Dell Computers with USB Type-C Ports and Thunderbolt 3 Compatibility

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.

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

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The following are examples of Thunderbolt, USB Type-C, ports, and cables.

Thunderbolt Port
USB Type-C Port
Thunderbolt Cable
USB Type-C Cable

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Additional Information on TB16 Docking Stations:

• How to Use and Troubleshoot the Dell Thunderbolt Dock TB16 
• Dell USB-C and Thunderbolt Docks (WD15, TB16, TB18DC, and D6000 Series) - BIOS Settings and Driver Installation for Troubleshooting 

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