Skip to main content
Sign Out

Welcome to Dell

My Account
  • Place orders quickly and easily
  • View orders and track your shipping status
  • Create and access a list of your products
Sign In Create an Account Premier Sign In Partner Program Sign In

USB-C and Thunderbolt Docking Stations Not Recognized by the Computer

Summary: How to get a USB-C or Thunderbolt docking station to work with a computer using Group Policy.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
Check out other resources

Symptoms

A USB-C or Thunderbolt docking station does not work with the attached computer.

Cause

The issue can be caused by possible Group Policy settings in Windows.

Resolution

USB-C and Thunderbolt Docking Stations

An issue where several computers are unable to recognize USB-C or Thunderbolt docks. If you check Device Manager, you see a yellow exclamation mark (bang), and get a message if you try to automatically search for drivers on the device with Device Manager.
Update Driver Device Manager

Group Policy Setting

This is caused by a Group Policy (GPO) setting in the Windows image. The security policy is preventing USB-C and Thunderbolt devices and drivers from being installed. This was likely in the custom Windows image due to a previous vulnerability in Thunderbolt 1 & 2 that is no longer present in Thunderbolt 3 devices.

Dell is not able to provide specific Windows imaging assistance but if the Windows administrator is familiar with the GPOs. Review the following information in the link from Microsoft, and they can adjust their custom Windows image accordingly.
Blocking the SBP-2 Driver and Thunderbolt Controllers to Reduce 1394 DMA and Thunderbolt DMA Threats to BitLocker This hyperlink is taking you to a website outside of Dell Technologies.

Back to Top

Additional Information

Recommended Articles

Here are some recommended articles related to this topic that might be of interest to you.

Affected Products

Dell Dock WD15, Dell Dual Video USB3.0 Docking Station D1000, Dell SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Docking Station, Dell Thunderbolt Dock TB15, Dell Thunderbolt Dock TB16, Dell Precision Dual USB-C Thunderbolt Dock - TB18DC, Dell Universal Dock D6000 , Dell Universal Dock - D6000S, Dell Universal Dock UD22, Dell USB3.0 dock D3100, Dell Dock WD19, Dell Performance Dock - WD19DC, Dell Performance Dock – WD19DCS, Dell Dock – WD19S, Dell Thunderbolt Dock - WD19TB, Dell Thunderbolt Dock – WD19TBS, Dell Thunderbolt Dock – WD22TB4 ...
Article Properties
Article Number: 000146415
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 16 Oct 2024
Version:  7
Find answers to your questions from other Dell users
Support Services
Check if your device is covered by Support Services.