Thumbnail of Connected to a monitor and a computer

Thumbnail of usb-c charging with up to 60w of power with separate power supply

Thumbnail of Supports up to 5Gbps transfer with USB 3.0 port

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Thumbnail of Compatible with usb-c and Thunderbolt 3 hosts

Plugable USB-C Multiport Adapter

SKU: USBC-MD103
List Price : $24.95
Amazon Rating : (326 Reviews)

Features

3-IN-1 EXPANSION—all via a single USB-C cable to your Mac or PC with Thunderbolt 3 or a full-featured USB-C port
HIGH DEFINITION—Digital AV multiport adapter allows for an external HDMI monitor to stream video and multitask with support up to 4K 30Hz resolutions. No drivers required; easily plug and play on compatible systems
HIGH SPEED DATA—The USB 3.0 port on this USB-C hub supports up to 5Gbps data transfer to quickly sync and transfer files. Backwards compatible with USB 2.0 devices and can be used to connect devices such as your flash drive, USB cable, camera, and more
STAY POWERED—The USB-C pass-through charging port supports USB-C power adapters and can charge your laptop with up to 60W of power. Not all laptops support USB-C Power Delivery, please confirm with your laptop manufacturer
2 YEAR WARRANTY—We love our Plugable products, and hope you will too. All of our products are backed with a 2-year limited parts and labor warranty as well as Seattle-based email support

Extend and charge your laptop with the USB-C 3-IN-1 Hub

Connect your essential workstation peripherals to your laptop with a single, compact USB-C Mini Dock. The Plugable USB-C to HDMI Multiport Adapter (USBC-MD103) is the perfect companion to connect an external HDMI monitor, USB peripherals like a flash drive, and provide power to the laptop—all through a single USB-C connection on supported systems.

Stay Charged

Keep your laptop charged with the USB-C charging port. Supports USB-C power delivery input and can charge supported systems up to 60W.

USB-C power adapter not included. Accepts USB-C power adapters from virtually any manufacturer.

4K Display

Connect your HDMI-equipped monitor, television or projector to your laptop and achieve resolutions up to 4K 30Hz (3840x2160 @ 30Hz) .

Other popular supported resolutions include 3440x1440, 2560x1440, 1920x1200, 1920x1080, and lower.

Note: This adapter will not work with DisplayPort monitors.

Connect your Devices

Equipped with one USB 3.0 (5Gbps) port so you can connect your must-have USB peripherals and storage devices to easily transfer files and keep your work in sync.

The USB 3.0 ports are backwards compatible with USB 2.0 devices.

In The Box

Item and Quantity	Item Notes
1x Plugable USB-C Multiport Adapter
1x Quick Start Guide

Video

Port	Placement	Specification	Max Resolution and Refresh Rate	HDCP	Chipset
1x HDMI 4K (Output)	Front	HDMI 1.4	3440x1440 @ 60Hz 2560x1440 @ 60Hz 2560x1080 @ 60Hz 1920x1080 @ 60Hz 1600x900 @ 60Hz 1280x1024 @ 60Hz 1280x800 @ 60Hz 1280x720 @ 60Hz 1152x864 @ 60Hz 1024x768 @ 60Hz 800x600 @ 60Hz 640x480 @ 60Hz 3840x2160 @ 30Hz	Display Dependent	PS176 Parade

Audio

Port	Placement	Connection	Max Bit Depth and Sample Rate	Signal Output	Channels	Chipset
HDMI Output	Front	HDMI

Power

Port	Placement	Power Host / Device	Connection Type	Notes	Voltage	Amperage	Wattage
Power Supply	Front	Device	USB-C Power Delivery 3.0	Check Compatibility Table	Up to 20.0V	3.0A	Up to 60.0W
USB-C to Host	Rear	Host	USB-C Power Delivery 3.0	Check Compatibility Table	Up to 20.0V	3.0A	Up to 60.0W

USB To Devices

Port	Placement	Version and Link Rate	Features	Voltage	Amperage	Wattage
1x USB-A	Front	USB 3.0 (5Gbps)		5V	900mA	4.5W

Connection To Host

Port	Placement	Version and Link Rate	Features
1x USB-C	Rear	USB 3.0 (5Gbps)	Alternate Mode Video

Compatible Systems	Plug and Play installation on any Chromebook/Windows/Mac/Linux hosts which support DisplayPort Alternate Mode (Alt Mode) video output functionality. Adapter has been fully tested for functionality on the MacBook Air/iMac and iMac Pro/MacBook and MacBook Pro/Google Pixelbook/Dell XPS 13 and XPS 15/Lenovo Thinkpad/HP Spectre x360/Samsung DeX-capable devices/Surface Laptop 3 and Surface Go and many other systems which support USB-C DP Alt Mode.
	Audio is supported on HDMI capable TVs projectors and monitors with built-in speakers.
Incompatible Systems	Not recommended for use with the Nintendo Switch. Most current phones and tablets with USB-C ports do not support Alt Mode video output., ASMedia USB 3.1 controllers do not support Alt Mode video output.
	Most motherboards with dual USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports are limited to a single Alt Mode output; only one Alt Mode adapter supported per system.

Get Started

Connect the Plugable USB-C Multiport Adapter's USB-C cable to the host computer's USB-C or Thunderbolt™ 3 port which supports video output.
Connect your computer's USB-C charger to the USB-C port on the Multiport Adapter.
(Optional) Connect a USB peripheral to the USB 3.0 port.
Connect HDMI cable between external display and the Multiport Adapter.

Note: Charging and HDMI output requires host device support for USB-C Power Delivery Charing and DisplayPort over USB-C Alternate Mode ("Alt Mode") standards.

Questions? We're here to help! Please reach out to us at support@plugable.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

No, this is not possible. Please note that DisplayPort to HDMI cables (as with any cable involving protocol/signal conversion) are not bidirectional adapters. Such cables will not allow an HDMI output port (such as those on the dock) to function with a DisplayPort input on a monitor.

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USB Port Types

USB-A

pietz, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

This is the standard USB connection that most computers offered prior to the introduction of USB Type-C (USB-C). Even after the introduction of USB Type-C, this is still quite common.

It can provide data transfer rates up to the USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 gbps) specification depending on the host and device, but does not directly support video in the way that USB-C Alternate Mode does. This limitation makes DisplayLink USB graphics adapters and docking stations ideal on systems that do not have USB-C, or in instances where more displays are needed beyond available video outputs of a PC.

USB-B

Fred the Oyster, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

IngenieroLoco, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This type of connection comes in a couple different styles depending on whether USB 3.0 and higher transfer rates are supported (bottom graphic). Usually this type of connection is used to plug into USB devices that do not have a fixed cable connected, such as USB docking stations, USB hubs, printers, and others.

USB Mini-B

Fred the Oyster, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

One of the first connectors for charging a smartphone, wireless game controller (such as the Sixaxis and DualShock 3), and other small devices such as external hard drives. Not commonly used today, but is still used in some cases. Most devices using USB Mini B are using USB 2.0, though a USB 3.0 variant does exist. This specification also added USB On-The-Go (OTG) functionality, though it is more commonly implemented with Micro USB.

USB Micro-B

Fred the Oyster, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

IngenieroLoco, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

A smaller connector that serves many of the same uses as the Mini B connector, with added optional features such as Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) to allow devices like smartphones to output video to larger displays without requiring a dedicated port for video output.

The larger variant of USB-B is most commonly used for external hard drives for higher 5Gbps transfer rates.

USB-C, Thunderbolt™ 3, and Thunderbolt™ 4

Niridya , CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The most recent USB connection, USB Type-C (USB-C), represents a major change in what USB can do. The connector is smaller, can be connected in two orientations, is able to carry substantially more power and data, and can directly carry video signals of multiple types (HDMI, DisplayPort, etc.) Intel has also adapted the USB-C connector for use with Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4.

It is important to note that while all Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 connections are USB-C, not all USB-C connections can be used with Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 devices.

More details regarding physical USB connections can be found on Wikipedia . The graphics depicted here are adapted from Wikimedia Commons by various artists under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

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Does the HDMI 1.4 Port Support 4K Resolution at 60Hz?

No. The port complies with HDMI 1.4, and as such 3840x2160 (4K is only achievable at 30Hz. 2560x1440 and all lower resolutions will display at 60Hz.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Set Audio Output Device

Set Audio Recording Device

Set Default Playback Device in Windows

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

Additional Configuration for Bluetooth

Please see our pairing and configuration guide for Bluetooth devices.

Set Default Playback Device in macOS

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

Set Default Playback Device in Linux

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

Set Default Recording Device in Windows

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

Additional Configuration for Bluetooth

Please see our pairing and configuration guide for Bluetooth devices.

Set Default Recording Device in macOS

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

Set Default Recording Device in Linux

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

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