Great video but you explained how to connect almost every adapter but did not explain what type of port/connector you need going from the dock to the laptop. You should start first with how the dock connects to the main device (laptop) vs. all the peripherals first. I cannot find any video on this docking station that explains this and it baffles me. Thanks!
Sorry about that and thanks for the note! The connection from the dock to the laptop is USB-C. Thankfully the majority of docks utilize USB-C to connect to laptops, creating a bit of standardization between for Windows and Apple models.
the power/lightning bolt iconpn the front left corner of the unit does not light up, but appears to have that ability. It is hidden from the camera by the laptop- In what situations does it light up?
Yes! The power button on the dock does light up with pressed to power on a connected laptop. We are now using the Dell WD22TB4, so we'll be sure to include a note about that for the updated video.
I purchased same docking station and using with Macbook pro M1 chip. My concern, it's getting little bit hot than apple original charger. So, can i stop charge my laptop during i connected dell docking station?.
Yes! The dock will/should charge your MacBook through the USB-C connection cable without needing to connect your MacBook's power adapter. When the dock's USB-C is connected you should see the charge icon on the battery.
Hi John, unfortunately on this specific dell dock there is only one HDMI port, so if your monitors only have HDMI inputs, then you would need an HDMI to DisplayPort or HDMI cable or adapter. We have started receiving the Dell WD22TB4 which also has a miniDisplayPort/USB-C option as well, which I have also seen more often on newer monitors.
With the WD19TBS you would not be able to use dual '27e22h' monitors because they only have 1 HDMI and 1 VGA port. On the other hand, if you already have the monitors and the dock, a workaround would be to purchase an "HDMI to DisplayPort" adapter (around $10 US).
If you have an external keyboard/mouse connected and press the power button on the dock, it should power it up. It may vary between a Dell and MacBook, but we can try testing that out this week
Yes you will need to connect a laptop for the dock to work. If you only have a VGA/HDMI/DisplayPort cable connected to a monitor, with no laptop connected to the dock, you will probably see a 'no signal' message or something similar on the monitor.
The dock power supply is necessary to power the dock itself and provide power to the connected laptop, and the dock will not function/push a signal to connected monitors without it.
We’ve tested with 2020 & 2021 M1 MacBook Airs (Big Sur & Monterey) and it has been mostly plug and play so far. Minor adjustments with the display settings depending on user preferences. Would be good to know of any errors/ limitations you experience and if the firmware update resolved those.
As far as we have seen, these docks have only supported 2 monitors, however we have some users who use it with an open laptop providing a smaller 3rd screen.
Hello, I have 2 questions. 1. Is this compatible with a DELL Inspiron 5502/5509 laptop? 2. I want to connect 3 Samsung monitors, all of them are HDMI, the Dock Station has 2 Display Port ports, do I even need to buy the Display Port to HDMI adapters?
As long as the Insprion 5502/5509 has a USB-C port then you should be able to use this dock. Unfortunately, according to a Dell forum post, it seems you may not be able to run the 3 monitors: www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/latitude/connect-3-monitors-to-wd19tb-dock/647f8e1bf4ccf8a8deee0d84 Additionally, being able to push to 3 monitors will also depend on if your Inspiron specs can handle it. As a non-dock workaround you may want to look into whether or not you can daisy chain the Samsung monitors together. Dell has some monitors with this capability so the technology is out there; however, beyond 2 monitors, you will be compromising on the resolutions you will be able to achieve. Ultimately, the more monitors you have the lower your resolution will be (also dependent on your laptop specs): www.dell.com/support/contents/en-us/videos/videoplayer/monitor-daisy-chaining/6335488088112
I connected my 5515 to the WD19DC with dual external monitors but I continue to get a duplicate screen when I have to manually detect every time. How can I remedy this?
You can try running any firmware updates from the 'Dell Command Update' app, however, checking Dell's Dock compatibility list I'm not seeing the 5515 being compatible with the WD19DC: www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-au/products/electronics-and-accessories/technical-support/dell_docking_compatibility_guide.pdf
From our testing/use cases, we have never connected 2 computers to the dock, but in our experiences this dock does not function as a kvm switch if that is what you are looking for.
I'm using a Macbook Air from early 2015 that doesn't have the USB - C port. I have (2) USB 3 ports and (1) Thunderbolt 2 port. I looked online for a female USB C to male thunderbolt 2 adapter but the ones I found say they won't work for displays. Would a USB C to USB 3 adapter work? Is my laptop just too old to support this new tech? Any guidance for a solution would be appreciated. Thank you.
Looking around some forums, I haven't seen a usb-c to thunderbolt adapter available, where I feel like this dock would not be a good fit. BUT the HDMI to Thunderbolt 2 adapters are still available, where you could use that for a single external monitor, then use a USB dongle for one or both of the USB 3 ports to increase your number of USB ports available. It's not a clean solution, but it might help you get some more mileage on your 2015 MacBook. In general, if an older laptop still meets your needs then keep using it as long as you can. I think ppl are usually pushed to upgrade if apps they use no longer work with older laptops...but usually basic web browsing or checking email should be doable.
@@sculawtechs Thank you for your reply. My laptop works great still and meets my needs just fine but I would consider buying a new one if buying a new dock and/or adapter cables starts to become too complicated and costly. The first part of your response is what I am currently using. It's a HP screen with a HDMI cable, connected to a HDMI to Thunderbolt 2/mini display adapter, which plugs into my thunderbolt 2 port. This works great. The problem is the two additional screens I would like to connect which are Acer and have DP cables. Am I following you correctly when I think you're saying to purchase a USB-A dongle to plug into my laptop and then look for DP to USB-A (or is it USB-A to DP?) adapter to plug the screens into the dongle? I'm finding the dongles for $10-20 and the adapters for $60-80 each. Am I on the right track? Would something like this work as well? www.amazon.com/Plugable-DisplayPort-Monitor-Ethernet-Compatible/dp/B08F2TSR43/ref=sr_1_12_sspa?crid=2F3PT9CGAFFEI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.S_gNXdXOyw6XzUUZcFtOZewTK3PDVGorqnOFOclwFcZbH72OhpPaCZ51Wra2Eu7kLqHDAdVue-0eREaGBTLBPbBKZxsEXSzq-nVN_gA4wQ8l5c6t8dRqQn08u7CH47NoGHHUQ45kU2FVeQtpJfWT1gHwpK9uod0TQyPe3-pJcZtdJKI3a2FkZsnFrxpKF3XSnMZ370tSpELNcNU8VKwENkFGh7a7TTDk0S4WA877-8Ur8CjaAi74oN8Q1V43iKECDXIe3IzNnGe-fUdO9z8ztQDTHAcB-zlarEy8qE82Va4.PUcpCqXkwHXHl7LAw8WyIT1zf14OAbGMC01i3JC7tEA&dib_tag=se&keywords=Display+port+to+USB-A+Adapter&qid=1719855820&s=electronics&sprefix=display+port+to+usb-a+adapter%2Celectronics%2C585&sr=1-12-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1 Thanks again for your help! Tech is not my forte but I'm trying.
Would it be a possibility to Daisy Chain the screens to each other? Again, not tech savy, so forgive me if these are rudimentary questions. Just googling for options.
@@jenniferbijl6371 No worries! Something like the Plugable dock would be an alternative. One thing about the Plugable docks is that they use an app called DisplayLink for pushing an image to multiple displays. I also saw some DisplayPort to USB-A adapters on Amazon, so in theory those should also work.
@@jenniferbijl6371 Daisy chaining seems also be an option, but it will depend if your monitor supports that feature. For example, on some of the newer Dell monitors, there are DisplayPort 'in' ports in addition to a 'DP Out' port, where you could use that to daisy chain. Your monitors should have a manual online where you can do a word search to see if it has that feature. Cheers!
I do not believe the dock will draw power from the laptop if the power brick is not plugged in, but we can test that out and post any updates on a short.
TLDR: Avoid Dell's WD19TBS if you are running multiple displays with a MacBook! We have noticed issues with this dock and multi-displays on MacBooks, where it only pushes a single image to both screens. Instead we have been using the HyperDrive M1/M2 MacBook USB-C hubs as an alternative.
Does using Displayport instead of HDMI provides better performance with Macbook pro 2019? I have two Dell 2721DS hooked up but only one of them is running on full resolution which is 2560 X 1440. The second monitor can only go 2048 X 1152. I am using two HDMI cables to connect the dock to my monitors. Any inputs are highly appreciated!
Thanks for your questions Sagar! I'll we don't have the 2721DS monitor in our inventory, but I'll see if I can find something similar to test that out.
Negative! It will work with monitor with DisplayPort or HDMI ports. For a time we had some ppl with older monitors having DVI or VGA ports and were able to connect to these docks with a DVI to DisplayPort adapter.
The USB cable is for the 4 additional USB ports built into the monitor. Since there are a limited amount of ports on the dock itself, I've been using the ports on the monitor to offset.
Our standard monitors are pretty basic, so I haven't tested with any FHD/75hz monitors. We'd need to check on Dell's site for the dock's manual to confirm...
Checking Dell's forums and Reddit, it seems like that could be a few things, ranging from BIOS on your laptop and/or firmware updates for the dock. Here are a couple posts from Dell and Reddit that might relate to your issue. Hope that helps! www.dell.com/community/Inspiron/WD19TB-not-powering-up/td-p/7530447 www.reddit.com/r/Dell/comments/is5mpc/dell_latitude_7280_with_wd19_dock/
If you are referencing responsiveness from mouse movement or keyboard actions, the speed is the same as if you were working on your laptop itself. Although, since this this walkthrough was made, we have been using the WD22TB4 dock in the field these days...update video coming soon!
This dock works great with my Mac M2 Mini...my two Dell external displays work every time. My new Dell XPS 15 running WinBlows 11 is a different story, works about 50% of the time. Ironically the Dell bluetooth mouse and keyboard work perfectly with my Mac and only 75% of the time on the Dell. Dell & Windows = Garbage.
Here they only deploy Latitude and Precision models, so we haven't been able to try the XPS line. Latitude is ok for basic apps/tasks, Word/Excel/PowerPoint/PDFs. The newer Precisions have a hardware bump and have been able to decrease their footprint. We haven't tried the M2 Mac Mini either, but we do have some M1 MacBook Airs and M2 MacBook Pros and there is a noticeable difference in performance vs the Dells. One downside for the M1 MacBook Airs and the Dell/Plugable docks is that they no longer push to dual displays. From what I've seen on the forums, this is due to an issue on Apple's side which I'm hoping changes soon.
Great video but you explained how to connect almost every adapter but did not explain what type of port/connector you need going from the dock to the laptop. You should start first with how the dock connects to the main device (laptop) vs. all the peripherals first. I cannot find any video on this docking station that explains this and it baffles me. Thanks!
Sorry about that and thanks for the note! The connection from the dock to the laptop is USB-C. Thankfully the majority of docks utilize USB-C to connect to laptops, creating a bit of standardization between for Windows and Apple models.
Hi, putting your dell in clamshell mode, is it possible to turn it on from the transmitter without opening the laptop?
the power/lightning bolt iconpn the front left corner of the unit does not light up, but appears to have that ability. It is hidden from the camera by the laptop- In what situations does it light up?
Yes! The power button on the dock does light up with pressed to power on a connected laptop. We are now using the Dell WD22TB4, so we'll be sure to include a note about that for the updated video.
This was helpful. Thank you
I purchased same docking station and using with Macbook pro M1 chip. My concern, it's getting little bit hot than apple original charger. So, can i stop charge my laptop during i connected dell docking station?.
Yes! The dock will/should charge your MacBook through the USB-C connection cable without needing to connect your MacBook's power adapter. When the dock's USB-C is connected you should see the charge icon on the battery.
A fruitful tutorial, Thank you :)
Is their a way to connect two hdmi monitors to the dock?
Hi John, unfortunately on this specific dell dock there is only one HDMI port, so if your monitors only have HDMI inputs, then you would need an HDMI to DisplayPort or HDMI cable or adapter. We have started receiving the Dell WD22TB4 which also has a miniDisplayPort/USB-C option as well, which I have also seen more often on newer monitors.
Does this not work with dual 27e22h monitors? I don’t have display cables with those. Just 2 HDMI cables but ONE Hdmi port on the dock: wtf?
With the WD19TBS you would not be able to use dual '27e22h' monitors because they only have 1 HDMI and 1 VGA port. On the other hand, if you already have the monitors and the dock, a workaround would be to purchase an "HDMI to DisplayPort" adapter (around $10 US).
Is it possible to turn on the laptop without opening the lid with just the docking station?
If you have an external keyboard/mouse connected and press the power button on the dock, it should power it up. It may vary between a Dell and MacBook, but we can try testing that out this week
Great video !!!!
Do I need a laptop to connect in-order to work because my Said no vga cable
Yes you will need to connect a laptop for the dock to work. If you only have a VGA/HDMI/DisplayPort cable connected to a monitor, with no laptop connected to the dock, you will probably see a 'no signal' message or something similar on the monitor.
The power supply of the dock is only for charging the laptop or is it necessary for better connection to the monitors?
The dock power supply is necessary to power the dock itself and provide power to the connected laptop, and the dock will not function/push a signal to connected monitors without it.
Are there compatibility issues when using macbooks(M1)? I think there are limitations and also you need to download firmware.
We’ve tested with 2020 & 2021 M1 MacBook Airs (Big Sur & Monterey) and it has been mostly plug and play so far. Minor adjustments with the display settings depending on user preferences. Would be good to know of any errors/ limitations you experience and if the firmware update resolved those.
Does this support 3 monitors and 1 laptop?
As far as we have seen, these docks have only supported 2 monitors, however we have some users who use it with an open laptop providing a smaller 3rd screen.
Is the power button also supposed to work to turn the laptop on, after it's been shut down?
Yes! If the laptop is shutdown or asleep, the power button on the dock should power on the laptop or wake it from sleep mode.
Hello, I have 2 questions. 1. Is this compatible with a DELL Inspiron 5502/5509 laptop? 2. I want to connect 3 Samsung monitors, all of them are HDMI, the Dock Station has 2 Display Port ports, do I even need to buy the Display Port to HDMI adapters?
As long as the Insprion 5502/5509 has a USB-C port then you should be able to use this dock. Unfortunately, according to a Dell forum post, it seems you may not be able to run the 3 monitors:
www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/latitude/connect-3-monitors-to-wd19tb-dock/647f8e1bf4ccf8a8deee0d84
Additionally, being able to push to 3 monitors will also depend on if your Inspiron specs can handle it. As a non-dock workaround you may want to look into whether or not you can daisy chain the Samsung monitors together. Dell has some monitors with this capability so the technology is out there; however, beyond 2 monitors, you will be compromising on the resolutions you will be able to achieve. Ultimately, the more monitors you have the lower your resolution will be (also dependent on your laptop specs):
www.dell.com/support/contents/en-us/videos/videoplayer/monitor-daisy-chaining/6335488088112
I connected my 5515 to the WD19DC with dual external monitors but I continue to get a duplicate screen when I have to manually detect every time. How can I remedy this?
You can try running any firmware updates from the 'Dell Command Update' app, however, checking Dell's Dock compatibility list I'm not seeing the 5515 being compatible with the WD19DC:
www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-au/products/electronics-and-accessories/technical-support/dell_docking_compatibility_guide.pdf
Can I connect my other computer to the dock so I do t have to keep switching cables?
From our testing/use cases, we have never connected 2 computers to the dock, but in our experiences this dock does not function as a kvm switch if that is what you are looking for.
I'm using a Macbook Air from early 2015 that doesn't have the USB - C port. I have (2) USB 3 ports and (1) Thunderbolt 2 port. I looked online for a female USB C to male thunderbolt 2 adapter but the ones I found say they won't work for displays. Would a USB C to USB 3 adapter work? Is my laptop just too old to support this new tech? Any guidance for a solution would be appreciated. Thank you.
Looking around some forums, I haven't seen a usb-c to thunderbolt adapter available, where I feel like this dock would not be a good fit. BUT the HDMI to Thunderbolt 2 adapters are still available, where you could use that for a single external monitor, then use a USB dongle for one or both of the USB 3 ports to increase your number of USB ports available. It's not a clean solution, but it might help you get some more mileage on your 2015 MacBook.
In general, if an older laptop still meets your needs then keep using it as long as you can. I think ppl are usually pushed to upgrade if apps they use no longer work with older laptops...but usually basic web browsing or checking email should be doable.
@@sculawtechs Thank you for your reply. My laptop works great still and meets my needs just fine but I would consider buying a new one if buying a new dock and/or adapter cables starts to become too complicated and costly. The first part of your response is what I am currently using. It's a HP screen with a HDMI cable, connected to a HDMI to Thunderbolt 2/mini display adapter, which plugs into my thunderbolt 2 port. This works great.
The problem is the two additional screens I would like to connect which are Acer and have DP cables. Am I following you correctly when I think you're saying to purchase a USB-A dongle to plug into my laptop and then look for DP to USB-A (or is it USB-A to DP?) adapter to plug the screens into the dongle? I'm finding the dongles for $10-20 and the adapters for $60-80 each. Am I on the right track?
Would something like this work as well?
www.amazon.com/Plugable-DisplayPort-Monitor-Ethernet-Compatible/dp/B08F2TSR43/ref=sr_1_12_sspa?crid=2F3PT9CGAFFEI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.S_gNXdXOyw6XzUUZcFtOZewTK3PDVGorqnOFOclwFcZbH72OhpPaCZ51Wra2Eu7kLqHDAdVue-0eREaGBTLBPbBKZxsEXSzq-nVN_gA4wQ8l5c6t8dRqQn08u7CH47NoGHHUQ45kU2FVeQtpJfWT1gHwpK9uod0TQyPe3-pJcZtdJKI3a2FkZsnFrxpKF3XSnMZ370tSpELNcNU8VKwENkFGh7a7TTDk0S4WA877-8Ur8CjaAi74oN8Q1V43iKECDXIe3IzNnGe-fUdO9z8ztQDTHAcB-zlarEy8qE82Va4.PUcpCqXkwHXHl7LAw8WyIT1zf14OAbGMC01i3JC7tEA&dib_tag=se&keywords=Display+port+to+USB-A+Adapter&qid=1719855820&s=electronics&sprefix=display+port+to+usb-a+adapter%2Celectronics%2C585&sr=1-12-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1
Thanks again for your help! Tech is not my forte but I'm trying.
Would it be a possibility to Daisy Chain the screens to each other? Again, not tech savy, so forgive me if these are rudimentary questions. Just googling for options.
@@jenniferbijl6371 No worries! Something like the Plugable dock would be an alternative. One thing about the Plugable docks is that they use an app called DisplayLink for pushing an image to multiple displays. I also saw some DisplayPort to USB-A adapters on Amazon, so in theory those should also work.
@@jenniferbijl6371 Daisy chaining seems also be an option, but it will depend if your monitor supports that feature. For example, on some of the newer Dell monitors, there are DisplayPort 'in' ports in addition to a 'DP Out' port, where you could use that to daisy chain. Your monitors should have a manual online where you can do a word search to see if it has that feature. Cheers!
If the dock does not have its power brick plugged in, will it draw power from the laptop and supply to the downstream ports?
I do not believe the dock will draw power from the laptop if the power brick is not plugged in, but we can test that out and post any updates on a short.
Thank you
will this be compatible with MacBook Pro 2020 13 inch ? I don’t wanna waste my money I’m trying to do a dual monitor work from home set up
TLDR: Avoid Dell's WD19TBS if you are running multiple displays with a MacBook!
We have noticed issues with this dock and multi-displays on MacBooks, where it only pushes a single image to both screens. Instead we have been using the HyperDrive M1/M2 MacBook USB-C hubs as an alternative.
Does using Displayport instead of HDMI provides better performance with Macbook pro 2019? I have two Dell 2721DS hooked up but only one of them is running on full resolution which is 2560 X 1440. The second monitor can only go 2048 X 1152. I am using two HDMI cables to connect the dock to my monitors. Any inputs are highly appreciated!
Thanks for your questions Sagar! I'll we don't have the 2721DS monitor in our inventory, but I'll see if I can find something similar to test that out.
Hello I just wanted to ask does this only work on dell monitors?
Negative! It will work with monitor with DisplayPort or HDMI ports. For a time we had some ppl with older monitors having DVI or VGA ports and were able to connect to these docks with a DVI to DisplayPort adapter.
@@sculawtechs oh so it can work on other monitors than dell?
@@nasersim8 Yes that is correct, just make sure the monitor has DisplayPort or HDMI ports!
@@sculawtechs oh thank you very much
why does the monitor have a usb cable in addition to DP?
The USB cable is for the 4 additional USB ports built into the monitor. Since there are a limited amount of ports on the dock itself, I've been using the ports on the monitor to offset.
@@sculawtechs thanks for the response,
Is it good for music production?
Possibly, but I feel like there are a limited amount of USB ports, so depending on how many external devices you have it may not be the best option.
Does this dock also drive 2 FHD 75hz monitors?
Our standard monitors are pretty basic, so I haven't tested with any FHD/75hz monitors. We'd need to check on Dell's site for the dock's manual to confirm...
What to do if when you plug it it it blinks three times and shuts off?
Same thing happening to me
Checking Dell's forums and Reddit, it seems like that could be a few things, ranging from BIOS on your laptop and/or firmware updates for the dock. Here are a couple posts from Dell and Reddit that might relate to your issue. Hope that helps!
www.dell.com/community/Inspiron/WD19TB-not-powering-up/td-p/7530447
www.reddit.com/r/Dell/comments/is5mpc/dell_latitude_7280_with_wd19_dock/
How about the speed?
If you are referencing responsiveness from mouse movement or keyboard actions, the speed is the same as if you were working on your laptop itself. Although, since this this walkthrough was made, we have been using the WD22TB4 dock in the field these days...update video coming soon!
This dock works great with my Mac M2 Mini...my two Dell external displays work every time. My new Dell XPS 15 running WinBlows 11 is a different story, works about 50% of the time. Ironically the Dell bluetooth mouse and keyboard work perfectly with my Mac and only 75% of the time on the Dell. Dell & Windows = Garbage.
Here they only deploy Latitude and Precision models, so we haven't been able to try the XPS line. Latitude is ok for basic apps/tasks, Word/Excel/PowerPoint/PDFs. The newer Precisions have a hardware bump and have been able to decrease their footprint.
We haven't tried the M2 Mac Mini either, but we do have some M1 MacBook Airs and M2 MacBook Pros and there is a noticeable difference in performance vs the Dells. One downside for the M1 MacBook Airs and the Dell/Plugable docks is that they no longer push to dual displays. From what I've seen on the forums, this is due to an issue on Apple's side which I'm hoping changes soon.