Can you charge through USB C hub?

[RustyFox]

As the title says, can you charge through a USB C hub?

I've just ordered a new MacBook Pro, if I plug into it a USB C hub (to allow me to connect ethernet and my external display), can I also plug the charger into the hub or does that have to plug directly into the MacBook?

 

[mick2]

The hub needs to support pass-through power delivery. If it does, you can plug your MBP power adapter into a port on the hub and this will supply power to te other ports in the hub, including charging the MBP.

 

[RustyFox]

The hub needs to support pass-through power delivery. If it does, you can plug your MBP power adapter into a port on the hub and this will supply power to te other ports in the hub, including charging the MBP.

Ah OK, so does not every USB C hub support pass-through power?

 

[mroy16]

Correct. My MBP is currently plugged into two adaptors - one that gives me USB type A and ethernet, and one that gives me HDMI. The second adaptor has pass-through charging, but the first doesn't. When looking at hubs, it should clearly indicate whether it supports pass-through charging, and if there's a limit to how much power it can pass to your laptop.

 

[dwig]

Ah OK, so does not every USB C hub support pass-through power?

To be clear, the "pass through power" is officially named "Power Delivery" (a formal name so the capitalization is important) and frequently "PD" for short. Look for this very specific wording as your guide.

 

[RustyFox]

Ok great, appreciate it thanks. Going to make my setup a lot neater. When I currently ‘dock’ my MacBook Air I have to plug in 3 cables - charger, USB hub ethernet adapter and thunderbolt display cable. So hoping now I can find 1 USB C hub that has all those