Dell WD19 Dock with Mac

[tmanto02]

My employer uses Dell computers but I prefer to BYO Macbook pro. The docking station is a Dell WD19 with USB C connectivity. It has Display port and HDMI inputs for dual screens. All of the ports seem to work with my mac, except when trying to connect the two dell monitors it duplicates rather than extending across the two monitors.

Are there any drivers or anything that I can do to make the dock fully functional with my mac?

 

[Stephen.R]

You’ve checked it’s not just display settings set to “mirror”, right?

 

[tmanto02]

You’ve checked it’s not just display settings set to “mirror”, right?

Yep

 

[Crombie914]

I don’t have experience with the wd19, but we deploy wd15 units and we have this same behavior. I remember reading somewhere that it has something to do with USB C display tech that Dell uses in those. If it was a thunderbolt dock, from what I have read, it works perfectly.

 

[TitanBax]

I don’t have experience with the wd19, but we deploy wd15 units and we have this same behavior. I remember reading somewhere that it has something to do with USB C display tech that Dell uses in those. If it was a thunderbolt dock, from what I have read, it works perfectly.

Has anyone resolved this. I have the same problem. It works fine with the Dell Workstations we have, but mirrors on the MAC. We also have D6000 in another region and they work fine, but we have gone to the WD19 as it supports the additional power required.

Cheers

Titan

 

[tmanto02]

Has anyone resolved this. I have the same problem. It works fine with the Dell Workstations we have, but mirrors on the MAC. We also have D6000 in another region and they work fine, but we have gone to the WD19 as it supports the additional power required.

Cheers

Titan

I concluded that it doesn't dual screen with Mac, plug in my second monitor with a diplayport to usb c cord

 

[Stephen.R]

Can someone confirm which model WD19's you're using? There are three variants apparently:

WD19 (USB-C host connection, max 4k@30Hz video)
WD19DC ("Separable Dual DisplayPort over USB-C", max 5k@60Hz) - this, it seems means two USB-C cables from the dock to the host machine
WD19TB (TB3 host connection, max 5K@60Hz video)

Also, what displays are you trying to use it with, at what resolution? Do the PCs where "it works" have exactly the same dock+display combo?

 

[Eitel]

You can only get one monitor over USB-C. In order to get both monitors, you need to use Thunderbolt.

The WD19 dock work with Windows, because Windows supports MST (Multi-Stream Transport), and OSX doesn't.

 

[Lammers]

I have the Thunderbolt version of this dock (WD19TB) and it still doesn’t drive two monitors properly - the Mac still sees one display that the dock mirrors across both.

 

[Stephen.R]

I have the Thunderbolt version of this dock (WD19TB) and it still doesn’t drive two monitors properly - the Mac still sees one display that the dock mirrors across both.

Wow that's crappy. I guess it's still using DP MST to save bandwidth for the rest of the dock.

 

[nihil38]

I got this to work using the Dell WD19TB and a 2017 MacBook Pro MacOS 10.14.6. Two external monitors, one Thunderbolt 3 cable. The hub connects to two screens using a display port and thunderbolt to HDMI adapter, with the adapter connected to the Thunderbolt port (not the UCB-C port). It would not work using any other combination, e.g. HDMI & Display Port. This is the only config that did not mirror the two displays. I have the DisplayLink drivers installed.

 

[testuser1234Dock]

I got this to work using the Dell WD19TB and a 2017 MacBook Pro MacOS 10.14.6. Two external monitors, one Thunderbolt 3 cable. The hub connects to two screens using a display port and thunderbolt to HDMI adapter, with the adapter connected to the Thunderbolt port (not the UCB-C port). It would not work using any other combination, e.g. HDMI & Display Port. This is the only config that did not mirror the two displays. I have the DisplayLink drivers installed.

I just wanted to echo this reply and state that this is my exact experience except I do not have the DisplayLink drivers installed.

Hardware: 2019 15in MBP
OS: Catalina 10.15.2
Dock: Dell WD19TB with 240w power adapter
Monitors: 2x Dell P2417h

Initially ran HDMI and DP to the dock and experienced the "single" monitor mirrored across both. I could open the lid and get the native screen and also this mirrored experience in addition to it. Now, I don't have a USB-C-to-HDMI cable, but I do happen to have a Dell DA300 which we received as a test unit. I moved the HDMI to that and hooked up the USB-C cable from the adapter to the Thunderbolt port, and now I've got the full dual-monitor experience. I've placed an order with my procurement group for some USB-C-to-HDMI cables for testing a direct connection and if that works I'll have a viable dock for my Mac users.

Thanks for all the previous replies and I hope this helps any future lost souls googling this issue.

 

[mattimac]

Hey guys,
i registered here just to confirm that:
- DELL-WD19-130W seems not to work with two but one DP display with mac
HOWEVER
- two DP display work flawlessly on Dell Latitude 5400 over this single USB-C so maybe there is some theoretical way it may work with Mac?

 

[RC_M]

I have a number of Dell WD19tb docks, I can not get them to work with our MacBook Pros. I have tried installing Displaying USB Graphic driver v 5.2.1 and DisplayLink macOS App beta Driver 10.15 and have the same issue; The Mac sees the two monitors as one display and duplicates the display to both monitors. Has anyone found a solution yet?

 

[snomlover]

I have a number of Dell WD19tb docks, I can not get them to work with our MacBook Pros. I have tried installing Displaying USB Graphic driver v 5.2.1 and DisplayLink macOS App beta Driver 10.15 and have the same issue; The Mac sees the two monitors as one display and duplicates the display to both monitors. Has anyone found a solution yet?

It seems that the WD19TB dock internally is using a DisplayPort (DP) MST (MultiStreamTransport)-Link to virtually daisy chain multiple DisplayPort monitors that are connected to the hub. The problem is that Windows natively supports DP-MST but MacOS doesn't. It doesn't matter if you've DisplayLink drivers installed on the Mac or not.

The solution is to plug a regular USB-C-Hub (non Thunderbolt) with built-in display ports (e.g. the DELL DA-300) to the WD19TB's Thunderbolt 3-output port to address a 3rd display.

 

[Hogne Vevle]

So, initially I got dual displays working fine with my MacBook Pro and WD19TB, with a USB-C-Hub connected to the WD19TBs Thunderbolt port as described above.

But get this - a few days later, it has stopped working... Only one display is being detected on the MacBook Pro (the one connected directly to the dock). If I plug both displays directly into the WD19TB, they are mirrored like before, so I know both displays are working fine. I even tried replacing the USB-C-Hub with a brand new (identical) one.

Everything also works fine when I connect my Windows laptop (Dell XPS 15), so it seems something's wrong on the MacBook side.

I've also tried rebooting the Mac, and reconnecting the power to the WD19TB.

Any ideas?

EDIT: Dual displays work again if I connect the USB-C-hub directly to the second USB-C port on my MacBook Pro (i.e. not through the dock)

EDIT2: By dual displays I mean two external displays (in addition to the MBP built-in display)

 

[stellamarie]

So.. this is a little delayed but I figured out a solution.

The Dell WD19 dock. you leave one of the display ports in the dock, connect the DOCK USB-C to the macbook second port.
In the first port you use the dongle (the one that has USB/HDMI/USB-C) -- you directly connect the other monitor to the hdmi on the dongle. All 3 displays work!

 

[Daventry]

Hi,

Does anyone have a Dell WD19TB docking station and use it with two 4k monitors at 60Hz?

My issue is that when I restart or wake my MBP, one of the monitors drops to 30Hz - Mac OS won't let me change its refresh rate.

The only workaround I've got is to connect both monitors to the MBP directly, ensure they're running at 60Hz and then connect them back to the WD19TB.

BTW I'm using a Thunderbolt 3 -> DP cable for both monitors and have upgraded the WD19TB firmware to its latest version.

Thanks in advance.

EDIT: Have just tried another MBP with Mojave and BootCamp - works on both cases. After restarting both monitors keep running at 4k 60Hz. Seems like an issue with Catalina 10.5.5

 

[Flaaandeeers]

Hello. Is there anyone using a Dell WD19 USB-C dock with a Macbook with M1 chip? Any incompatibility issues?
Would there be also a risk of frying the laptop like it happens with PD USB-C hubs?
Thanks

 

[binil116]

I have macbook pro 16" and WD19DC connected to one external monitor. Using mac display as second monitor.

I am not facing any extension issue, but what I have problem is with detecting the display. Sometimes the external monitor won't detect but the mouse and keyboard is okay. And I also see lagging on mac os interface when this occurs.

I then need to reconnect the thunderbolt pin couple of times to properly detect the external display.

Is anyone facing this kind of issue? Is this the problem with firmware update of the docking station? Can someone explain how to check and update the docking station firmware??

Many Thanks,
Binil

 

[elcid123]

I have macbook pro 16" and WD19DC connected to one external monitor. Using mac display as second monitor.

I am not facing any extension issue, but what I have problem is with detecting the display. Sometimes the external monitor won't detect but the mouse and keyboard is okay. And I also see lagging on mac os interface when this occurs.

I then need to reconnect the thunderbolt pin couple of times to properly detect the external display.

Is anyone facing this kind of issue? Is this the problem with firmware update of the docking station? Can someone explain how to check and update the docking station firmware??

Many Thanks,
Binil

I am recently trying to find a dock which works with a DELL Precision 7540 and MacBook Pro 16" as well, at the same time. I am more or less forced to run with WD19DC/DCS, since the Dell Notebook requires more than 200W power supply to connect the dock properly (and thus the annoying dual connector). So here is my question:

Are you able to use the WD19DC with your macbook with a single Thunderbolt connector at all? I am facing the problems you describe in 100% of all cases when i try to connect only one of the two USB-C connectors. My external screen only starts working when i plug in both cables shortly after each other. While the dock itself starts working in this case, i can only connect external displays using HDMI. Trying to use DisplayPort leads to the same "laggy" behaviour without the display working.
Honestly i am kind of lost in the jungle of display protocol standards and can't find the reason for this strange behaviour. I would expect to be able to use my MacBook with a single connector since the power supply and protocols should be compatible and only be required to use the second connector with the energy hungry monster Precision 7540.

While i was writing this answer i tried to connect to the dock using only 1 usb connector with monitor connected via display port and it started to work - so at least it looks like i can confirm the behaviour you are facing. I must admit its completely annoying and disappointing having to find working solutions for hardware being as expensive as these.

The last firmware update for the dock contains the following changes:

- Addressed the condition that results in potential dock connection failure when connected to the system.
- Improved the display compatibility related to isolated combinations of host PCs and monitors.

Right now i have no solution, but i will try flash the update and keep you guys posted.

 

[binil116]

I am recently trying to find a dock which works with a DELL Precision 7540 and MacBook Pro 16" as well, at the same time. I am more or less forced to run with WD19DC/DCS, since the Dell Notebook requires more than 200W power supply to connect the dock properly (and thus the annoying dual connector). So here is my question:

Are you able to use the WD19DC with your macbook with a single Thunderbolt connector at all? I am facing the problems you describe in 100% of all cases when i try to connect only one of the two USB-C connectors. My external screen only starts working when i plug in both cables shortly after each other. While the dock itself starts working in this case, i can only connect external displays using HDMI. Trying to use DisplayPort leads to the same "laggy" behaviour without the display working.
Honestly i am kind of lost in the jungle of display protocol standards and can't find the reason for this strange behaviour. I would expect to be able to use my MacBook with a single connector since the power supply and protocols should be compatible and only be required to use the second connector with the energy hungry monster Precision 7540.

While i was writing this answer i tried to connect to the dock using only 1 usb connector with monitor connected via display port and it started to work - so at least it looks like i can confirm the behaviour you are facing. I must admit its completely annoying and disappointing having to find working solutions for hardware being as expensive as these.

The last firmware update for the dock contains the following changes:



Right now i have no solution, but i will try flash the update and keep you guys posted.

The success rate of connecting the the external monitor using since usb c is 1 out of 10 try only. I have only hdmi support on my monitor, so couldn't really try the DP port.

I also try to connect two USB C simultaneously. But it failed to detect. Can you please explain the way you connecting the two USB C cable from your Dock?

Recently I also noticed that the mac is detecting my external monitor when connected to top USB C. The one near to hinge. I can see the monitor name from the settings. But the signal not coming to the display. But if I connect to bottom USB C it won't show anything at all.

Due to this issues, I am using an USB c adapter just to connect my external display and using my docking station to connect other accessories (NAS, Keyboard, mouse etc..)

I also tried my other dell docking station D6000 which has the display link technology. But again no luck. Its not detecting the display but other accessories are fine.

I have a work laptop which connects to the dell docking station properly. So I am looking to connect my macbook pro also to the same docking station. So that I don't want to reconnect the display all the time..

If I am correct, I understood that you are successfully able to connect the external display via hdmi if you use two usb c cables from the WD19DC docking station. Could you please explain this to me? I am happy to use this way.

To answer your question, I couldn't successfully connect my external display via hdmi using single USB C or two USB C.

Hope this helps.

Thanks,

 

[elcid123]

The success rate of connecting the the external monitor using since usb c is 1 out of 10 try only. I have only hdmi support on my monitor, so couldn't really try the DP port.

I also try to connect two USB C simultaneously. But it failed to detect. Can you please explain the way you connecting the two USB C cable from your Dock?

Recently I also noticed that the mac is detecting my external monitor when connected to top USB C. The one near to hinge. I can see the monitor name from the settings. But the signal not coming to the display. But if I connect to bottom USB C it won't show anything at all.

Due to this issues, I am using an USB c adapter just to connect my external display and using my docking station to connect other accessories (NAS, Keyboard, mouse etc..)

I also tried my other dell docking station D6000 which has the display link technology. But again no luck. Its not detecting the display but other accessories are fine.

I have a work laptop which connects to the dell docking station properly. So I am looking to connect my macbook pro also to the same docking station. So that I don't want to reconnect the display all the time..

If I am correct, I understood that you are successfully able to connect the external display via hdmi if you use two usb c cables from the WD19DC docking station. Could you please explain this to me? I am happy to use this way.

To answer your question, I couldn't successfully connect my external display via hdmi using single USB C or two USB C.

Hope this helps.

Thanks,

I am sorry to disappoint you, i guess i was just lucky since it was a brand new unused dock - i tried to perform it again as i described before without any success. Looks like the docks firmware runs in weird states after some time so now i am facing the exact same behaviour as you are.
One thing i noticed ist that it does not matter whether you use a single or both usb connectors, it will also work with only one cable connected in case it works at all.
I also flashed the new firmware using a windows pc, since macos is not supported officially but i did not notice any changes.
Guess i will just need to deal with it since i have no other option considering the Precision 7540.

Overall completely disappointing - if you do not rely on these specific docking station, i can only encourage you to change to another product. I recently tried the HP G2 which worked perfectly with my MacBook Pro 2019, before i used a Kensington Dock with a late 2016 MacBook. Unfortunately thats not an option for me anymore, since i need a dock which also powers the Dell Notebook.

 

[Jack Neill]

My Early 2020 Air works just fine with my WD19 but my Late 2020 Air M1 doesn't work. I have the latest firmware.

 

[Marty_Macfly]

My Early 2020 Air works just fine with my WD19 but my Late 2020 Air M1 doesn't work. I have the latest firmware.

Hi Jack,

I’ve got a WD19 with work for my work dell laptop. Luckily enough it just worked for me with the M1 MBA, when I plugged her in.


I got the below tip from Amazon, hope that helps and fixes your issue:

.
.
Great docking station, but BIOS update required:

Works fine, but most devices require a BIOS update (just Google for DELL BIOS update and download from DELL). Furthermore, a setting must be made in the BIOS if Bitlocker (Microsoft encryption) is active, namely “Call BIOS (F12 at boot) -> Post Behavior -> Fast Boot -> Thorough -> Save”).
.
.
.


Best wishes
Martin