USB-C and Thunderbolt Docks Not Recognized by the Computer

USB-C or Thunderbolt docking station will not work with attached computer.

Possible Group Policy settings in Windows.

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 (Figure 1) if you try to automatically search for drivers on the device with 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, looks over the information in the following link from Microsoft, they could adjust their custom Windows image accordingly.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2516445/blocking-the-sbp-2-driver-and-thunderbolt-controllers-to-reduce-1394-d

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Recommended Articles

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

• How to Install or Update the Thunderbolt Controller Driver and Firmware Using Dell Command | Update on Dell Computers
• How to Connect and Set Up a Docking Station With a Dell Laptop
• Guide to Thunderbolt 3
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Thunderbolt port on a Dell Computer