adapter needs to be used in a different part of the world, a small inexpensive ‘travel style’ adapter that converts the United States style plug to the local plug type is required.  

POWER ADAPTER BRICK

The second type is typically referred to simply as a ‘power adapter’ or by some as a ‘power adapter brick’.

The power adapter is a combination of two separate components. One component is the power adapter itself, which is typically rectangular in shape and why some people refer to it as a ‘brick’.

The second component is the power cable that connects to the power brick. This cable has an electrical wall plug on one end and an industry standard connector on the opposite end.

Looking at two different example power adapters will allow us to expand further.

Let’s look at the power adapter and power cable for our TBT4-UDZ Thunderbolt 4 docking station:

Within the power adapter brick, there is a female inlet:

On one end of the power cable, there is an electrical wall plug.

On the opposite end of the power cable, there is a male connector.  This connector will be inserted into the power brick.

There is an international standard that governs the shapes and sizes of the connectors in use, specifically IEC 60320 → LINK

In this example, the male connector on the end of the power cable is known as a ‘C5’ connector:

In this example, the female inlet is known as a ‘C6’ connector.

Some refer to this type of connection as a ‘Mickey Mouse’ connection, because the overall shape of the connector visually resembles the outline of a silhouette of the cartoon character Mickey Mouse.

Now, let’s look at the power adapter and power cable for our USB4-HUB3A Thunderbolt 4 hub.

Within the power adapter brick, there is a female inlet:

On one end of the power cable, there is an electrical wall plug.

On the opposite end of the power cable, there is a male connector.  This connector will be inserted into the power brick.

Note that the shapes on the inlet and connector are different as compared to the TBT4-UDZ example we looked at previously, however as was the case before the IEC 60320 standard governs the design.

In this example, the male connector on the end of the power cable is known as a ‘C13’ connector.

In this example, the female inlet is known as a ‘C14’ connector.

While the cables are different, the benefit of both cables being based on a common standard is that replacement cables for use in different parts of the world can typically be sourced locally.

Most Plugable power adapters support the electrical frequency and electrical voltages used throughout the world.

Note, you can double-check the specifications by looking at the label printed on the wall plug power adapter, or by reviewing the ‘Power’ specifications located on each Plugable product page.

If necessary, the power cable can be replaced with a different one with the necessary wall plug in order to use the product in different parts of the world.

Note, when replacing the cable with a different one please be sure to purchase a cable from a reputable brand and that also meets the electrical specifications printed on the power adapter.

Summary

In summary, there are two different types of power adapters included with Plugable products and the power adapters support the electrical voltage and frequency used throughout the world.

However, the plug that inserts into the power outlet will be specific to the region in which the product was sold.

If a wall plug type power adapter is in use, then a ‘travel style’ adapter is needed to convert the power adapter for use in a different part of the world.

If a power adapter brick is in use, then an industry standard replacement power cable can be used to convert the power adapter brick for use in a different part of the world.

Should you have any additional questions, please reach out to us via support@plugable.com and we will be happy to assist you further. 
 

If your Plugable docking station isn’t charging your laptop, it’s usually due to one of a few common causes. This guide offers some diagnostic checks you can perform to help pinpoint the issue.

Check if Your Dock Supports USB-C Power Delivery

Not all docks charge laptops. Docks fall into three categories:

• Built-in Power Delivery (PD): These include an AC power adapter and can provide 60W, 85W, or 100W to your laptop. A list of Plugable docking stations with built-in Power Delivery can be found here.
• PD Passthrough: These compact docks require a separate USB-C charger plugged into the dock to pass power through to your laptop. A list of Plugable docking stations with PD Passthrough can be found here.
• Host Charging Unsupported: Some docks do not offer any host charging functionality. These are designed solely for display expansion, data, or peripherals.

Tip: Check your Plugable dock’s product specifications for Power Delivery or charging support. If no charging is listed, the dock may not charge your laptop, and the system would need to be powered separately.

Verify the Dock’s Power Source

For your dock to charge your laptop, it needs to be adequately powered itself.

Check:

• Are you using the original Plugable AC adapter for a built-in PD dock?
• For PD passthrough docks, is your USB-C charger powerful enough for your laptop?
• Are you using a reputable, certified charger - not a low-wattage third-party adapter?

Use a Compatible USB-C to USB-C Host Cable

Cable issues can be a common cause of charging problems.

Check:

• Are you using the USB-C to USB-C cable that came with your Plugable dock? This can be identified through its included cable tag.
• If not, does your replacement cable explicitly support USB PD or Thunderbolt?
• Are you accidentally using a USB-C to USB-A cable, which cannot deliver charging to laptops?
• Could the cable be data-only or rated for lower wattage?

Confirm Your Laptop Supports USB-C or Thunderbolt Charging

Even with a PD-capable dock and cable, your laptop must support charging over the USB-C or Thunderbolt port in use.

Common compatibility issues:

• Some USB-C ports are data/video-only.
• Some laptops support charging only through a specific USB-C port.
• Gaming and enterprise laptops often use proprietary power adapters.

Tip: Check your laptop’s specifications or user manual for “USB-C charging” or “Power Delivery (PD) input” support.

Try a Hard Reset

Sometimes, a failed handshake between the dock and laptop prevents charging.

To reset the connection:

1. Disconnect the dock from both your laptop and its power source.
2. Wait 30–60 seconds.
3. Reconnect power to the dock first, then reconnect it to your laptop.

This often resolves temporary communication issues that block charging.

Update Drivers and Firmware

System-level software can directly impact charging behavior - especially on newer laptops and docks.

Update:

• Your laptop’s BIOS or UEFI
• USB-C and Thunderbolt controller firmware and drivers

Tip: Visit your laptop manufacturer’s support site and search by model for the latest system updates.

Compare Power Requirements

If your laptop demands more power than the dock can supply, it may not charge - or may charge very slowly.

Check:

• What wattage does your original laptop charger provide? (Usually printed on the power adapter.)
• What is the maximum PD output your Plugable dock can provide?
• Does your laptop still slowly discharge while docked under heavy use?

Tip: For especially power-hungry laptops (like gaming or workstation models), consider connecting the laptop’s original charger along with the dock to ensure the laptop charges at full speed

Related: Overcoming Power Challenges: Efficiently Charging High-Demand Laptops While Docking

Overview

For most modern Windows and Mac systems, Thunderbolt devices are automatically approved and will ‘just work’ once connected.

The main exception is Apple Mac laptops with Apple CPUs running macOS Ventura (13) or newer, where you’ll be prompted to manually approve the device the first time you connect it.

The summary table below provides the specific details at a glance, and the text that follows explains the table in more detail. 

Thunderbolt Approval / Authentication Summary Table

Why Authentication Exists

To expand further, Thunderbolt 3, 4 and 5 are in essence external connections to the host computer’s internal PCI Express bus.  This type of low-level and high speed connection warranted security protocols to prevent unauthorized access to user data.

Windows: From Intel Software to Native OS Support

When Thunderbolt 3 Windows systems were first introduced in late 2015 it was necessary to use Intel Thunderbolt software to manually authenticate and approve external Thunderbolt devices.

With the introduction of Thunderbolt 4 Windows systems in 2020, it was still necessary to have Intel Thunderbolt software installed on the host computer. However, in most cases the authentication and approval process would happen automatically greatly simplifying the process. 

Starting with Windows 11 version 21H2 released in October of 2021, Microsoft integrated support for both USB4 and Thunderbolt into the Windows operating system → LINK

This means that with most modern Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 5 computers running the latest version of Windows 11 it is no longer necessary to install Intel Thunderbolt software on the host computer in order to manage Thunderbolt devices. In most cases, the authentication and approval process will still happen automatically.

macOS: From Intel CPUs to Apple CPUs

When Thunderbolt 3 Mac systems with Intel CPUs were first introduced in 2016, the authentication and approval mechanism was built-in to macOS and was transparent to the end user.

Apple introduced Mac computers based on Apple CPUs in 2020. Macs based on Apple CPUs running macoS 11 Big Sur or macOS 12 Monterey would automatically approve and authenticate Thunderbolt devices when connected.

macOS 13 Ventura was released in 2022 and for portable Macs with Apple CPUs Apple introduced a feature known as ‘Accessory Security’ (also known as ‘Restricted Mode’) →  LINK

By default, portable Macs (i.e. laptops) with an Apple CPU running macOS 13 Ventura or newer version of macOS will require the end user to authenticate and approve a Thunderbolt device when initially connected.

Stationary Macs (i.e. desktops) with an Apple CPU running macOS 13 Ventura or newer version of macOS do NOT implement the ‘Accessory Security’ feature. As a result, Thunderbolt devices will be automatically approved and authenticated when initially connected.

Apple Macs with Intel CPUs (both laptop and desktops) running macOS 13 Ventura or newer do NOT implement the ‘Accessory Security’ feature. As a result, Thunderbolt devices will be automatically approved and authenticated when initially connected. 

 

Yes, you can safely connect your laptop charger to your laptop at the same time a Plugable USB-C or Thunderbolt docking station is connected.

To expand further, all Plugable USB-C or Thunderbolt docking stations use a protocol known as USB Power Delivery (aka USB PD) in order to provide power to the host computer.

An external device using USB PD (such as a docking station) will provide power to the host computer only if the host computer requests it. 

In cases where there are two external devices that can potentially provide power connected to the laptop, the host laptop will automatically determine the preferred source of power from which to charge.

If your laptop’s power adapter provides a higher rate of power than the Plugable docking station, then the laptop will only charge from the laptop’s power adapter and the Plugable docking station will not provide any power.

For example, let’s say your Plugable docking station can provide up to 96W of power to charge the host laptop. Let’s also say that the power adapter included with your laptop can provide 140W of power.  

In this specific case, via the USB Power Delivery protocol the laptop will automatically determine that the 140W power source is preferable to the 96W power source. As a result, the laptop will only accept power from the 140W power source and the docking station will not provide any power. 

Improved Voltage Regulation Under Load

When multiple USB devices are connected - especially high-draw peripherals like external drives or charging phones - the demand on the dock’s internal power can spike. If the power supply were delivering only 5V, any load increase might cause voltage “sag,” potentially leading to unstable or unreliable performance.

By starting with a higher voltage like 12V or 20V, the internal voltage regulators within the dock or hub can more reliably and efficiently step down that voltage to a consistent 5V, even under heavy load. It’s similar to having a reservoir above a village - you’ll have more reliable water pressure regardless of demand.

Greater Power Efficiency Over Distance

Transmitting power at higher voltage and lower current reduces energy loss due to resistance in the wires (which causes heat). By increasing the voltage we can decrease the amperage for the same power, and power loss in the line is directly proportional to amperage squared so even a small decrease in the amperage adds up quickly. Once the power reaches the dock, it's stepped down to the voltages needed for USB ports. This not only enhances efficiency but also makes compact, cooler-running designs possible.

Special Consideration for USB-C Docks

USB-C docks commonly include 20V power supplies, which serve a dual purpose:

• Supplying 5V for downstream USB devices
• Delivering up to 100W (or more) to host laptops via USB-C Power Delivery

With USB Power Delivery 3.1 (EPR), even higher voltages (up to 48V) are supported, enabling future docks and laptops to handle even more powerful devices like desktop replacement laptops or external GPUs.

Will Future Docks Use 48V Power Supplies?

It's likely. While 20V is common now (especially for consumer devices), 24V+ power supplies are widespread in industrial and telecom applications. As high-performance laptops and workstations demand more power, consumer docks may start including 24V, 36V, or even 48V adapters. These would align with USB PD 3.1 specs and simplify designs that support extended power ranges.

However, for now, 20V remains a sweet spot for cost, availability, and compatibility across a wide range of devices.

TL;DR

Higher voltages like 12V or 20V are used for better regulation and more efficient power delivery.

USB-C docks use 20V to support Power Delivery charging (up to 100W+).

USB PD 3.1 EPR opens the door to 48V systems, and while uncommon now, future docking stations may shift to 48V as demand grows.

In general, iPad's with USB-C can connect to our Thunderbolt docks, but the functionality will depend on the specifications of the USB-C port on the iPad.

All iPad's with USB-C will be able to be charged when connected to a dock with power delivery.

In general, iPad's can support up to one external display when connected to a Thunderbolt dock. Resolutions and refresh rates depend on the model of iPad, as well as the docking station model.

iPad compatible USB devices and peripherals (mouse, keyboard, storage, Ethernet, etc.) can be used with the dock. The USB-C port on the iPad can vary from USB 2.0 to 40Gbps Thunderbolt, so note that transfer speeds on the downstream USB ports will be limited based on the capabilities of the host port.

iPad Pro's with the M-Series chipset support 40Gbps Thunderbolt, which means that you will get the most functionality out of a Thunderbolt dock connected to these iPad's. 

What is the MAC address?

The MAC address (Medium Access Control address) is a unique network address for each Network Interface Controller to identify the hardware on the network segment. The address is generally expressed as six hexadecimal digits, sometimes separated by a '-', ':', or without a separator.

The MAC address is assigned by the hardware manufacturer during production, however many network controllers allow the operating system (via the drivers) to override the MAC address, this is handled at the operating system level and does not change the address stored in the adapter.

The first three octets (first three hexadecimal values, six characters) identify the network hardware manufacturer while the last three octets should be unique within each hardware manufacturer's product line. For example Plugable's MAC addresses all begin with "8CAE4C", with lower values typically representing older companies, "000000" belongs to Xerox for example, some companies have multiple ranges of MAC addresses.

Why it can be useful to override the manufacturer's address?

Setting a custom MAC address can provide anonymity when connecting to public networks. It can also be used by an IT Network Administrator to provide specific access rights to computers based on the connection.

It can also be useful for Network Administrators for testing, troubleshooting, and maintenance to simulate different devices without having access to that specific device.

Changing the Mac Address in Windows

The MAC address can be manually set from the Device Manager:

1. Right-click on the Start Menu and select Device Manager from the pop-up window

2. Expand the Network adapters section and double-click on the network adapter to be modified

3. From the network adapter properties pop-up window, select the Advanced tab

4. Under the Property: category, scroll down to and select "Network Address"

5. In the Value: field, enter the new MAC Address in hexadecimal format, the field has a maximum of 12 characters so do not use any separators between octets

6. Select the OK button to proceed

You can also check the MAC Address from the command line

1. Right-click on the Start Menu and select Terminal or Windows PowerShell

2. Type in the following command ipconfig /all or ipconfig /all | findstr C:/"Physical Address" to filter just the Physical Address lines.

3. Scroll through the output to find the target network adapter and Physical Address

What is the MAC address?

The MAC address (Medium Access Control address) is a unique network address for each Network Interface Controller to identify the hardware on the network segment. The address is generally expressed as six hexadecimal digits, sometimes separated by a '-', ':', or without a separator.

The MAC address is assigned by the hardware manufacturer during production, however many network controllers allow the operating system (via the drivers) to override the MAC address, this is handled at the operating system level and does not change the address stored in the adapter.

The first three octets (first three hexadecimal values, six characters) identify the network hardware manufacturer while the last three octets should be unique within each hardware manufacturer's product line. For example Plugable's MAC addresses all begin with "8CAE4C", with lower values typically representing older companies, "000000" belongs to Xerox for example, some companies have multiple ranges of MAC addresses.

Why it can be useful to override the manufacturer's address?

Setting a custom MAC address can provide anonymity when connecting to public networks. It can also be used by an IT Network Administrator to provide specific access rights to computers based on the connection.

It can also be useful for Network Administrators for testing, troubleshooting, and maintenance to simulate different devices without having access to that specific device.

Checking the MAC Address in Linux

The MAC Address can be checked from the terminal:

1. Open a bash shell

2. Read the address from the /sys directory:

cat /sys/class/net//address

or from the ip command to print out all of the hardware MAC Addresses

ip -o link | awk '$2 != "lo:" {print $2, $17}'

Changing the MAC Address in Linux

Temporary change until system reboot

1. Open a bash shell

2. Run the following command to set the MAC Address for a specific network device.

sudo ip link set dev <devicename> down
sudo ip link set dev <devicename> address <mac address>
sudo ip link set dev <devicename> up

3. Confirm the new MAC address

Permanently change the MAC Address

This can depend on your distribution's specific network services and settings. This example will create a new systemd unit file to change the MAC Address on startup.

1. Open a bash shell

2. Create a new systemd unit file "/etc/systemd/system/changemac@.service with the following contents the mac address should be colon separated:

[Unit]
Description=Change MAC Address %i
Wants=network-pre.target
Before=network-pre.target

[Service]
Type=oneshot
ExecStart=/usr/bin/ip link set dev %i down
ExecStart=/usr/bin/ip link set dev %i address <mac address>
ExecStart=/usr/bin/ip link set dev %i up
RemainAfterExit=yes
User=root

[Install]
wantedBy=multi-user.target

3. Enable the service with the following command

sudo systemctl enable --now changemac@<interface_name>

4. Reboot the computer, the MAC address should be set to the new address

Up to date graphics drivers are necessary for ensuring the best performance of your computer's built-in display, as well as the capability and compatibility with external displays and docking stations.

Windows has a built-in system update service: Windows Update, however this may not provide up to date drivers or timely updates. We often see systems with out of date drivers, in some cases systems may not receive updated graphics drivers for months or even years, leaving the computer with drivers incompatible with the installed version of Windows 11.

However, we can manually update the graphics drivers to ensure the best possible performance, reliability, and compatibility.

The first step is to identify the graphics hardware, then downloading, and installing the latest drivers.

Identifying Graphics Controller

For notebooks and many desktop computers, the primary graphics controller is embedded in the processor, both AMD and Intel provide graphics driver updates based on the processor model, as well as for discrete graphics controllers. Our first step is to identify up the processor or graphics hardware model details:

1. Right-click on the Start Menu and select Settings from the pop-up menu
2. From the left column select System and from the bottom of the right side select About
3. From the top of the about page the processor details will be on the right side, and duplicated lower down on the page.
   
4. In this example the processor is a 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1260P, we'll keep that detail for the next step.

If your computer has two graphics controllers (it may show "Multiple GPUs Installed" under Graphics Card) then we can get the graphics card model details from the Windows System Information Utility.

1. Open the Start menu and search for "msinfo32"
2. Select the first result
3. From the left-column expand the Components section, then select Display
   
4. In this example the Intel Iris(R) Xe Graphics is enabled by the processor, while the Intel(R) Arc(TM) Pro B60 Graphics is a discrete graphics controller.

Downloading the Drivers

Intel Graphics

1. In a web browser navigate to the Intel Driver Download Page
2. In the "Search Drivers & Software" field, search for the Intel graphics card model or CPU model, "Arc Pro B60" in this example
   
3. Select the appropriate "Intel Arc Pro Graphics - Windows" or similar entry from the search results, for modern hardware Intel will normally have at least one release per month, the list should return recent results within the last month
4. Select the Download button to save the installer to your Downloads folder or selected location

AMD Graphics

AMD provides an Auto-Detect utility, this works relatively well and can be used to update the system available from the AMD Drivers and Support page.

This page also provides a search and browse option for finding drivers and specific compatibility details, we'll look up the drivers for an AMD Ryzen Pro 5650U processor with Radeon Graphics:

1. Navigate to AMD Drivers and Support page
2. From the Browse section, fill out the processor details and click the Submit button
   
3. Expand the "Windows 11 - 64-Bit Edition" section and select the Download button for the latest graphics drivers

NVIDIA Graphics

Like AMD, NVIDIA provides an automatic installation utility, as well as a Manual Driver Search on the NVIDIA Drivers support page. We will look up the drivers for an NVIDIA RTX 5080 graphics card.

1. Navigate to NVIDIA Drivers support page
2. Fill out the Manual Driver Search drop-downs and select the "Find" button when complete
   
3. From the search results, select the "View" button for the GeForce Game Ready Driver or NVIDIA Studio Driver (if you need the studio driver features)
4. Select the green Download button for the latest graphics drivers

Installing the Graphics Drivers

For the most part this is relatively simple, we recommend disconnecting any external docking stations or devices that are not necessary for the driver installation, and for notebook computers connecting the system's original power supply.

Double-click on the downloaded driver installation executable and follow the on screen steps.

For more in-depth details on Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA's driver installation processes check out our step-by-step guides here:

• Intel Driver Installation In Detail
• AMD Driver Installation In Detail
• NVIDIA Driver Installation In Detail

If you have any questions or would like a recommendation, feel free to reach out to our support at support@plugable.com

For a step-by-step guide to identify your graphics hardware and download the appropriate drivers, check out our KB article here

Download the drivers for your GPU or Processor Graphics

1. In a web browser navigate to the Intel Driver Download Page
2. In the Search Drivers & Software field, search for the Intel graphics card model or CPU model, "Arc Pro B60" in this example
3. Select the appropriate Intel Arc Pro Graphics - Windows or similar entry from the search results, for modern hardware Intel will normally have at least one release per month, the list should return recent results within the last month
4. Select the Download button to save the installer to your Downloads folder or selected location

Install the Intel Graphics Driver

To update the Intel Graphics Drivers to the latest version from Intel's website:

1. Save and close any open applications
2. Navigate to the downloaded graphics driver, then right-click on the saved driver installation file and select Run as administrator to start the installation process
3. Allow the Intel driver installation through the User account control window, the drivers will be extracted
   
4. When the extraction is complete select the Begin installation button
   
5. Agree to the Intel Software License Agreement by selecting the I agree button
   
6. Ensure all applications are saved and closed before selecting the I agree button
   
7. For most installations, we recommend not selecting the Execute a clean installation checkbox. This option will remove previous driver versions and can lead to Windows Update reverting to an even older graphics driver. Select the Start button to proceed
   
8. The installation process will proceed, but can take some time to complete
   
9. When the installation has completed, deselect the Launch Intel Graphics Software checkbox - we don't need that right now, select the Reboot Now button to restart the computer applying the new graphics drivers
   

Windows should now detect the Intel Graphics Controller in the Device Manager and show the latest drivers.

If you have any questions or would like a recommendation, feel free to reach out to our support at support@plugable.com

For a step-by-step guide to identify your graphics hardware and download the appropriate drivers, check out our KB article here

Download the drivers for your GPU or Processor Graphics

1. In a web browser navigate to the AMD Drivers and Support page
2. In the Search for your AMD product field, type in the model name, for example “RX 5600XT” for the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT graphics controller, or a processor model like "AI 9 365", then select the best fitting result and select the Search button - note: Searching for a processor the "™" is required, so I recommend searching for the text after that symbol.
   
3. On the results page, expand the section for Windows 11 64-bit then select the Download button for the latest AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition drivers, AMD may not provide a direct download for all hardware, in that case use the Auto-Detect and Install option
4. Save the installer to your Downloads folder or selected location

Install the AMD Graphics Driver

To update the AMD Graphics Drivers to the latest version from AMD’s website:

1. Save and close any open applications
2. Navigate to the downloaded graphics driver, then right-click on the saved driver installation file and select Run as administrator to start the installation process
3. Allow the Intel driver installation through the User account control window, the drivers will be extracted
   
4. For most users the express installation is fine, ensure all applications are saved and closed selecting the Accept & Express Install button. If you have been having issues with older graphics drivers causing crashes or errors the Factory Reset (Optional) checkbox may be selected, but it isn’t necessary for most installations.
   
5. The installation will proceed, the displays may flicker or flash off/on while the drivers are installing.
   
6. When complete you will be prompted to Launch AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition and Keep AMD software up to date, you can uncheck the Launch AMD Software option
   
7. Restart the computer to ensure the latest drivers are loaded from boot Start Menu > Power Icon > Restart

Windows should now detect the Intel Graphics Controller in the Device Manager and show the latest drivers.

If you have any questions or would like a recommendation, feel free to reach out to our support at support@plugable.com

For a step-by-step guide to identify your graphics hardware and download the appropriate drivers, check out our KB article here

Download the drivers for your GPU

Check your invoice for the specific model of NVIDIA graphics card, for this example we will use the RTX 5080 (the manufacturer is not relevant).

1. In a web browser navigate to the NVIDIA Driver Download Page
2. In the Manual Driver Search field, search for the NVIDIA graphics card model, "RTX 5080" in this example
3. Select the GeForce RTX 50 Series | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 | Windows 11 entry from the list
4. Left-click the Find button
5. Select either View buttons from the GeForce Game Ready Driver or NVIDIA Studio Driver
6. Select the Download button to save the installer to your Downloads folder or selected location

Install the NVIDIA Graphics Driver

To update the NVIDIA Graphics Drivers to the latest version from NVIDIA's website:

1. Save and close any open applications
2. Navigate to the downloaded graphics driver, then right-click on the saved driver installation file and select Run as administrator to start the installation process
3. Allow the NVIDIA driver installation through the User account control window
4. Click OK to extract the NVIDIA Display Driver package contents
   
5. At the System Check step, select either the NVIDIA Graphics Driver with NVIDIA App or the NVIDIA Graphics Driver alone, the NVIDIA App is gaming oriented and unnecessary for most users. Select AGREE AND CONTINUE
   
6. At the License Agreement step, select the Express (Recommended) radio button then select NEXT to continue
   
7. The installation will take some time to complete
   
8. When complete please restart the computer Start > Power > Restart
   

Windows should now detect the NVIDIA Graphics Controller in the Device Manager and show the latest drivers.

If you have any questions or would like a recommendation, feel free to reach out to our support at support@plugable.com

No, target display mode generally requires a direct Thunderbolt connection from a compatible MacBook or Mac Mini to a compatible iMac. Graphics adapters and docking stations do not pass the required Thunderbolt video data.

Why Target Display Mode Is Not Compatible With Docks or Adapters

Target Display Mode is a legacy feature that allows certain older Mac systems to use an older model iMac as an external display via a Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt data cable. Most Plugable docking stations and graphics adapters are USB devices that do not meet the specific Thunderbolt data requirements for 2011 through mid-2014 iMac systems. While Thunderbolt 3 or newer docks may provide video capability, they are generally recommended for Apple M-Series systems which do not support this feature.

iMac Models as Display

Apple provides system compatibility here but we can summarize it in the following:

24-inch and 27-inch iMac (2009 and 2010)

• macOS 10.13 “High Sierra” or earlier
• Compatible with Macs from 2019 or earlier with macOS 10.15 “Catalina” or earlier
  • NOTE: some MacBooks in this range do not include a Mini DisplayPort output and may not be compatible
• Connected with a Mini DisplayPort cable

iMac models (2011 through mid-2014)

• macOS 10.13 “High Sierra” or earlier
• Compatible with Macs from 2019 or earlier with macOS 10.15 “Catalina” or earlier
  • NOTE: some MacBooks in this range do not include a Mini DisplayPort output and may not be compatible
• Connected with a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 cable - these use the Mini DisplayPort connector
  • NOTE: This is not compatible with Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type-C) cables

Alternative Options

For earlier 2009-2010 iMacs, it may be possible to use a USB Type-C to DisplayPort adapter paired with a DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable. However, this configuration is untested and we do not support this configuration.

Our research has shown mixed results using these early model iMac systems with adapters, modern unsupported Apple hosts, or Windows computers. Because Target Display Mode is no longer supported by modern Apple hardware and software, there is no guaranteed workaround for newer systems.

Modern displays offer higher resolutions, multiple connection options: both DisplayPort and HDMI, and newer features like High Dynamic Range (HDR) and higher refresh rates than iMac systems. Many modern displays can support multiple host computers either by switching between inputs or with picture-by-picture or picture-in-picture modes.

Applicable To

• 24-inch and 27-inch iMac (2009 and 2010)
• iMac models (2011 through mid-2014)
• macOS 10.13 “High Sierra” or earlier

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at support@plugable.com and we'll be happy to help!