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 )

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.

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.

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.

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”

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 )

Most modern MacBooks with USB-C, USB4, or Thunderbolt 3/4 ports support Alt Mode-based video adapters, making them compatible with Plugable Alt Mode video adapters. This includes:

• MacBook Pro (2016 and later)
• MacBook Air (2018 and later)
• Mac Mini (2018 and later)
• iMac (2017 and later)
• Mac Studio

Important Note:

M1, M2, M3, and newer MacBooks support only one external display via Alt Mode (with exceptions for the MacBook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch with M1 Pro/Max, M2 Pro/Max, M3 Pro/Max). If you need multiple external displays for a Mac with a base M1, M2, or M3 chip, consider Plugable’s USB Graphics Adapters instead.

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.

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.

under

Understanding your laptop's video output capabilities is essential when connecting to external displays. This guide will help you identify what video technologies your laptop supports and how to find the relevant information.

Common Video Output Technologies

Modern laptops commonly use one or more of the following technologies to transmit video to external monitors:

1. Thunderbolt 3

• Supports video output using the DisplayPort protocol.
• Capable of driving up to two 4K displays at 60Hz or one 5K display at 60Hz.
• Uses a USB-C connector and features a lightning bolt symbol next to the port.

Note: An example of Thunderbolt 3 ports

2. Thunderbolt 4

• Provides improved performance over Thunderbolt 3.
• Supports up to two 4K displays at 60Hz or one 8K display.
• Uses a USB-C connector with the same lightning bolt symbol but may also include the number "4" for identification.

Note: Thunderbolt 4 has the same physical connection and “lightning” bolt icon as Thunderbolt 3

3. Thunderbolt 5 (As of 2024)

• Up to 80 Gbps bi-directional bandwidth (Double that of Thunderbolt 4’s 40 Gbps).
• Up to 120 Gbps bandwidth for displays (With Bandwidth Boost — 120 Gbps upstream and 40 Gbps downstream for display-intensive use cases).
• Support for dual 6K or 8K displays (Compared to Thunderbolt 4’s dual 4K support).

4. USB-C DisplayPort "Alt Mode"

• Allows video output directly through the USB-C port using DisplayPort technology.
• Commonly supports one 4K display at 60Hz, but capabilities may vary.
• Often marked with a DisplayPort ("DP") symbol, but this feature may also be specified in your system's documentation.

Note: An example of a USB-C port with DisplayPort capabilities

How to Identify Your Laptop's Video Capabilities

To determine what video technologies your laptop supports, follow these steps:

1. Check Your Laptop's User Manual:

• Locate your laptop's user manual (often available online from the manufacturer's support site).
• Search for keywords like "Thunderbolt," "DisplayPort Alt Mode," or "video output capabilities."

2. Visit the Manufacturer's Website:

• Go to the support page for your laptop model and find the technical specifications section.
• Look for details on Thunderbolt or USB-C video capabilities.

3. Inspect Your Laptop's Ports:

• Check for identifying symbols next to USB-C ports:
  • Thunderbolt 3/4 ports may have a lightning bolt symbol.
  • DisplayPort Alt Mode may be marked with a "DP" icon.

“What if I do not have the above technologies?”: USB 3.0 (Type-A) and Display Expansion

While USB 3.0 (Type-A) ports do not support native video output, they can still be used to extend to two or more displays using software-based solutions like DisplayLink or Silicon Motion's InstantView. These technologies enable video through USB-A ports by utilizing dedicated drivers and software.

If your laptop lacks Thunderbolt or USB-C video capabilities, DisplayLink or InstantView may be a viable alternative for expanding your display setup. A few other things to consider:

• Not all USB-C ports support video output. Checking your laptop's documentation is crucial to confirm this capability.
• Thunderbolt ports are backward compatible with USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode but provide enhanced performance and flexibility.

If you have further questions about connecting your Plugable docking station or adapter to your laptop, please reach out to our support team for guidance.

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

Many users assume that USB-C devices can work with older Thunderbolt 2 Macs if they use a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter, such as the one made by Apple. However, this is not the case. These adapters are specifically designed to support Thunderbolt devices only - not standard USB-C peripherals.

While Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C share the same connector type, they use different underlying data protocols. Non-Thunderbolt USB-C devices, rely on USB standards for data and power. The Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter does not carry USB signals; it only passes Thunderbolt data. Because of this, plugging a USB-C device into a Thunderbolt 2 Mac using this adapter will not work - the computer will not detect or communicate with the device.

If you need to connect peripherals to a Thunderbolt 2 system, we recommend using a USB-A dock or hub (if available on your system). This ensures compatibility without relying on unsupported adapter chains.

In short, even though the connectors may fit, USB-C devices are not compatible with Thunderbolt 2 Macs via Thunderbolt adapters - only Thunderbolt devices will work in that setup.

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

To achieve charging speeds above 100W, your laptop, power adapter, and USB-C cable must all support the USB PD 3.1 Extended Power Range (EPR) standard. If any component in this chain is limited to the older PD 3.0 standard, or if your laptop requires a proprietary manufacturer handshake, you may see reduced charging rates or a "Slow Charger" warning.

How Power Delivery Standards and Proprietary Protocols Affect Charging

Achieving high-wattage charging requires the laptop, charger, and USB-C to all support the PD 3.1 EPR standard. Even with these met, the USBC-10IN1E reserves approximately 15W for its own function, passing approximately 125W to the host. Furthermore, some laptop brands use a proprietary communication signal found only in their original power bricks for >100W charging; without this signal, the laptop may be limited to 100W, and trigger a "Slow Charger" alert in the BIOS or OS.

How to Optimize Charging and Manage System Alerts

To maximize charging performance, ensure you are using a USB-C cable rated for 140W or more between your 140W power brick and the hub's PD-In port. If you see a "Slow Charger" warning on a system that may use proprietary protocols for >100W charging (such as a Dell or HP system), you can typically dismiss these warnings within the BIOS/UEFI. The laptop will often still charge effectively, albeit at a slightly lower rate than the original proprietary charger.

Applicable To

USBC-10IN1E

The USBC-10IN1E reserves 15W from the incoming power source to ensure the stability of its high-performance internal components and connected peripherals. This allocation prevents data disconnects or video flickering when you plug in or remove USB devices.

How the Power Reservation Ensures Stability

The hub’s 2.5G Ethernet and 8K video processors require a consistent power draw to maintain peak performance. By reserving 15W, the hub ensures that bus-powered devices, like portable SSDs, have immediate access to power without drawing from the laptop’s charging budget, maintaining a reliable connection for all 10 ports.

Applicable To

USBC-10IN1E

Achieving 8K 30Hz or 4K 144Hz requires a host device that supports DisplayPort 1.4 with Display Stream Compression (DSC) and a certified HDMI 2.1 cable. If the host graphics processor (GPU) lacks DSC support, the resolution will automatically default to 4K 60Hz or lower.

Why Cable and GPU Specifications Matter

Standard HDMI cables do not possess the bandwidth required for 8K or high-refresh 4K signals; an "Ultra High Speed" HDMI 2.1 certified cable is required to maintain integrity of the high-bandwidth video signal. Additionally, the monitor's HDMI port must be rated for 2.1 specifications, as some displays cap their HDMI inputs at lower refresh rates compared to their DisplayPort inputs.

Applicable To

USBC-10IN1E

Macs equipped with an M1 Pro/Max, M2 Pro/Max, M3/Pro/Max, M4/Pro/Max, or M5/Pro/Max chip running macOS 26 or later support up to 8K 30Hz or 4K 144Hz video output. Macs running maOS 15 or below, standard "Base" M1 or M2 chips and the MacBook Neo are limited to a maximum resolution of 4K 60Hz.

How Apple Silicon Chips and macOS Versions Affect Video Performance

The ability to output 8K 30Hz or 4K 144Hz via the USBC-10IN1E depends on both the hardware capabilities of the Apple Silicon chip and the version of macOS installed. The standard M1 and M2 chips, along with the MacBook Neo, do not support these higher display modes, capping them at 4K 60Hz regardless of the software version.

Furthermore, macOS 26 is the first version to introduce system-level support for these high-performance display modes through USB-C to HDMI adapters. If your Mac is running macOS 15 or earlier, it will be limited to 4K 60Hz regardless of the processor it uses. 

Applicable To

USBC-10IN1E

Windows laptops equipped with a graphics processor (GPU) that supports DisplayPort 1.4 with Display Stream Compression (DSC) can reach up to 8K 30Hz or 4K 144Hz. Systems using the older DisplayPort 1.2 standard are limited to a maximum of 4K 30Hz or 1080p 60Hz.

How to Verify Your Windows GPU Capabilities

Most modern Windows laptops, including those with 12th Gen Intel CPUs (or newer), NVIDIA RTX 30/40-series, and AMD Radeon 6000/7000-series graphics, support the DisplayPort 1.4 and DSC standards required for high-resolution output. To ensure the best performance, verify that your laptop's technical specifications mention "DP 1.4 with DSC" and that your graphics drivers are updated to the latest version directly from the manufacturer’s website (Intel, NVIDIA, or AMD).

Applicable To

USBC-10IN1E

No, the USB-C hub ports on the USBC-10IN1E are designed for 10Gbps data transfer only and do not support video output or DisplayPort Alt Mode. Monitors must be connected specifically to the dedicated HDMI port through an HDMI to HDMI cable.

How to Connect Your Monitor Correctly

The USB-C data ports are optimized for high-speed peripherals like SSDs and thumb drives. If you attempt to connect a USB-C monitor to these ports, it will not receive a signal; for video, it's recommended to use a certified HDMI 2.1 cable connected to the hub's HDMI port.

Applicable To

USBC-10IN1E

Yes, the USBC-10IN1E supports dual-read functionality, allowing you to use both the SD and microSD card slots at the same time. This enables direct card-to-card data transfers without needing to move files to your laptop first.

Why Am I Seeing Limited Transfer Speeds?

The integrated card readers utilize the UHS-I standard, which provides a maximum theoretical speed of 104MB/s. While UHS-II and UHS-III cards are fully compatible and safe to use, they will operate at UHS-I speeds when connected to this hub.

Applicable To

USBC-10IN1E