Dell Computer Does Not Work With a Thunderbolt 3 Device
You may encounter an issue where a Dell computer with a USB Type-C port does not support a connection to a Thunderbolt 3 device (such as a Dell Thunderbolt Dock (TB16). This is a result of either:
- The system does not meet the hardware requirements for Thunderbolt 3.
- The system can but was not ordered with an OPTIONAL Thunderbolt 3 controller.
Note: If the system was not ordered with the Thunderbolt 3 options, it cannot be added later.
Ensure That Your System is Equipped With a Thunderbolt 3 Controller
While many Dell systems are equipped with a USB Type-C port, many of these systems do not have the optional Thunderbolt 3 controller. These systems have the USB Type-C port which can be used with Thunderbolt 3 on systems that are so equipped, but USB Type-C is the default port (Without Thunderbolt) for several systems.
Types of USB Type-C ports:
- Power or Charge Battery
- Data use only (select systems only)
- Display Port over USB
- Thunderbolt 3 device support (Optional on many systems, Standard on select systems)
These systems have USB Type-C but DO NOT HAVE Thunderbolt 3 capability:
- Latitude 5175 2-in-1
- Latitude 5179 2-in-1
- Latitude 5280
- Latitude 5290
- Latitude 5480 (U or H processor and Unified Memory Architecture (UMA) integrated graphics)
- Latitude 5580 (U or H processor and Unified Memory Architecture (UMA) integrated graphics)
- Latitude 5490
- Latitude 5590
- Latitude 5285
- Latitude 5289
Display Port over USB Type-C ONLY:
- Vostro 13-5390
- Vostro 13-5391
- Vostro 14-5490
- Vostro 15-5590
- Vostro 15-5581
Here is an example of a USB Type-C system order SKU: 338-BKXK Intel HD Graphics 620 with DisplayPort over USB Type-C with Core i5 vPro
These systems are compatible with the Dell USB Type-C Dock (WD15)
Systems that have optional Thunderbolt 3 capability have a USB Thunderbolt configuration option listed in the BIOS regardless of having a Thunderbolt 3 option installed.
If the system DOES NOT have Thunderbolt 3 capability, the thunderbolt options are disabled and cannot be selected in the BIOS.
These systems can be configured at the time of purchase with optional Thunderbolt 3 capability:
- Latitude 5480 (H series processor with Discrete Graphics)
- Latitude 5491
- Latitude 5580 (H series processor with Discrete Graphics)
- Latitude 5591
- Latitude 7280 with vPro
- Latitude 7380 with vPro
- Latitude 7480 with vPro
- Latitude 7290
- Latitude 7390
- Latitude 7490
- Latitude 5570 (H series processor with Discrete Graphics)
- Latitude 7275
- Latitude 7370
- Precision 3510
- Precision 7510
- Precision 7710
- Precision 3520
- Precision 3530
- Precision 7520
- Precision 7720
- XPS 12 9250
Thunderbolt 3 is standard on the following systems:
- Precision 5510
- Precision 5520
- Precision 5530
- Precision 7530
- Precision 7730
- Vostro 15-7590
- XPS 13 9365 2-in-1
- XPS 13 9350
- XPS 13 9360
- XPS 15 9550
- XPS 15 9560
- XPS 13 9370
- XPS 15 9570
- XPS 9575 2-in-1
Back to Top
The following are examples of Thunderbolt, USB Type-C, ports, and cables.
Thunderbolt Port |
|
USB Type-C Port |
|
Thunderbolt Cable |
|
USB Type-C Cable |
|
Back to Top
Additional Information on TB16 Docking Stations:
Back to Top
Out of warranty? No problem. Browse to the Dell.com/support website and enter your Dell Service Tag and view our offers.
Note: Offers are only available for US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, and China personal computer customers. Server and Storage not applicable.