Hassle free, 2-Year Warranty
Fast, Free Shipping on Orders $35+
Lifetime Technical Support
30-Day Money Back Guarantee
Plugable 6 Port USB-C Charging Station, 100W Priority Charging
$79.95 USD
SKU: PS-6CCAmazon Rating : (54 Reviews)
Features
- Turn One Charger Into Six— Introducing the Plugable PS-6CC, a 6-port USB-C multi charging station that uses your existing USB-C power supply. With PriorityShare(TM) technology it delivers smart, prioritized charging to up to 6 USB-C devices. Laptops, phones, tablets, earbuds, you name it. Plug in at night, wake up to 6 charged devices
- Intelligent Charging— With Plugable’s PriorityShare technology, the PS-6CC detects charging needs in real-time and sends power to each device from left to right. As high-priority devices charge up, available power is reallocated down the line. Actual charge times depend on the number, type of devices, and your USBC charger block (18W–100W)
- Eco-Friendly Charging— Made with 50% recycled plastic and 75% recycled aluminum, and cuts down on individual chargers for multiple devices, the PS-6CC uses an 18W – 100W USB C charger you already own to charge multiple devices, reduce packaging and e-waste (power supply not included)
- Universal Compatibility— Designed for the USB-C future, the PS-6CC supports virtually any USB-C device—laptops, phones, tablets, earbuds, and more. Safety features, smart power monitoring, and thorough testing make it safe for home, office, or commercial environments, as well as a travel charger for multiple devices. Power adapter required. Not a battery bank
- Lifetime Support— This USB C charging station has been designed with reliability at its core and was built to meet the deployment demands of IT departments and the ease of use necessary for home offices. Includes lifetime support from our North American team of connectivity experts
Free 3-Day Shipping When Buying Direct!
Tech Specs
| 1x USB-C Power Input Port | Connect a USB-C Power Supply between 18W to 100W to power your devices |
| 6 USB-C Charging Ports | Up to 6 USB-C charging ports available, prioritized from left to right |
| Charging Specification | USB Power Delivery 3.0 and 5V 500mA standard charging. |
| Status LED | Purple indicates ports waiting to charge, flashing blue indicates charging, and solid blue indicates charged. Red indicates an error that may be cleared by unplugging and replugging the device. |
A: No, this charging station takes advantage of the USB-C power adapter you already have included with your phone, tablet, or laptop. Connect a power supply rated from 18W to 100W to charge up to ten connected devices.
A: The devices charge in order of priority from the left-most port to the right-most port. Higher priority devices will receive as much power as they need to charge quickly while lower priority devices will wait for power to become available.
A: We recommend using the charging cables provided with your devices. Most phones and tablets include a charging cable, additional USB-C charging cables are sold separately (e.g., USBC-240W-1M).
A: Charger supports USB Power Delivery and USB 5V charging.The charger can replace the USB Type-C power adapter provided with many computers and devices,even older devices using standard 5V 500mA USB to Micro-B charging cable(may need a separate cable).
A: This charger only supports charging, there is no data connection between the connected devices.
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
# Of Charging Ports |
6 |
10 |
1 |
2 |
Max USB Charging Support |
100W |
100W |
140W |
40W |
Priority Charging |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Compatibility |
USB-C Laptops, Tablets, Phones |
USB-C Laptops, Tablets, Phones |
USB-C Laptops, Tablets, Phones |
USB-C Laptops, Tablets, Phones |
Popular Uses |
Travel / Home / Office |
Travel / Home / Office |
Travel / Home / Office |
Travel / Home / Office |
Filter Help Articles and Frequent Questions by Category
Choose one or more filters within each category to narrow down the articles. Each selection will result in only displaying articles that include all of your choices.
Articles
Well how about that, it looks like we don't have any articles matching your filters! Try removing one of your choices or clear the filters to show all articles.
You can always contact support if you need help too!
USB Port Types
USB-A
pietz, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
This is the standard USB connection that most computers offered prior to the introduction of USB Type-C (USB-C). Even after the introduction of USB Type-C, this is still quite common.
It can provide data transfer rates up to the USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 gbps) specification depending on the host and device, but does not directly support video in the way that USB-C Alternate Mode does. This limitation makes DisplayLink USB graphics adapters and docking stations ideal on systems that do not have USB-C, or in instances where more displays are needed beyond available video outputs of a PC.
USB-B
Fred the Oyster, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
IngenieroLoco, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This type of connection comes in a couple different styles depending on whether USB 3.0 and higher transfer rates are supported (bottom graphic). Usually this type of connection is used to plug into USB devices that do not have a fixed cable connected, such as USB docking stations, USB hubs, printers, and others.
USB Mini-B
Fred the Oyster, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
One of the first connectors for charging a smartphone, wireless game controller (such as the Sixaxis and DualShock 3), and other small devices such as external hard drives. Not commonly used today, but is still used in some cases. Most devices using USB Mini B are using USB 2.0, though a USB 3.0 variant does exist. This specification also added USB On-The-Go (OTG) functionality, though it is more commonly implemented with Micro USB.
USB Micro-B
Fred the Oyster, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
IngenieroLoco, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
A smaller connector that serves many of the same uses as the Mini B connector, with added optional features such as Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) to allow devices like smartphones to output video to larger displays without requiring a dedicated port for video output.
The larger variant of USB-B is most commonly used for external hard drives for higher 5Gbps transfer rates.
USB-C, Thunderbolt™ 3, and Thunderbolt™ 4
Niridya , CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The most recent USB connection, USB Type-C (USB-C), represents a major change in what USB can do. The connector is smaller, can be connected in two orientations, is able to carry substantially more power and data, and can directly carry video signals of multiple types (HDMI, DisplayPort, etc.) Intel has also adapted the USB-C connector for use with Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4.
It is important to note that while all Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 connections are USB-C, not all USB-C connections can be used with Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 devices.
More details regarding physical USB connections can be found on Wikipedia . The graphics depicted here are adapted from Wikimedia Commons by various artists under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Do Plugable products support the Apple SuperDrive?
Unfortunately Plugable products do not support the Apple SuperDrive.
The Apple SuperDrive has stringent power requirements that can only be met by directly connecting the SuperDrive to your host laptop. As a result at this time Apple recommends only using their USB-C adapter cables. You can find more information on that here → How to connect the Apple USB SuperDrive
If you have purchased a Plugable product to use with your Apple SuperDrive, and would like some additional assistance please do not hesitate to reach out. You can do so by emailing support@plugable.com, or going to Plugable.com/Support.
Can I leave my notebook computer connected to a charging dock overnight, or should I discharge and recharge the notebook battery regularly?
We are often asked if it is okay to leave a notebook computer connected to one of our USB-C docking stations with Power Delivery for extended periods of time. The short answer is yes, it is no different from leaving the laptop connected to the manufacturer's original USB-C power supply for the same time. The long answer is yes for modern laptops, and maybe for older (1990s-early 2000s laptops) and involves going into the different battery technologies used in consumer electronics devices.
Another common question is if it is possible to use the docking station but to disable powering and charging the computer. When a modern notebook computer runs on battery power it will often set the system to a reduced power state which may impact performance, or connected devices and we recommend always powering the computer when using a desktop docking station. For all of our docking stations that provide power to the host computer this will not affect the lifespan of the computer's battery.
Modern Laptop Batteries: Lithium-Ion
Lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries are found in a wide range of consumer electronics from notebook computers and cell phones, to electric cars, power tools, and wearable electronics like wireless earbuds. Li-ion offers fast charging, high-current discharging, fairly long service live compared to other rechargeable battery technologies and are relatively inexpensive.
The life-span of a rechargeable battery depends on many factors including age, temperature history, charging patterns, the chemical composition of the specific battery, and usage. For example batteries stored at 100% charge will degrade faster than batteries stored at 50% charge, this is why most consumer electronics devices arrive from the manufacturer with between 25% to 75% charge.
Lithium-ion batteries are consumable components, however in most modern computers, cell phones, and tablets these are not user serviceable components. To help maintain the battery all modern computers and most consumer electronics will include battery charge and protection circuits. These can be fairly simple, charging up the battery at preset rates depending on the charge level to help maintain the battery life, or complex software controlled charging that monitors battery temperature, voltage and current draw to maintain the fastest charging while maintaining the battery longevity.
Modern notebook computers can be left connected to the original power cable or a docking station with charging capability for extended periods, and do not benefit from regular discharge/recharge cycles. Our docking stations with charging capability rely on USB Type-C Power Delivery to power and charge compatible computers. USB Type-C Power Delivery is a negotiated charging protocol between the host computer and the docking station or USB Type-C power supply, this allows the computer to draw only the power it requires, and even select the best voltage level for powering the computer. In combination with a computer's built-in battery charging controller the computer is capable of maintaining the battery's optimal state even when left connected to a power source for an extended period of time.
Legacy Laptop Batteries: NiCad and NiMH
Older laptops, from the 1990s and some early 2000s, as well as some consumer electronics, and most rechargeable AA or AAA battery replacements use Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad) or Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries. These batteries are slower to charge and discharge than li-ion batteries, and require very simple charge controllers, and in some cases can even be trickle-charged ( very low-current continuous charging ) if desired.
These batteries generally don't have smart charging controllers and to prolong the life of the battery required "training" or fully discharging and recharging the battery every so often. Many laptop manufacturers recommended fully charging and discharging a new laptop 2-3 times to train the battery, this is not necessary with modern laptops.
Conclusion
Modern notebook batteries are managed by the computer's built-in battery charging circuit, and require little to no user intervention to maintain optimal battery health. It does not harm the battery to leave the computer connected to an external power supply, so long as the computer is being used regularly. If the computer is to be stored for a prolonged period then discharging the battery to between 50-75% can help to maintain the battery life.
Batteries are consumable components and degrade over time, however modern notebook computers can extend the battery life generally to meet or exceed the life of the computer's other electronic components.
Is this safe to use if my computer doesn't support USB-C Power Delivery?
USB-C Power Delivery (PD) is negotiated between the power-sourcing equipment (e.g., a dock or multiport hub) and the connected host device. During this negotiation, the device offering power communicates its capabilities, and the host determines whether it can accept the power. If the host does not support Power Delivery, no power will be sent to the computer over the USB-C connection. This will allow you to take advantage of other capabilities such as data transfer or video output without risking damage to the computer.
Plugable PriorityShare™ Charger Compatibility and General Usage Recommendations
Device Compatibility and Power Supply Recommendations
- If you have not already done so we recommend to look at our main Compatibility and Get Started documentation for your PriorityShare™ Charger to begin.
- Plugable's PS-10CC 10-Port Charger Compatibility and Get Started pages
- Plugable's PS-6CC 6-Port Charger Compatibility and Get Started pages
- The Plugable PriorityShare™ Charger is compatible with attached devices that support charging via USB Power Delivery and legacy USB 5V charging. Like USB-C Laptops, Tablets, Phones, Battery Banks, Smartwatches etc.
- The Plugable PriorityShare™ Charger is compatible with USB Power Delivery (PD) power supplies from many vendors, with most laptop computers including a power supply they are a good choice for powering the PriorityShare™ Charger with a charger that you may already own.
- If you frequently travel with your laptop’s original power adapter, consider purchasing a dedicated USB-C PD charger for the Plugable PriorityShare™ Charger.
Choosing the Right USB-C Power Supply
- Always use the highest wattage USB-C Power Delivery (PD) power supply available to ensure efficient charging.
- For example, if charging a laptop along with multiple phones or tablets, use the USB-C power adapter from the laptop for optimal performance.
- A higher-rated power supply allows for faster simultaneous charging of multiple low-wattage devices.
- More powerful power supplies can support high-wattage devices, such as laptops, more effectively.
- If purchasing a dedicated PD power supply for the PriorityShare™ Charger, a 100W or higher USB-C PD power supply is a great choice for broad compatibility, for example Plugable’s 140W USB-C PD Power Adapter can provide 100W to the PriorityShare™ Charger for charging across multiple devices.
- Note that the PriorityShare™ Charger cannot utilize the extra 40W from the PS-EPR-140C1, but our extensive testing confirms that this combination works well.
Optimizing Charging Performance
- The PriorityShare™ Charger is ideal for offline charging (e.g., overnight charging or charging when devices are not in use).
- Shut down, suspend, or sleep devices before charging to minimize power draw.
- Actively running devices may consume power that could otherwise be used to charge additional devices.
- Example: A laptop can draw up to 50% of the power supply’s capacity, even with its battery fully charged, reducing the available power for other devices.
- Please note: Windows notebooks may wake from sleep to install updates, often at night which can reset charging or prevent the Windows system from fully charging, fully shutting down the computer is recommended.
- Limit charging of non-PD (legacy 5V) devices, as they are less efficient and can slow down overall charging.
- Examples: Older devices using USB Micro-B, Apple Lightning, or Apple 30-pin dock connectors.
- Too many non-PD devices in high-priority ports can delay charging for PD devices in lower-priority ports.
- The PriorityShare™ Charger priority charging USB-C ports support up to 100W* total shared across all ports and supports USB Power Delivery 3.0 and legacy 5V USB charging.
- *The PriorityShare™ Charger will reserve some power for itself to operate, and the maximum output power from the PriorityShare™ Charger is determined by the output wattage of the power input from the connected USB-C PD power supply.
Understanding PriorityShare™ Charger LED Indicators & Charging Behavior
- The charger does not have access to the devices’ battery controller and cannot know the charge level of the connected device.
- If a fully charged device is connected, it may still show “Pending” (Purple LED) even at 100%.
- Devices that are nearly full may still display as “Charging” (blinking Blue LED), since the device has not significantly reduced its power draw.
- LED status updates can take several minutes to change while the PriorityShare™ Charger prioritizes devices in order of charging needs and monitors charging current to the attached devices.
- Devices “pull” power from the charger rather than the charger "pushing" power to them. The PriorityShare™ Charger cannot overcharge your devices as it is ultimately up to the attached device to decide if and how fast to charge.
- Devices left on the charger for multiple days may show fully charged, however the battery may be slowly discharging powering the device's internal components until another device has been connected/disconnected from the PriorityShare™ Charger and thus triggering a new charging cycle to begin.
Important Considerations for Laptop Charging
- Some laptops, especially from Dell or Lenovo, may refuse to charge or halt the boot process if they detect a lower-wattage power supply.
- This can result in an error requiring manual confirmation before continuing boot-up if powered on while connected to the charging station, or if the computer restarts to install updates while connected.
- This behavior can sometimes be disabled in the UEFI/BIOS, allowing charging from lower-wattage power supplies without interruption.
Looking for more details? Check out our Plugable PriorityShare™ Chargers PS-10CC and PS-6CC for specs and compatibility information, or our article about common use cases for the PriorityShare™ Charger.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at support@plugable.com and we'll be happy to assist!
Common Use Cases for A Plugable PriorityShare™ Charger (and When to Avoid It)
Plugable PriorityShare chargers are designed to streamline the way you charge multiple USB-C devices. Whether you’re at home, in the office, or in a classroom, a PriorityShare Charger ensures that your devices are charged efficiently and in priority order—from left to right. Plus, they're compatible with most USB-C Power Delivery (PD) power supplies you already have, supporting a wide range of inputs from 18W (9V 2A) to 100W (20V 5A).
But what are the best ways to use a PriorityShare™ Charger? And are there scenarios where it might not be the right fit? Let’s dive in.
Note: If you have not already done so we recommend to look at our main Compatibility and Get Started documentation for the PS-10CC to begin.
Best Use Cases for A PriorityShare™ Charger
1. Charging Multiple Devices Overnight
A nightstand, desk, or entryway is an ideal spot for a PriorityShare™ Charger. At the end of the day, simply plug in your laptop, phone, tablet, smartwatch, portable battery bank, and more, and by morning, everything will be charged and ready to go.
2. Decluttering Workspaces
If you’re tired of juggling multiple chargers, a PriorityShare™ Charger can reduce cable clutter by consolidating everything into one charging station. Whether in a home office or a shared workspace, it keeps your devices charged without the tangle of extra adapters and cables.
3. Classroom Charging Stations
Schools and classrooms with USB-C laptops and tablets can use multiple PriorityShare™ Chargers, paired with high-wattage power supplies (ideally 100W), to ensure all student devices are fully charged by the next school day, saving both space and outlet connections.
When Not to Use A PriorityShare™ Charger
While a PriorityShare™ Charger is a powerful charging station, there are some scenarios where it may not be the best choice:
1. Devices That Require Continuous Power
A PriorityShare™ Charger is not designed for devices that need uninterrupted power. Because it charges in priority order, devices plugged into later ports might not receive power if an earlier device continuously draws power.
Avoid using a PriorityShare™ Charger to power:
- Raspberry Pi or other single-board computers (Arduinos, Adafruit Feather, etc)
- USB-C external monitors
- Networked storage drives
- IoT devices
If one of these devices occupies a priority port, other connected devices may not charge, or worse—it may unexpectedly lose power when the charger moves to the next port.
2. Powering a Laptop 24/7
While a PriorityShare™ Charger can charge a laptop, it’s not meant to continuously power one. If used this way, the laptop may prevent other devices from charging, or the charger may shift priority, causing the laptop to run on battery and drain unexpectedly.
3. Leaving Devices Connected
Leaving devices connected for an extended period can cause the devices to begin to discharge and not initiate a new charging cycle. For example a notebook computer left charging for a week may slowly discharge the battery and will not be fully charged. This can be countered by unplugging and replugging the device to a PriorityShare™ Charger, or unplugging the input power from a PriorityShare™ Charger and replugging it to restart charging for all connected devices, for example the evening after coming home from vacation before the first day of work.
4. Running USB Accessories
A PriorityShare™ Charger is designed for charging, not powering devices long-term. Some USB-powered accessories, such as fans, LED lights, and speakers, may not function as expected.
Final Thoughts
A Plugable PriorityShare™ Charger is a fantastic solution for charging multiple USB-C devices efficiently, whether at home, in the office, or in the classroom. Just remember: it’s designed for charging, not for powering devices continuously. Use it for what it does best, and you’ll enjoy a clutter-free, optimized charging experience.
Looking for more details? Check out our Plugable PriorityShare™ Chargers product pages for specs and compatibility information, or our article about compatibility and general usage recommendations for the PS-10CC.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at support@plugable.com and we'll be happy to assist!
Can I power the PriorityShare™ Charger from a USB-A charger, or from my computer?
The Plugable PriorityShare™ Charger USB Type-C Power Delivery 10-Port Priority Charger will not work properly if being powered from a legacy USB-A port charger using a USB-C to USB-A cable. The PriorityShare™ Charger requires a USB-C to USB-C connection between the charger and a USB-C PD power supply.
Similarly, the PriorityShare™ Charger cannot be powered from a computer, even if the computer has USB-C. This is because computer USB ports are incapable of offering enough power to the charger.
Connecting the PriorityShare™ Charger to a computer would only work and be used for possible future firmware updates to the charger by connecting it to a Windows PC. Please note that at this time there is no new firmware available or needed.
Looking for more details? Check out our Plugable PriorityShare™ Chargers PS-10CC and PS-6CC for specs and compatibility information, or our article about common use cases for the PriorityShare™ Charger.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at support@plugable.com and we'll be happy to assist!
Is the PriorityShare™ Charger a USB power bank, and does it contain a battery?
No, the Plugable PriorityShare™ Charger USB Power Delivery Priority Charging Station is not a power bank or portable charger. Instead, it intelligently distributes power from a single USB-C power adapter to charge multiple devices efficiently.
The PriorityShare™ Charger does not contain a battery or any battery elements. That means it won’t store power or continue charging devices if the power source is unplugged. Additionally, if the input power is disconnected and then reconnected, the charging process will restart from the first device on the left-most port.
Looking for more details? Check out our Plugable PriorityShare™ Chargers PS-10CC and PS-6CC for specs and compatibility information, or our article about common use cases for the PriorityShare™ Charger.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at support@plugable.com and we'll be happy to assist!
Why Aren’t All My Devices Charging at the Same Time From My Plugable PriorityShare™ charger? And Why Is Charging Taking So Long to Start?
Priority Charging
The Plugable PriorityShare™ charger is designed to ensure that your USB Type-C Power Delivery and compatible legacy USB devices are charged efficiently and in priority order—from left to right. Why does the PriorityShare™ charger do this? Let's take a look at an example below.
Example: 10 laptops connected to a PS-10CC, with a 100W USB-C PD power supply connected and powering the PS-10CC.
First it's important to note that the PS-10CC cannot take the 100W of input power from the attached USB-C PD power supply and charge all 10 laptops simultaneously at 100W each - the PS-10CC ultimately can't generate more power than what's available to it from the PD power supply. At the same time, these laptops likely wouldn't accept just 10W charging if the power were split evenly across all ports, and the PS-10CC reserves some power for itself to operate.
So how does PriorityShare™ charge the attached devices? This is where the PriorityShare™ charger stands apart from other charging options, it intelligently takes into account the input power it has available to it from your attached PD power supply (18W to 100W), and the power required for the attached devices. It then begins charging your attached devices at the best rate possible and in priority order.
If there is a laptop attached to the leftmost priority port and charging at 85W, this would consume most of the available 100W input power from our example above, leaving little to charge anything else attached. However, as the laptop charging nears completion and as the wattage required (the electrical current) drops, the charger can then reallocate the available power and to begin charging the next device(s) inline based on their charging needs. In the case with laptops, this could mean that the charger will primarily charge them one at a time due to their high power requirements.
If there are multiple small devices connected that do not require as much wattage as a typical laptop, like a phone or laptop then the PriorityShare™ charger will be capable of charging multiple of those devices at a time.
Charging Times
The PriorityShare™ charging times will ultimately vary depending on input power and connected devices. As you are using the PriorityShare™ charger you could notice that there may appear to be additional time where a device appears to be charged, or waiting to charge, but the LED lights on the charger haven't changed their status yet. The PriorityShare™ charger must wait for the charging rate - specifically, the electrical current flowing from charger to device, to stabilize before it can decide if and how much power it can spare to begin charging the next device(s) inline. If changes are made too quickly it could cause devices to not charge as expected or the power distribution may be less accurate/optimal for the devices, so the PriorityShare™ charger has been optimized to have a balance between speed and reliable charging results.
It's also important to know that the charger does not have access to the devices’ battery controller and cannot know the charge level of the connected device(s), as the USB-C specification doesn't offer this capability. So the PriorityShare™ technology judges charge levels based on the flow of electrical current that is being drawn from the device(s) and it monitors the current until it drops below a particular threshold and over time.
The overall charging behavior and time that it takes can vary as devices themselves will also have varied charging behaviors. So for example, some devices may end their charge cycle with a slow trickle of current and wait at that current for a while, while others may charge at a high current right up to the end and abruptly stop. So the nuances of these charging behaviors on a per-device basis can delay the charger from moving to the next port (or allow the charger to move to the next port more quickly for others).
Generally speaking, it can take about ~5 minutes for the charger to update status LEDs and move to the next device(s) inline if the conditions are appropriate (when the current falls below the threshold and stabilizes). But depending on the devices and their charging behaviors that time may be longer.
Legacy Devices
(non USB-C, no Power Delivery capabilities)
Due to limitations of the USB-C specification there are inherently some complications surrounding charging of legacy devices. Primarily, by connecting a legacy USB device to the PriorityShare™ charger using a USB-C to legacy cable (such as a USB-C to USB Micro-B or Apple Lightning cable for example), the USB-C Power Delivery controller(s) in the PriorityShare™ charger cannot know if there is a device connected to the legacy end of the cable. As such the USB-C PD controller simply makes the assumption that there is a device connected and outputs power when the cable is attached, regardless if a device is or is not actually connected to the cable. Due to this behavior, and the priority charging mechanism of the charger, this has a few implications that must be considered:
- When a legacy cable and device are connected and after the device has been charged and disconnected, if the cable is left connected the PriorityShare™ charger will be unaware of the device being disconnected from the cable. As such, when reconnecting the device to the legacy cable, the charger will also not know that it has been reconnected to the cable and will not update the LED status or priority charging order and power distribution.
- To resolve this, disconnect and reconnect the USB-C end of the legacy cable to the PriorityShare™ charger, which will let the charger know that the device has been reconnected. This will let the charger properly manage the priority charging order and power distribution.
It should also be noted that legacy devices also will inherently charge slower than most native USB-C devices with Power Delivery. This is because at most legacy devices can expect up to 5V 1.5A, 7.5W charging per the USB-C specification and power safety limits, while similar USB-C PD devices may charge at 15W or more.
Looking for more details? Check out our Plugable PriorityShare™ Chargers PS-10CC and PS-6CC for specs and compatibility information, or our article about common use cases for the PriorityShare™ Charger.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us atsupport@plugable.comand we'll be happy to assist!
Understanding Power Delivery vs. Pass-Through Power Delivery
When choosing a docking station or USB hub, it's important to understand the difference between Power Delivery (PD) and Pass-Through Power Delivery. While both terms refer to charging capabilities, they function differently and impact how power is distributed to connected devices.
What is Power Delivery (PD)?
USB Power Delivery (PD) is a fast-charging standard that allows devices to negotiate power levels dynamically. Key aspects include:
- Enables higher power transfer (up to 100W or more, depending on the device and cable).
- Ensures efficient charging by dynamically adjusting voltage and current.
- Commonly used in USB-C chargers, docking stations, and hubs that provide power directly to laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
Example: A USB-C docking station with PD output can charge a connected laptop while simultaneously powering other peripherals. Additionally, these tend to come with their own AC adapter.
What is Pass-Through Power Delivery?
Pass-Through Power Delivery refers to a hub or docking station that does not generate power itself but instead allows power to pass through from an external power adapter. Key aspects include:
- Requires a dedicated power adapter (e.g., a USB-C PD laptop charger) plugged into the docking station or hub.
- Typically, a portion of the incoming power is allocated to the dock’s functionality (such as data transfer and peripheral connections), and the remaining power is sent to the connected laptop or device.
- May reduce the total power available to the laptop compared to direct charging.
Example: A USB-C hub with pass-through PD allows a laptop's original USB-C PD charger to be connected to the hub, which then distributes power to the laptop while also supporting external peripherals.
Choosing the Right Option
- If you need a docking station that can directly charge your laptop, look for one with dedicated Power Delivery (PD) support.
- If your laptop already has a high-wattage charger and you want to maintain power while expanding connectivity, a pass-through PD hub may be a better choice.
- Be mindful of power limitations with pass-through charging, as some hubs may reserve power for their own operation, reducing the power available for the laptop.
Some examples of hubs with PD pass-through would be our USBC-9IN1E with 140w pass-through charging or our smaller USBC-4IN1 with 100w pass-through.
On the flip side, we have our docking stations that power your devices by themselves. Examples such as our UD-7400PD which is capable of 140w of charge and 5 displays.
Understanding these differences will help ensure you select the right docking station or USB-C hub for your setup. If you have any questions or would like a recommendation, feel free to reach out to our support at support@plugable.com
Do I need to approve or authenticate Thunderbolt devices when I connect them to my Windows or Mac computer?
Overview
For most modern Windows and Mac systems, Thunderbolt devices are automatically approved and will ‘just work’ once connected.
The main exception is Apple Mac laptops with Apple CPUs running macOS Ventura (13) or newer, where you’ll be prompted to manually approve the device the first time you connect it.
The summary table below provides the specific details at a glance, and the text that follows explains the table in more detail.
Thunderbolt Approval / Authentication Summary Table
Why Authentication Exists
To expand further, Thunderbolt 3, 4 and 5 are in essence external connections to the host computer’s internal PCI Express bus. This type of low-level and high speed connection warranted security protocols to prevent unauthorized access to user data.
Windows: From Intel Software to Native OS Support
When Thunderbolt 3 Windows systems were first introduced in late 2015 it was necessary to use Intel Thunderbolt software to manually authenticate and approve external Thunderbolt devices.
With the introduction of Thunderbolt 4 Windows systems in 2020, it was still necessary to have Intel Thunderbolt software installed on the host computer. However, in most cases the authentication and approval process would happen automatically greatly simplifying the process.
Starting with Windows 11 version 21H2 released in October of 2021, Microsoft integrated support for both USB4 and Thunderbolt into the Windows operating system → LINK
This means that with most modern Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 5 computers running the latest version of Windows 11 it is no longer necessary to install Intel Thunderbolt software on the host computer in order to manage Thunderbolt devices. In most cases, the authentication and approval process will still happen automatically.
macOS: From Intel CPUs to Apple CPUs
When Thunderbolt 3 Mac systems with Intel CPUs were first introduced in 2016, the authentication and approval mechanism was built-in to macOS and was transparent to the end user.
Apple introduced Mac computers based on Apple CPUs in 2020. Macs based on Apple CPUs running macoS 11 Big Sur or macOS 12 Monterey would automatically approve and authenticate Thunderbolt devices when connected.
macOS 13 Ventura was released in 2022 and for portable Macs with Apple CPUs Apple introduced a feature known as ‘Accessory Security’ (also known as ‘Restricted Mode’) → LINK
By default, portable Macs (i.e. laptops) with an Apple CPU running macOS 13 Ventura or newer version of macOS will require the end user to authenticate and approve a Thunderbolt device when initially connected.
Stationary Macs (i.e. desktops) with an Apple CPU running macOS 13 Ventura or newer version of macOS do NOT implement the ‘Accessory Security’ feature. As a result, Thunderbolt devices will be automatically approved and authenticated when initially connected.
Apple Macs with Intel CPUs (both laptop and desktops) running macOS 13 Ventura or newer do NOT implement the ‘Accessory Security’ feature. As a result, Thunderbolt devices will be automatically approved and authenticated when initially connected.
