Certified Reliability—
The Plugable 3.3ft (1 meter) Thunderbolt 4 cable merges Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 standards into one high-performance USB C Thunderbolt cable. With support for up to 40Gbps data transfer, 100W USB-C charging, and high-resolution video, this USB C cable is purpose-built for fast, reliable, and future-ready connectivity.
Fast Power & Data—
This 100W USB C cable supports PD 3.0 charging (20V/5A) for laptops, tablets, and smartphones, while delivering 40Gbps speeds for seamless file transfers. Ideal for creators, gamers, and professionals who rely on fast and efficient data flow via a certified USB4 cable.
Display and Resolution Support—
Achieve crystal-clear visuals with this usb c Thunderbolt cable. Enjoy dual 4K screens at 120Hz or a single 8K screen at 60Hz when paired with compatible hubs or docks. macOS supports up to 4K@60Hz; base M1/M2/M3 Macs support one external display.
Compatibility—
This USB-C Thunderbolt 4 cable is fully compatible with Thunderbolt 3, USB4, USB 3.x/2.0/1.x standards - making it the ultimate Thunderbolt cable for workstations, gaming setups, and mobile use. A perfect USBC data cable across platforms.
Certified and Scrutinized—
The Plugable Thunderbolt 4 cable is meticulously engineered and tested in various environments and scenarios for safety and stability. Plugable’s rigorous quality control ensures compatibility with nearly every USB-C or Thunderbolt port, making it a reliable usb 4 cable for demanding environments.
The Plugable Passive 1M (3.3ft) Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 cable is built to deliver a true Thunderbolt experience. Longer than a Thunderbolt Cable 3ft, you still get 100W Power Delivery, 40Gbps data transfer speeds, and support for two 4K screens or one 8K screen with no loss in performance. And because it’s certified Thunderbolt 4, it can be used as a Thunderbolt 3 cable in your Thunderbolt 3 dock—and that’s true for USB-C and USB4, too.
Thunderbolt 4 and USB4
Thunderbolt 4 or USB4, which is it? Both. And a little more. This cable is Thunderbolt 4 certified, and that comes with some incredible benefits. USB-C, USB4, Thunderbolt 3, or Thunderbolt 4, it doesn’t matter, The Plugable Passive 1M USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 cable will work, and supports data transfer speeds up to 40Gbps, 100W 20V/5A Power Delivery. Even at a full meter, you won't see a decrease in performance.
Endless Connectivity
There's no shortage of situations where a certified Thunderbolt 4 cable can be used. Most people know about the ability to charge devices, but this cable can also support high speed data transfer to and from external drives. Use it to connect to your USB-C monitors, or grab one as a backup cable for your Thunderbolt or USB-C dock. These cables can even be used to connect your laptop to a powerful external GPU (eGPU) for desktop level graphics on your laptop. The possibilities are endless!
33 Million Picture-Perfect Pixels
You have a powerful laptop. You have a high-definition monitor. Don’t sacrifice your resolution to cheap Thunderbolt cables. Plugable’s 1M Passive Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 cables deliver 33 million picture-perfect pixels, either split between two 4K monitors @120Hz, or all on one 8K screen @60Hz.
Universal Compatibility
Thunderbolt 4 allows this cable to be compatible with nearly all USB-C ports. Whether the port is used for charging, data, video, or any combination of the three, this cable can do the job!
The Plugable Thunderbolt 4 Cable can be used with all of your favorite devices, including but not limited to:
Laptops, desktops, tablets, USB-C monitors, USB-C phones including the iPhone 15, gaming handhelds such as the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and ROG Ally, USB-C chargers up to 100W, Thunderbolt Cable USB C, Thunderbolt, USB4, and USB-C docking stations and hubs, eGPU's, Thunderbolt audio interfaces, and so much more!
Note that the cable can only support the maximum capabilites of the port itself, so it will not be able to add charging, data, or video capabilites to devices that don't support it already. Base model M1, M2, and M3 Macbooks will still only support a single external display.
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Yes, Thunderbolt 4 cables can support up to 240W of power allowing you to keep your devices charged, but some cables may not offer the full 240W capability and instead offer a maximum of 100W of Power Delivery.
While both cables are suitable replacements for Thunderbolt 3 docks, Thunderbolt 3 capable devices can be interconnected using a Thunderbolt 4 cable.
With backward compatibility being one of the design criteria Intel used, you'll have the same performance as with a Thunderbolt™ 3 device, so we recommend replacing your Thunderbolt 3 cables with a Thunderbolt 4 cable if a future-proof solution is desired.
Understanding your laptop's video output capabilities is essential when connecting to external displays. This guide will help you identify what video technologies your laptop supports and how to find the relevant information.
Common Video Output Technologies
Modern laptops commonly use one or more of the following technologies to transmit video to external monitors:
1. Thunderbolt 3
Supports video output using the DisplayPort protocol.
Capable of driving up to two 4K displays at 60Hz or one 5K display at 60Hz.
Uses a USB-C connector and features a lightning bolt symbol next to the port.
Note: An example of Thunderbolt 3 ports
2. Thunderbolt 4
Provides improved performance over Thunderbolt 3.
Supports up to two 4K displays at 60Hz or one 8K display.
Uses a USB-C connector with the same lightning bolt symbol but may also include the number "4" for identification.
Note: Thunderbolt 4 has the same physical connection and “lightning” bolt icon as Thunderbolt 3
3. Thunderbolt 5 (As of 2024)
Up to 80 Gbps bi-directional bandwidth (Double that of Thunderbolt 4’s 40 Gbps).
Up to 120 Gbps bandwidth for displays (With Bandwidth Boost — 120 Gbps upstream and 40 Gbps downstream for display-intensive use cases).
Support for dual 6K or 8K displays (Compared to Thunderbolt 4’s dual 4K support).
4. USB-C DisplayPort "Alt Mode"
Allows video output directly through the USB-C port using DisplayPort technology.
Commonly supports one 4K display at 60Hz, but capabilities may vary.
Often marked with a DisplayPort ("DP") symbol, but this feature may also be specified in your system's documentation.
Note: An example of a USB-C port with DisplayPort capabilities
How to Identify Your Laptop's Video Capabilities
To determine what video technologies your laptop supports, follow these steps:
1. Check Your Laptop's User Manual:
Locate your laptop's user manual (often available online from the manufacturer's support site).
Search for keywords like "Thunderbolt," "DisplayPort Alt Mode," or "video output capabilities."
2. Visit the Manufacturer's Website:
Go to the support page for your laptop model and find the technical specifications section.
Look for details on Thunderbolt or USB-C video capabilities.
3. Inspect Your Laptop's Ports:
Check for identifying symbols next to USB-C ports:
Thunderbolt 3/4 ports may have a lightning bolt symbol.
DisplayPort Alt Mode may be marked with a "DP" icon.
“What if I do not have the above technologies?”: USB 3.0 (Type-A) and Display Expansion
While USB 3.0 (Type-A) ports do not support native video output, they can still be used to extend to two or more displays using software-based solutions like DisplayLink or Silicon Motion's InstantView. These technologies enable video through USB-A ports by utilizing dedicated drivers and software.
If your laptop lacks Thunderbolt or USB-C video capabilities, DisplayLink or InstantView may be a viable alternative for expanding your display setup. A few other things to consider:
Not all USB-C ports support video output. Checking your laptop's documentation is crucial to confirm this capability.
Thunderbolt ports are backward compatible with USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode but provide enhanced performance and flexibility.
If you have further questions about connecting your Plugable docking station or adapter to your laptop, please reach out to our support team for guidance.
Many users assume that USB-C devices can work with older Thunderbolt 2 Macs if they use a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter, such as the one made by Apple. However, this is not the case. These adapters are specifically designed to support Thunderbolt devices only -not standard USB-C peripherals.
While Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C share the same connector type, they use different underlying data protocols. Non-Thunderbolt USB-C devices, rely on USB standards for data and power. The Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter does not carry USB signals; it only passes Thunderbolt data. Because of this, plugging a USB-C device into a Thunderbolt 2 Mac using this adapter will not work - the computer will not detect or communicate with the device.
If you need to connect peripherals to a Thunderbolt 2 system, we recommend using a USB-A dock or hub (if available on your system). This ensures compatibility without relying on unsupported adapter chains.
In short, even though the connectors may fit, USB-C devices are not compatible with Thunderbolt 2 Macs via Thunderbolt adapters - only Thunderbolt devices will work in that setup.
All Thunderbolt docking stations include the appropriate Thunderbolt cable in order to connect the docking station to the host computer. As of this writing, all Plugable Thunderbolt host cables that are included with Plugable Thunderbolt docking stations are 1.0 meter (approximately 3.3) feet in overall length.
For reference, the specifications of all Plugable Thunderbolt cables are printed on a small white cable flag attached to the cable itself.
If the original 1.0 meter long Thunderbolt host cable is not sufficient for a specific use case, longer cables of up to 2.0 meters (approximately 6.6 feet) in overall length can be purchased separately from Plugable. An example of such a cable is the Plugable TBT4-40G2M cable
Plugable does NOT support using Thunderbolt host connection cables that are over 2.0 meters in overall length with any Plugable brand product.
Plugable does NOT support the use of any type of Thunderbolt extension cable or any type of signal repeater in conjunction with our products.
Please note, Plugable can only guarantee the performance and compatibility of Plugable brand cables.
All Plugable USB-C docking stations include the appropriate USB-C cable in order to connect the docking station to the host computer. As of this writing, all Plugable USB-C host cables that are included with Plugable USB-C docking stations are 1.0 meter (approximately 3.3) feet in overall length.
For reference, the specifications of all Plugable brand USB-C cables are printed on a small white cable flag attached to the cable itself.
If the original 1.0 meter long USB-C host cable is not sufficient for a specific use case, longer cables of up to 2.0 meters (approximately 6.6 feet) in overall length can be purchased separately from a 3rd-party.
We recommend purchasing a cable that matches or exceeds the specifications of the original Plugable cable and purchasing said cable from both a well known and reliable brand.
Plugable does offer a 1.0 meter long USB-C extension cable (USBC-METER3-1MF) that can be used in conjunction with our USB-C docking stations. This extension cable can be combined with the original 1.0 meter long Plugable USB-C cable included in the box with the docking station to extend the overall cable length to 2.0 meters.
Plugable does NOT support using USB-C host connection cables that are over 2.0 meters in overall length with any Plugable brand product. Additionally, Plugable does NOT support the use of any type of 3rd-party USB-C extension cable or signal repeater in conjunction with our products.
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.
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.
