🗒 A note on the Dell TB16

[rgov]

Many people file bugs here about their Dell TB16 dock.

The USB, Thunderbolt 3, and audio out ports should regain functionality after installing Thunderbolt 3 Unblocker.

However, video output does not work. Unfortunately, this is out of scope for this project.

Thunderbolt 3 Unblocker allows the Thunderbolt 3 driver to recognize the TB16, but other drivers in the system are responsible for activating the downstream peripherals, including the display. For whatever reason, an update to macOS High Sierra broke support for the displays attached to the TB16.

Update

You could try performing a firmware upgrade on the TB16, which has been reported to restore video (HDMI output). However, the firmware upgrade must be performed from Windows. It is unlikely that this will work from WINE or a virtual machine.

[flyingtango]

I have 2018 new macbook pro with mojave, and the mac can recognize tb15. However, the tb15 can only charge, no usb and no video ouput.

[barongun]

@flyingtango me too....ㅠㅠ

[Michaelkire]

@flyingtango & @barongun If you've installed this driver correctly, you should be able to use USB on the tb16. Mine works.

Also I found that I sometimes have to run the install command again, after I have restarted the mac.

You can check in the Apple -> About this Mac -> System report -> Thunderbolt. It should say if its supported or not

[barongun]

@Michaelkire You are Right. Finally, I Use Lan Port, USB Port and earphone Port. Thank You. But, still no video outputTT

[slvrscoobie]

Thanks guys, just prevented me from picking up a TB16 on ebay for use with my MBP TB3. I need TB3 video out to my apple display and displayport for my dell display so this was so close, and so cheap but i guess ill have to stick with my 3x more expensive StarTech usb c dock. works perfectly if anyones interested

[pmtremblay]

Hey guys, I have a new Dell: https://www.dell.com/en-ca/shop/dell-laptops-netbooks-and-tablets/new-xps-15/spd/xps-15-9570-laptop/nxps1570_bt_s1649e

Ports & Slots

1. SD card slot | 2. USB 3.1 Gen 1 with Power Delivery | 3. Battery gauge button and indicator | 4. Noble lock slot | 5. AC power | 6. HDMI 2.0 | 7. Thunderbolt™ 3 (4 lanes of PCI Express Gen 3) supporting: Power Delivery, Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps bi-directional), USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gbps), Native DisplayPort 1.2 video output, VGA, HDMI, Ethernet and USB-A via Dell Adapter (sold separately) | 8. Headset jack

I thought I could use my old Apple Cinema display (mini-display port) with my Dell (through USB-C = Thunderbolt3 port) running Mojave. Is there anyway to make my Cinema Display to work with an USB-C hub or otherwise?

Suggestions welcome.

Thanks.

[laris]

TB16

• USB2/3 works
• LAN works
• video no work

Hackintosh with DELL P5510

neofetch
                    'c.          MacBookPro.lan
                 ,xNMM.          -------------------------
               .OMMMMo           OS: macOS Mojave 10.14.1 18B75 x86_64
               OMMM0,            Host: MacBookPro13,3
     .;loddo:' loolloddol;.      Kernel: 18.2.0
   cKMMMMMMMMMMNWMMMMMMMMMM0:    Uptime: 21 mins
 .KMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMWd.    Packages: 95 (brew)
 XMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMX.      Shell: zsh 5.3
;MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM:       Resolution: 1920x1080@2x
:MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM:       DE: Aqua
.MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMX.      WM: Quartz Compositor
 kMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMWd.    WM Theme: Blue (Dark)
 .XMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMk   Terminal: iTerm2
  .XMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMK.   Terminal Font: Monaco 14
    kMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMd     CPU: Intel i7-6820HQ (8) @ 2.70GHz
     ;KMMMMMMMWXXWMMMMMMMk.      GPU: Intel HD Graphics 530
       .cooc,.    .,coo:.        Memory: 3261MiB / 32768MiB

[orappold]

TB16 - MacBook Air 2018. Thanks to the unblocked it is recognized, however video does not work. Any tips, patches, driver update news are always welcome.

THX

[pitzor]

I also have the new macbook air 2018 but the dell tb16 will only charge after applying the script, no video (using the Apple Cinema Display 27), no usb. Had to Modify the script to make it work with 10.4.1. Also looking for a solution...

[kurikomoe]

Me too, tb15 is recognized, usb is working but hdmi dp are all not working.

Macbook 13.3 2018 with Mojave

[rgov]

I'm locking this topic. Video does not work on TB16. That's the message I wrote above. If you try it, and it doesn't work, please don't be surprised. It doesn't work. This project doesn't fix it. No additional data points are necessary.

[rgov]

Update

If you are still interested in a solution, please try performing a firmware upgrade on the TB16, which has been reported to restore video over the HDMI port. However, the firmware upgrade must be performed from Windows. It is unlikely that this will work from WINE or a virtual machine.

[orappold]

Works for me like a charm - thank you so much for the update!

edit: I thought both screens on the TB worked fine but apparently the screens are synced and I only see one screen on the MAC monitor settings page. So it's not possible to use the extend screen mode on two screens from the TB. (I use HDMI and mDP)

[kurikomoe]

thanks for your update, however I am using the out-of-date tb15 dock. Hoping dell can release some firmware updates

[bikerwhocodes]

Tried Updating the firmware using win10 bootcamp and got "unable to get system info" error. anybody run into this error before..?

[tekwreck]

Just FYI folks

The Dell D6000 docks work with the Macbook using DisplayLink software. I have one for work and one for home. Home uses Dual 4k and at work I'm using triple 1080p monitors. No issues plus it charges the macbook. https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-universal-dock-d6000/apd/452-bcyt/pc-accessories

[jackie099]

Tried Updating the firmware using win10 bootcamp and got "unable to get system info" error. anybody run into this error before..?

I am getting the same error. Tried on both macbook pro 2018 amd razer blade 15. I guess we need a xps 15 to update it.

I was playing with different TB3 drivers from Intel NUCs and now I am getting "Could not find valid policy or resource payload"

[c-po]

Using

• macOS 10.14.3
• Thunderbolt3Unblocker v0.04

• DELL TB16 Firmware Version 1.0.2

  I can confirm the HDMI output is working as already mentioned. The Display ports are (yet) not working but I can confirm them working with Windows 10.

Connection a second display to a mDP downstream port for MST the second disaply is not recognized. Also the fancy LED inside the TB3 cable is not illuminated, indicating connection to the TB16 dock.

Anyone tried connecting a second display via USB-C/TB3 downstream port of the DELL TB16?

[bikerwhocodes]

@c-po What computer did you use to update the firmware?

Thanks

[c-po]

@NihalPandit I have a DELL 7370, too which is used for FW updating through Windows 10.

I can confirm the Ethernet Port is working, too

[AndrejKocis]

@NihalPandit I have a DELL 7370, too which is used for FW updating through Windows 10.

I can confirm the Ethernet Port is working, too

Hi mate, whre you find Thunderbolt3Unblocker version 0.04 ???

[bikerwhocodes]

@NihalPandit I have a DELL 7370, too which is used for FW updating through Windows 10. I can confirm the Ethernet Port is working, too

Hi mate, whre you find Thunderbolt3Unblocker version 0.04 ??? https://github.com/rgov/Thunderbolt3Unblocker/releases/download/v0.0.4/Thunderbolt3Unblocker.zip

[c-po]

I was indeed referring to v0.0.4 and not v0.04, sorry!

But I can confirm that the USB-C downstream port on the TB16 can drive one DisplayPort Display, too.

Together with the HDMI output one could connect up to two displays to this Dock. Using Windows one could drive up to 4 displays with the TB3 downstream port

[pavanagrawal123]

@jackie099 and @NihalPandit I had that same issue and I was able to resolve it by updating to an older version of the dock firmware and then updating to the newest version. Jumping to the latest from very old firmware doesn't seem to work, but hopping between works.

[fenneclabs]

@pavanagrawal123 do you mean you got TB16 displays to work with some firmware combination?

[pavanagrawal123]

@fenneclabs Yep I'm able to use the HDMI port on my TB16!

[fenneclabs]

Can you give details on which firmware version(s) to use? I'm using latest version and TB16 does not work.

[the-wr]

DP works too, not only HDMI.

[orappold]

For me only HDMI works. If I use DP then I get synced screens not extended ones. Weird.

[the-wr]

For me only HDMI works. If I use DP then I get synced screens not extended ones. Weird.

That's weird. I'm able to get extended screen with DP and latest dock firmware. I only connect one external monitor and it's 1920x1200. Maybe that's the reason.

[orappold]

Maybe, I tried 2x 4k external via hdmi and dp.

[c-po]

So you have one screen connected via DP and the other via HDMI? Here you can have two extended screens (not synced)?

[the-wr]

So you have one screen connected via DP and the other via HDMI? Here you can have two extended screens (not synced)?

No, unfortunately I can't get the second external display to work separately. The best outcome I've been able to achieve with MBP so far is to have two external displays (DP+HDMI) mirror each other while being separate from the laptop screen, i.e. two desktops being shown on three screens total.

VGA output doesn't work at all.

[fenneclabs]

Then it's useless, I need to connect 3 external screens. Looks like it's only displayport alternate mode that is working.

[peacechen]

@pavanagrawal123 Would you mind providing links to the older TB16 firmwares? I picked up a used TB16, and the Dell update software on my Inspiron 15 7577 updated the firmware on the TB16. However OSX won't display video on either the HDMI or DisplayPort outputs (no monitor is detected at all).

When I try the 1.0.0 or 1.0.2 firmware (the only TB16 firmwares I can find searching online), it errors with "No Docks attached or this firmware update utility is not supported on your platform." I unplug the dock, remove power, add power, plug it back into the laptop as directed. I suspect the Inspiron 15 isn't in the app's list of supported laptops ☹️

Edit: The update utility supports a few command line params shown with /?. Logging to a file returns:

**************************************************
***Dell Firmware Update started on 5/2/2019 at 2:26:50***
Command: C:\Users\me\Downloads\Dell TB16\DellDockingStationFwUp_1.0.2_12052018_TB16.exe /componentsvers /l=log.txt

WSMT Not Supported: WSMT Support token not found, using legacy DACI commands.
Executing: C:\Users\me\AppData\Local\Temp\Dell\ui.exe -y -oC:\Users\me\AppData\Local\Temp\Dell
Executing: C:\Users\me\AppData\Local\Temp\Dell\TBTSDK.exe -y -oC:\Users\me\AppData\Local\Temp\Dell
Error: No dock attached
Executing: C:\Users\me\AppData\Local\Temp\Dell\UI\DellFlashUi.exe (null) (null) (null)
Error: No dock attached

Error: Only one Dock must be attached before the Dock Firmware can be updated.

Exit Code = 14 (Hardware Error)
Exit Code = 10 (Unspecified Error)
***Dell Firmware Update finished at 5/2/2019 at 2:26:55***

[pavanagrawal123]

@peacechen The only reason I found the old firmware to be helpful was when updating to latest. I wasn't able to update to latest because it was too far of a jump, so if you are able to jump to latest directly I am afraid using an old firmware won't help.

[csitarichie]

@peacechen I was using this updater and HDMI works with 3K monitor with MBP 2018 13" https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=7tj1h Make sure that on the laptop where you run windows you have the latest intel thunderbolt controller driver. I was using : 17.4.79.510_A12. Otherwise the Firmware update might fail for the dock.

[peacechen]

Thanks for the link to the Thunderbolt Controller driver. I previously had A10 installed. Updated to A12 but the TB16 firmware updater app still refuses to acknowledge the dock.

The Dell Update center did update the firmware, but didn't indicate which. Would you check what yours is when connected to a Mac? In OSX it can be shown going to About This Mac -> System Report -> Thunderbolt.

Mine shows fw 16.16 (link firmware 0.25). It's puzzling how some people are able to get video output, but this one won't output any video. I wonder if it's the Macbook (mine is also a Pro 13" 2018), or the TB16.

Thunderbolt Bus:

  Vendor Name:  Apple Inc.
  Device Name:  MacBook Pro
  UID:  0x0001AF6CC8926200
  Route String: 0
  Firmware Version: 39.2
  Domain UUID:  52A9C074-23F0-EB5F-9A4A-84FD16829106
  Port:
  Status:   No device connected
  Link Status:  0x7
  Speed:    Up to 40 Gb/s x1
  Current Link Width:   0x1
  Receptacle:   2
  Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.38.0
  Port:
  Status:   Device connected
  Link Status:  0x2
  Speed:    Up to 40 Gb/s x1
  Current Link Width:   0x2
  Receptacle:   1
  Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.38.0

Dell Thunderbolt Cable:

  Vendor Name:  Dell
  Device Name:  Dell Thunderbolt Cable
  Vendor ID:    0xD4
  Device ID:    0xB051
  Device Revision:  0x2
  UID:  0x00D44F41C8406800
  Route String: 3
  Firmware Version: 16.16
  Port (Upstream):
  Status:   Device connected
  Link Status:  0x2
  Speed:    Up to 40 Gb/s x1
  Current Link Width:   0x2
  Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.25.0
  Port:
  Status:   Device connected
  Link Status:  0x2
  Speed:    Up to 40 Gb/s x1
  Current Link Width:   0x2
  Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.25.0

Dell Thunderbolt Dock:

  Vendor Name:  Dell
  Device Name:  Dell Thunderbolt Dock
  Vendor ID:    0xD4
  Device ID:    0xB054
  Device Revision:  0x1
  UID:  0x80866E3F953A3210
  Route String: 303
  Firmware Version: 16.16
  Port (Upstream):
  Status:   Device connected
  Link Status:  0x2
  Speed:    Up to 40 Gb/s x1
  Current Link Width:   0x2
  Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.25.0
  Port:
  Status:   No device connected
  Link Status:  0x7
  Speed:    Up to 40 Gb/s x1
  Current Link Width:   0x1
  Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.25.0

[csitarichie]

@peacechen Thunderbolt Bus 0:

Vendor Name: Apple Inc. Device Name: MacBook Pro UID: 0x000XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Route String: 0 Firmware Version: 34,6 Domain UUID: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Port: Status: Device connected Link Status: 0x2 Speed: Up to 40Gb/s x1 Current Link Width: 0x2 Receptacle: 2 Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.97.0 Port: Status: No device connected Link Status: 0x7 Speed: Up to 40Gb/s x1 Current Link Width: 0x1 Receptacle: 1 Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.97.0

Dell Thunderbolt Cable:

Vendor Name: Dell Device Name: Dell Thunderbolt Cable Vendor ID: 0xD4 Device ID: 0xB051 Device Revision: 0x2 UID: 0x00D4461D6D817600 Route String: 1 Firmware Version: 16,16 Port (Upstream): Status: Device connected Link Status: 0x2 Speed: Up to 40Gb/s x1 Current Link Width: 0x2 Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.25.0 Port: Status: Device connected Link Status: 0x2 Speed: Up to 40Gb/s x1 Current Link Width: 0x2 Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.25.0

Dell Thunderbolt Dock:

Vendor Name: Dell Device Name: Dell Thunderbolt Dock Vendor ID: 0xD4 Device ID: 0xB054 Device Revision: 0x1 UID: 0x00D45FB8F859A200 Route String: 301 Firmware Version: 27,27 Port (Upstream): Status: Device connected Link Status: 0x2 Speed: Up to 40Gb/s x1 Current Link Width: 0x2 Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.36.0 Port: Status: No device connected Link Status: 0x7 Speed: Up to 40Gb/s x1 Current Link Width: 0x1 Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.36.0

I have newer FW in the DOCK as well as in the MAC side. Try to do incremental update on the DOCK. start with the 1.0.0 then with the 1.0.2.

It took me like 5 tries till I managed to successfully install the 1.0.2 dock FW.

[csitarichie]

@slingshotpeace That could be I have been using a Dell Precision 5520 with windows 10 to do the update.

[peacechen]

Aha, @csitarichie 's dock has fw 27,27 (weird it's a comma separator), while my dock is 16.16. I've run the TB16 firmware update utility (1.0.0 and 1.0.2) dozens and dozens of times, with various versions of Thunderbolt Controller software. It never recognizes a dock is present to be upgraded. The Thunderbolt software lists the TB16 and I've set the devices to Always Allow connection. I strongly suspect the TB16 firmware update utility is incompatible the Inspiron 15 7577.

Thanks for posting your dock info 👍

[forroden23]

Hi all I have a MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017) updated to Mojave 10.14.3 and the dock is recognized with out installing the thunderbolt 3, but none of the ports works. If I install the thunderbolt 3 will they work? also dock have the latest firmware

[woohsian]

@forroden23 I am on Mojave 10.14.4 and latest TB16 firmware. With this kext loaded - USB A ports, audio, ethernet and one display is working (mini DP) on the TB16. I am also using the TB16 as the power source.

[woohsian]

@forroden23 Forgot to say im using MacBookPro (15-Inch, 2018)

[peacechen]

@woohsian Do the HDMI or full size DP ports work? Or do you mean that only the mini-DP outputs video? Update: mini-DP doesn't work on mine. Looks like it needs a further fw update.

@forroden23 Installing TB3Unblocker should get the USB ports working at the least.

[woohsian]

@peacechen I could not get the full size DP port to work for some reason, only mini-DP.

[yjhuoh]

using tb3unlocker, after firmware update to 1.0.2 (DellDockingStationFwUp_1.0.2_12052018_TB16.exe) can confirm thunderbolt 3, mini displayport, and hdmi are working for display out on my tb16. i am able to output 4k @ 60hz using the thunderbolt3, could not output at 4k using mini displayport (a mystery), only 4k@30hz using hdmi.

usb ports working fine. did not test sound / network card.

[krautboy]

I have the dock working on a Macbook Pro 2016 13". I verified that it has the latest firmware. I'm running a Dell P2715Q 4K via HDMI. It looks like it's working at 60hz. Once in a while, the color will be off when I connect and and I'll try again. Sometimes there's a second or two of static on the screen before the image appears as well. I've tried a USB-C to HDMI adapter off the back and that works. I'm still experimenting with the DisplayPorts. Sound, network, USB, all work. I have a Sabrent THE-3WEA THB3 to 10Gbe Ethernet adapter that I'd like to plug into the rear TB port but it doesn't seem to work on the Mac. The lights come on for a few seconds then it disappears. It works fine on Windows daisy chained from the back TB port. If I could just get that to work! As is, I have to plug that in directly to the Mac. Any ideas or is that just the nature of an unsupported dock... I'm also trying to figure out the best way to have the Mac automatically cut the Wifi when docked as it doesn't seem to work as you would expect (the network order stuff doesn't seem to work when in automatic mode). Not the dock's fault on that one. Not too bad for a $40 eBay purchase though. :)

[fenneclabs]

@yjhuoh, what Macbook do you have?

[yjhuoh]

MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) non touchbar