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Plugable HDMI to VGA Active Adapter Cable
$19.95 USD
SKU: HDMI-VGAAmazon Rating : (580 Reviews)
Features
- Workplace & Classroom Ready— Connect any HDMI-equipped laptop, desktop, or docking station to a VGA monitor, projector, or display device. Ideal for hospital workstations, school and university classrooms, and conference room AV setups with legacy projectors
- Full HD Output— HDMI connects to your computer or dock; VGA connects to your monitor or projector (one direction only). Supports up to 1920×1080 at 60Hz — sharp enough for EHR software, presentation slides, and instructional content. Lower legacy resolutions (1280×1024, 1024×768) are also supported.
- Plug-and-Play for Any Environment— No software, drivers, or IT configuration required, plug the HDMI end into the computer and VGA end into the display, and it works instantly in classrooms, conference rooms, and clinical workstations. The flat, tangle-resistant cable keeps workstation and AV closet cable management clean across large deployments
- Compatibility— Works with any Windows and Linux laptop, desktop, and dock. No drivers, no setup. Just plug the HDMI end into your computer or dock, connect your VGA display, and you're done.
- 2-Year Coverage, Lifetime Support— Every Plugable product, including this HDMI to VGA Adapter, is covered against defects for 2 years and comes with lifetime support. If you ever have questions, contact our North American-based team - even before purchase
For volume orders or business inquiries contact sales@plugable.com
Free 3-Day Continental U.S. Shipping on Orders Over $35!
Product Description
Plugable's HDMI to VGA cable connects your HDMI capable computer to a VGA monitor, projector, or other display device. The robust flat cable prevents tangling and can easily be tucked away behind your display and computer.
Our cable's CH7101A Digital to Analog chipset converts from the source's digital HDMI signal to an analog VGA signal both business class displays without a HDMI input, as well as older monitors with only a VGA connection. This conversion is performed inline without any external convert boxes or power sources necessary.* Please note, while HDMI can carry audio the VGA is not compatible with audio, a separate audio cable.
(*Most HDMI outputs will provide enough power to run the digital to analog conversion, some extremely low power devices may not be compatible with this adapter cable ).
Compatibility
Directionality
Plugable active HDMI to VGA adapter cable is a one-way adapter from a HDMI source to a VGA display. Most common HDMI sources are desktop computers or laptops. The adapter will not function to connect a VGA source to a HDMI display.
VGA does not support audio transmission; only the HDMI video signal will be converted. The maximum supported resolution of the cable is 1920 x 1080 (60Hz). Does not support playback of HDCP-protected content such as Blu-ray discs.
Power and Incompatible Devices
The Plugable HDMI to VGA adapter requires a powered HDMI port to power the digital to analog converter, as well as a display device that outputs valid EDID configuration data for the source device to correctly detect the external display.
Due to power requirements this adapter cable is not recommended for use with the Raspberry Pi, Apple TV, Roku1/2/3, Blu-ray players, or Playstation 3/4.
Apple Compatibilty
Different Mac models vary substantially in the amount of power supplied to the HDMI port. The MacBook Pro 13" (mid-2014) and Mac Mini (mid-2011) have been tested and confirmed working. Use with other Mac models is not recommended.
Features
- HDMI to VGA Active cable 6ft (1.8m) length
- Durable PVC Plastic cable
- Unique flat cable design
- Supports a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 (60Hz)
- CH7101A Chipset
Is there a suggested order for which end of the cable should be connected first?
For best results, plug in the VGA end of the cable to your display prior to plugging in the HDMI end to your output device.
Does this HDMI to VGA cable work with MacBooks or OS X?
No, our cable does not work with MacBooks or OS X. It's compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 and 11.
Why isn't this cable working with my HDMI device or VGA display?
The Plugable active HDMI to VGA cable requires a powered HDMI port, unfortunately the HDMI powered port standards are not widely complied with, so it is device-dependent whether the HDMI to VGA cable will work properly. Similarly the VGA display must support Extended Display Identification Data (EDID), some older displays may be incompatible. Please feel free to contact our support team through Amazon's Contact Seller button on this page and we will be happy to help!
After connecting this cable I no longer have audio through my system speakers?
Sometimes Windows will switch the playback device to the HDMI port when it detects an HDMI cable connected, even if that cable isn’t able to transmit sound. There’s a Windows setting that can be changed so that audio will continue to play through your computer speakers. The settings change should only need to be made once. With the HDMI-VGA cable plugged in to the system, we’ll change the preferred playback device setting to tell Windows to use the computer speakers rather than trying to output over HDMI. This page has a good quick guide to where the setting is found (the process should be virtually the same for Windows 7, 8.1, 10 and 11).
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You can always contact support if you need help too!
Can I Connect a DisplayPort (DP) Monitor to the HDMI Port on This Device Using an Adapter or Cable?
No. Most DisplayPort to HDMI cables and adapters are one-way adapters from a DisplayPort Source (computer or docking station) to a HDMI Sink (television, computer monitor, or projector). These cables do not work in reverse.
Why is DisplayPort to HDMI often a one-way conversion?
DisplayPort uses packet-based data transmission, breaking the video stream into individual packets of data allows for longer cable runs, use in both copper and fiber-optic cables, and allows for higher bandwidth than other video formats. It is relatively easy to convert from DisplayPort to HDMI (computers with HDMI output ports already do this internally) and dual-mode DisplayPort outputs (DP++) have built-in adapters to output a HDMI signal for use with passive DisplayPort to HDMI adapters.
HDMI historically uses a Transmission-Minimized Differential Signaling (TDMS) video signal originally based on DVI's signal, this requires more power to operate at the same cable lengths as DisplayPort and requires significantly more processing power to convert from HDMI to DisplayPort packet-based data. The latest HDMI specifications enable the new Fixed Rate Link (FRL) which is packet based similar to but not directly compatible with DisplayPort.
Externally powered HDMI to DisplayPort adapters do exist, these generally have a USB or small barrel plug for power, and can convert from a HDMI Source to DisplayPort Sink. In most cases they have reduced resolution or refresh rates compared to modern signal sources and can introduce delay in the data connection between the display and computer potentially causing reduced connectivity or display performance problems.
We do not currently recommend using HDMI to DisplayPort adapter with our docking stations. In our testing they have been unreliable compared to a native DisplayPort connection. Many of our newer docking stations include both HDMI and DisplayPort outputs to reduce the need for additional adapters or adapter cables.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at support@plugable.com and we'll be happy to help!
My Docking Station/Adapter Works Well With My Windows Laptop, but When I Close the Lid the Displays and Laptop Turn Off or Sleep. How Do I Fix This?
Windows defaults to putting the computer to sleep when the lid is closed, even if there are external displays and devices connected, we can change this setting to enable closing the lid while using a docking station.
Recommended Setup
To ensure the computer can reliably function with the lid closed there are some requirements and recommendations:
- The system should be powered: This can be from a USB Type-C Docking Station with host charging, or by connecting the laptop's original power source.
- There should be at least one external display connected, this can be through a docking station, or directly to the computer.
- There should be a keyboard and mouse connected, either through a docking station, USB Hub, or directly to the computer.
Windows 11 24H2 and Newer
- Right-click on the Start menu and select Power Options from the context menu
- Expand the Lid, power & sleep button controls sub-section
- Under Plugged in select Do Nothing from the Closing the lid will make my PC context menu
Windows 11 23H2 and Earlier
- Right-click on the Start menu and select Power Options from the context menu
- In the upper left corner of the settings window, in the search box, type "lid" then select Change what closing the lid does from the search results
- Make sure the setting for When I close the lid under the Plugged In column is set to Do Nothing
- Click the Save Changes button to apply the new settings.
Windows 10
- Start by right-clicking on the Start button and select Power Options from the menu.
- From the right side of the Power Options settings page, select the blue link for Additional power settings
- From the choices present on the left-hand side of the Power Options window, please click on Choose what closing the lid does
- Make sure the setting for When I close the lid under the Plugged In column is set to Do Nothing
- Click the Save Changes button and restart the system (making sure that the laptop's power adapter is also connected) and test the behavior again.
Closing the lid should no longer put the computer into sleep mode when an external display and power source is connected, instead one of the external displays should now become the Primary display with the desktop icons instead of the laptop's built-in display.
When to open the lid?
The laptop lid may still need to be opened when performing any of the following:
- To power on the computer from a fully powered off state
- To log into the computer if logged out or if the computer is restarted with the lid closed
- To wake the computer from a deep sleep state (hibernation, or Windows hybrid sleep states)
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at support@plugable.com and we'll be happy to help!
How To: Set the Display Refresh Rate in Windows 11
Many modern displays can support above the default 60Hz refresh rate, however this may need to be manually set within Windows 11. Please note, not all computers, graphics adapters, and docking stations can support all resolutions and refresh rates.
Setting the Display Refresh Rate in Windows 11
1. Right-click on the desktop and select Display Settings from the drop-down menu
2. Scroll down to the Related settings subsection and select Advanced display
3. At the top of the Advanced display window, select the external display from the drop-down menu
4. From the Choose a refresh rate drop-down menu select the desired refresh rate
Refresh Rate Limitations
With Windows 24H2 and newer, dynamic refresh rates are supported, this allows the system to adjust the display refresh rate to save power, up to the selected refresh rate. As a consequence of this new mode, when selecting the display refresh rate you may see an asterisk. This indicates that selecting the specific refresh rate may reduce the display resolution or image quality in order to prioritize the refresh rate. This exposes the refresh rate option from the display even if the display cable or computer is incapable of supporting that refresh rate at the native resolution and is the intended behavior per Microsoft. [1]
In the screenshot below the left side shows the 4K 120Hz capable display limited to 60Hz refresh rate without asterisks, and on the right the same display after setting the refresh rate to “120 Hz*”, the “Desktop mode” resolution has been reduced to 2560 x 1440 (1440p) instead of 3840 x 2160 (4K UHD). Unlike when using the display scaling option this also causes a reduction in image quality. On the right side asterisks are no longer shown in the refresh rate list. Setting the refresh rate back to 60Hz does not change the resolution, you will have to go back one page and set the resolution manually.
References
[1] Windows Insider description of new behavior (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/08/31/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-25941-canary-channel/)
Understanding Uni-Directional vs. Bi-Directional Video Cables
When connecting a laptop/dock to a monitor, the right direction matters. Many “converter” cables only work one way. If the cable’s intended direction doesn’t match your source (video output) and display (video input), you’ll get no signal. Even if the connectors fit.
Key terms
- Source (Output): Laptop, dock, GPU port sending video
- Display (Input): Monitor/TV/projector receiving video
- Uni-directional: Works only one way (e.g., DP to HDMI)
- Bi-directional: Works both ways (common with HDMI to/from DVI, DP to/from mDP)
- Active adapter: Has electronics to convert formats/directions (e.g., HDMI to DP)
- Passive adapter/cable: No electronics; relies on source capabilities (e.g., DP++ to HDMI)
What typically works and what doesn’t
Rule of thumb: For DP to/from HDMI, assume DP to HDMI unless the product explicitly says HDMI to DP (Active).
Docking stations: quick notes
- USB-C/Thunderbolt docks output standard HDMI/DP signals (direction rules above still apply)
- DisplayLink-based docks still output HDMI/DP at the port (same direction rules)
- DP MST/daisy-chain works only in DP domain; converting to HDMI at the first hop ends DP-specific features downstream
Resolution, refresh, and features
- Achievable resolution/refresh (e.g., 4K60) depends on source + cable/adapter + display
- Features like HDR, HDCP, and VRR may require active adapters and sufficient bandwidth
- For long runs or flaky links, prefer active solutions
Shopping checklist (esp. on Amazon)
- Check the pictures: Listings often show Source to Display with icons/arrows (match this to your setup)
- Read the title/bullets: Look for explicit direction (“DP to HDMI,” “HDMI to DP (Active)”)
- Scan specs: “Active” vs. “Passive,” DP++, supported resolutions, and any power needs
Quick examples
- Dock (DP out) to Monitor (HDMI in): DPtoHDMI cable/adapter; use active if DP++ isn’t supported or for higher reliability
- Laptop (HDMI out) to Monitor (DP in): Active HDMItoDP adapter required
- USB-C laptop (Alt Mode) to HDMI monitor: USB-CtoHDMI cable/adapter; not reversible
FAQs
Why doesn’t my “DP to HDMI” cable work from an HDMI laptop to a DP monitor?
It’s uni-directional (DP to HDMI). Your path is the reverse and needs an active HDMI to DP adapter.
Are “bi-directional” cables truly both ways?
Commonly for HDMI to/from DVI and DP to/from mDP. For DP to/from HDMI, true bi-directional products are uncommon—verify the exact directions in the listing images/text.
Update Graphics Drivers in Windows
Up to date graphics drivers are necessary for ensuring the best performance of your computer's built-in display, as well as the capability and compatibility with external displays and docking stations.
Windows has a built-in system update service: Windows Update, however this may not provide up to date drivers or timely updates. We often see systems with out of date drivers, in some cases systems may not receive updated graphics drivers for months or even years, leaving the computer with drivers incompatible with the installed version of Windows 11.
However, we can manually update the graphics drivers to ensure the best possible performance, reliability, and compatibility.
The first step is to identify the graphics hardware, then downloading, and installing the latest drivers.
Identifying Graphics Controller
For notebooks and many desktop computers, the primary graphics controller is embedded in the processor, both AMD and Intel provide graphics driver updates based on the processor model, as well as for discrete graphics controllers. Our first step is to identify up the processor or graphics hardware model details:
- Right-click on the Start Menu and select Settings from the pop-up menu
- From the left column select System and from the bottom of the right side select About
- From the top of the about page the processor details will be on the right side, and duplicated lower down on the page.
- In this example the processor is a 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1260P, we'll keep that detail for the next step.
If your computer has two graphics controllers (it may show "Multiple GPUs Installed" under Graphics Card) then we can get the graphics card model details from the Windows System Information Utility.
- Open the Start menu and search for "msinfo32"
- Select the first result
- From the left-column expand the Components section, then select Display
- In this example the Intel Iris(R) Xe Graphics is enabled by the processor, while the Intel(R) Arc(TM) Pro B60 Graphics is a discrete graphics controller.
Downloading the Drivers
Intel Graphics
- In a web browser navigate to the Intel Driver Download Page
- In the "Search Drivers & Software" field, search for the Intel graphics card model or CPU model, "Arc Pro B60" in this example
- Select the appropriate "Intel Arc Pro Graphics - Windows" or similar entry from the search results, for modern hardware Intel will normally have at least one release per month, the list should return recent results within the last month
- Select the Download button to save the installer to your Downloads folder or selected location
AMD Graphics
AMD provides an Auto-Detect utility, this works relatively well and can be used to update the system available from the AMD Drivers and Support page.
This page also provides a search and browse option for finding drivers and specific compatibility details, we'll look up the drivers for an AMD Ryzen Pro 5650U processor with Radeon Graphics:
- Navigate to AMD Drivers and Support page
- From the Browse section, fill out the processor details and click the Submit button
- Expand the "Windows 11 - 64-Bit Edition" section and select the Download button for the latest graphics drivers
NVIDIA Graphics
Like AMD, NVIDIA provides an automatic installation utility, as well as a Manual Driver Search on the NVIDIA Drivers support page. We will look up the drivers for an NVIDIA RTX 5080 graphics card.
- Navigate to NVIDIA Drivers support page
- Fill out the Manual Driver Search drop-downs and select the "Find" button when complete
- From the search results, select the "View" button for the GeForce Game Ready Driver or NVIDIA Studio Driver (if you need the studio driver features)
- Select the green Download button for the latest graphics drivers
Installing the Graphics Drivers
For the most part this is relatively simple, we recommend disconnecting any external docking stations or devices that are not necessary for the driver installation, and for notebook computers connecting the system's original power supply.
Double-click on the downloaded driver installation executable and follow the on screen steps.
For more in-depth details on Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA's driver installation processes check out our step-by-step guides here:
- Intel Driver Installation In Detail
- AMD Driver Installation In Detail
- NVIDIA Driver Installation In Detail
If you have any questions or would like a recommendation, feel free to reach out to our support at support@plugable.com
How-To: Install the latest Intel Graphics Drivers
For a step-by-step guide to identify your graphics hardware and download the appropriate drivers, check out our KB article here
Download the drivers for your GPU or Processor Graphics
- In a web browser navigate to the Intel Driver Download Page
- In the Search Drivers & Software field, search for the Intel graphics card model or CPU model, "Arc Pro B60" in this example
- Select the appropriate Intel Arc Pro Graphics - Windows or similar entry from the search results, for modern hardware Intel will normally have at least one release per month, the list should return recent results within the last month
- Select the Download button to save the installer to your Downloads folder or selected location
Install the Intel Graphics Driver
To update the Intel Graphics Drivers to the latest version from Intel's website:
- Save and close any open applications
- Navigate to the downloaded graphics driver, then right-click on the saved driver installation file and select Run as administrator to start the installation process
- Allow the Intel driver installation through the User account control window, the drivers will be extracted
- When the extraction is complete select the Begin installation button
- Agree to the Intel Software License Agreement by selecting the I agree button
- Ensure all applications are saved and closed before selecting the I agree button
- For most installations, we recommend not selecting the Execute a clean installation checkbox. This option will remove previous driver versions and can lead to Windows Update reverting to an even older graphics driver. Select the Start button to proceed
- The installation process will proceed, but can take some time to complete
- When the installation has completed, deselect the Launch Intel Graphics Software checkbox - we don't need that right now, select the Reboot Now button to restart the computer applying the new graphics drivers
Windows should now detect the Intel Graphics Controller in the Device Manager and show the latest drivers.
If you have any questions or would like a recommendation, feel free to reach out to our support at support@plugable.com
How-To: Install the latest AMD Graphics Drivers
For a step-by-step guide to identify your graphics hardware and download the appropriate drivers, check out our KB article here
Download the drivers for your GPU or Processor Graphics
- In a web browser navigate to the AMD Drivers and Support page
- In the Search for your AMD product field, type in the model name, for example “RX 5600XT” for the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT graphics controller, or a processor model like "AI 9 365", then select the best fitting result and select the Search button - note: Searching for a processor the "™" is required, so I recommend searching for the text after that symbol.
- On the results page, expand the section for Windows 11 64-bit then select the Download button for the latest AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition drivers, AMD may not provide a direct download for all hardware, in that case use the Auto-Detect and Install option
- Save the installer to your Downloads folder or selected location
Install the AMD Graphics Driver
To update the AMD Graphics Drivers to the latest version from AMD’s website:
- Save and close any open applications
- Navigate to the downloaded graphics driver, then right-click on the saved driver installation file and select Run as administrator to start the installation process
- Allow the Intel driver installation through the User account control window, the drivers will be extracted
- For most users the express installation is fine, ensure all applications are saved and closed selecting the Accept & Express Install button. If you have been having issues with older graphics drivers causing crashes or errors the Factory Reset (Optional) checkbox may be selected, but it isn’t necessary for most installations.
- The installation will proceed, the displays may flicker or flash off/on while the drivers are installing.
- When complete you will be prompted to Launch AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition and Keep AMD software up to date, you can uncheck the Launch AMD Software option
- Restart the computer to ensure the latest drivers are loaded from boot Start Menu > Power Icon > Restart
Windows should now detect the Intel Graphics Controller in the Device Manager and show the latest drivers.
If you have any questions or would like a recommendation, feel free to reach out to our support at support@plugable.com
How-To: Install the latest NVIDIA Graphics Drivers
For a step-by-step guide to identify your graphics hardware and download the appropriate drivers, check out our KB article here
Download the drivers for your GPU
Check your invoice for the specific model of NVIDIA graphics card, for this example we will use the RTX 5080 (the manufacturer is not relevant).
- In a web browser navigate to the NVIDIA Driver Download Page
- In the Manual Driver Search field, search for the NVIDIA graphics card model, "RTX 5080" in this example
- Select the GeForce RTX 50 Series | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 | Windows 11 entry from the list
- Left-click the Find button
- Select either View buttons from the GeForce Game Ready Driver or NVIDIA Studio Driver
- Select the Download button to save the installer to your Downloads folder or selected location
Install the NVIDIA Graphics Driver
To update the NVIDIA Graphics Drivers to the latest version from NVIDIA's website:
- Save and close any open applications
- Navigate to the downloaded graphics driver, then right-click on the saved driver installation file and select Run as administrator to start the installation process
- Allow the NVIDIA driver installation through the User account control window
- Click OK to extract the NVIDIA Display Driver package contents
- At the System Check step, select either the NVIDIA Graphics Driver with NVIDIA App or the NVIDIA Graphics Driver alone, the NVIDIA App is gaming oriented and unnecessary for most users. Select AGREE AND CONTINUE
- At the License Agreement step, select the Express (Recommended) radio button then select NEXT to continue
- The installation will take some time to complete
- When complete please restart the computer Start > Power > Restart
Windows should now detect the NVIDIA Graphics Controller in the Device Manager and show the latest drivers.
If you have any questions or would like a recommendation, feel free to reach out to our support at support@plugable.com
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