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iPad Pro USBC Hub Pass Through Charging Never Works on iPad Pro

N

Night_Ink

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 24, 2020
38
13
Hey everyone-

So I’ve had this 2020 iPad Pro model since it came out, and I’ve never gotten a usbc hub to actually work with it. I’ve tried 7 or 8 by now, and the “power pass through” option never works, it’s as if it’s being blocked by the iPad.
Otherwise, the regular USB ports will work intermittently.
It’s getting to the point where I may need to just sell this thing and get a regular laptop.
Any ideas?
 
I’m using the charger and cable that came with the iPad. It was my understanding that it’s pass-through power on the hub, and that you should just use the power supply and cable that came with your iPad.
 
Night_Ink said:
I’m using the charger and cable that came with the iPad. It was my understanding that it’s pass-through power on the hub, and that you should just use the power supply and cable that came with your iPad.
Click to expand...

It is not 100% pass-through. I use a 65W charger because, as I noted, a hub uses power itself and a more powerful charger is required.
 
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sparksd said:
It is not 100% pass-through. I use a 65W charger because, as I noted, a hub uses power itself and a more powerful charger is required.
Click to expand...
That’s good to hear. So what you’re saying is, that the hubs advertise themselves to be pass-through power, are not really pass-through power?


If so, that’s fine, I just can’t seem to find any info out there that says you need to get a more powerful charger if you use a hub. Everything says to just use the stock power supply.
 
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Night_Ink said:
That’s good to hear. So what you’re saying is, that the hubs advertise themselves to be pass-through power, are not really pass-through power?


If so, that’s fine, I just can’t seem to find any info out there that says you need to get a more powerful charger if you use a hub. Everything says to just use the stock power supply.
Click to expand...

Pass-through with a tax. The description for my hub reads "Supports up to 100W (minus 15W for operation)". And peripherals you attach to the hub will also draw power from the charger input.
 
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See? I’ve owned this iPad for almost two years, and have tried so many hubs, and nowhere is this info readily available. “In order to use a hub, you also need a higher-wattage power adapter than what is included with the iPad.” That sentence on Apple’s iPad page would make a huge difference.

So let’s spell this out-

In order to use a usbc hub on a iPad Pro, and charge your iPad at the same time, you will need a higher wattage power supply than what comes stock with the iPad Pro. This is because the iPad requires exactly the amount of power that comes from the stock power adapter. The addition of any hub, and therefor any peripherally connected accessories, will draw power away from the iPad Pro, and charging will not happen.

Would we agree that this is a true statement?
 
Night_Ink said:
See? I’ve owned this iPad for almost two years, and have tried so many hubs, and nowhere is this info readily available. “In order to use a hub, you also need a higher-wattage power adapter than what is included with the iPad.” That sentence on Apple’s iPad page would make a huge difference.

So let’s spell this out-

In order to use a usbc hub on a iPad Pro, and charge your iPad at the same time, you will need a higher wattage power supply than what comes stock with the iPad Pro. This is because the iPad requires exactly the amount of power that comes from the stock power adapter. The addition of any hub, and therefor any peripherally connected accessories, will draw power away from the iPad Pro, and charging will not happen.

Would we agree that this is a true statement?
Click to expand...

Don't know about "exactly" but I believe the gist of this is true. Apple could probably care less about stating that, though.
 
sparksd said:
Don't know about "exactly" but I believe the gist of this is true. Apple could probably care less about stating that, though.
Click to expand...
Oh for sure, it’s clear that they don’t care, but it’s strange that they offer this powerful “Pro” device, with only one usbc port, and not expect users to add to the system with hubs and peripherals.
 
Night_Ink said:
Oh for sure, it’s clear that they don’t care, but it’s strange that they offer this powerful “Pro” device, with only one usbc port, and not expect users to add to the system with hubs and peripherals.
Click to expand...

I'm sure their view is that by interjecting another vendor's device (or devices with peripherals attached to the hub) between their charger and your iPad, all bets on performance are off. I'd agree with that. It's up to the hub vendor to state what power requirements the hub itself has. And the user needs to understand that additional peripherals attached to the hub will increase the overall power requirements. Apple made a charger for an iPad, not for an iPad plus an indeterminate set of add-ons.
 
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I use the Apple adapter (with HDMI) and it's always worked with whatever USB-C charger and cable I give it. I have the 2018 iPad Pro with type-C.

I also have another hub that works (non-Apple), I think it worked the last time I used it (don't really use it that much). Also works with my Thunderbolt dock, but that supplies its own power, it's the same mechanism to the iPad as pass-through power on an adapter.

Maybe your iPad is defective. I would try resetting it entirely first, then trying Apple's official adapter, then taking it up with Apple Support if it doesn't work.
 
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That’s really interesting to hear about your adapter experience. I’ve tried so many adapters at this point, that I find it hard to believe that it’s the adapter or power supply.


I’d take it up with Apple, but In my experience, they are less than helpful or knowledgeable about anything as specific as this. I usually end up wasting an hour on the phone with tech support.
sparksd said:
I'm sure their view is that by interjecting another vendor's device (or devices with peripherals attached to the hub) between their charger and your iPad, all bets on performance are off. I'd agree with that. It's up to the hub vendor to state what power requirements the hub itself has. And the user needs to understand that additional peripherals attached to the hub will increase the overall power requirements. Apple made a charger for an iPad, not for an iPad plus an indeterminate set of add-ons.
Click to expand...
that’s a good point. I guess I just figured that there was plenty of power on tap to charge the iPad & run a couple of devices via usb. None of that info is specifically stated anywhere. And the issue of it not charging happens both when just the hub is connected, and if devices are connected to the hub’s ports. The weird thing is that in researching hubs, I’ve watched lots of YouTube vids of people testing and using hubs with their IPP’s , and read a lot of articles online where the reviewers have used hubs with no problems.

So after trying quite a few different brands of hubs, and none of them worked, it started to get frustrating and got me thinking that either my IPad Pro is not working right, or I’m missing something about how this works.
 
Night_Ink said:
That’s really interesting to hear about your adapter experience. I’ve tried so many adapters at this point, that I find it hard to believe that it’s the adapter or power supply.


I’d take it up with Apple, but In my experience, they are less than helpful or knowledgeable about anything as specific as this. I usually end up wasting an hour on the phone with tech support.

that’s a good point. I guess I just figured that there was plenty of power on tap to charge the iPad & run a couple of devices via usb. None of that info is specifically stated anywhere. And the issue of it not charging happens both when just the hub is connected, and if devices are connected to the hub’s ports. The weird thing is that in researching hubs, I’ve watched lots of YouTube vids of people testing and using hubs with their IPP’s , and read a lot of articles online where the reviewers have used hubs with no problems.

So after trying quite a few different brands of hubs, and none of them worked, it started to get frustrating and got me thinking that either my IPad Pro is not working right, or I’m missing something about how this works.
Click to expand...
Can you get your hands on a more powerful charger to test? That would be your best bet.
 
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jaytv111 said:
I use the Apple adapter (with HDMI) and it's always worked with whatever USB-C charger and cable I give it. I have the 2018 iPad Pro with type-C.

I also have another hub that works (non-Apple), I think it worked the last time I used it (don't really use it that much). Also works with my Thunderbolt dock, but that supplies its own power, it's the same mechanism to the iPad as pass-through power on an adapter.

Maybe your iPad is defective. I would try resetting it entirely first, then trying Apple's official adapter, then taking it up with Apple Support if it doesn't work.
Click to expand...

The HDMI adapter - I also have one - doesn't need external power in and of itself, unlike many hubs which support multiple, different ports, ports which themselves can handle peripherals requiring power (e.g., hard drive). It does a true pass-through charge.
 
Night_Ink said:
Hey everyone- thanks so much for your help. I wanted to report that I bought a 60 watt Anker charger and the hub, pass-through charging, iPad, and connected devices all work as they should.
Click to expand...

Excellent to hear and thanks for updating the thread with your results.
 
Night_Ink said:
Hey everyone- thanks so much for your help. I wanted to report that I bought a 60 watt Anker charger and the hub, pass-through charging, iPad, and connected devices all work as they should.
Click to expand...
I have the Anker USB-C Hub 341 and everything works except pass thru charging on my iPad Pro M2. Would you mind sharing the exact model numbers of the hub and charger you purchased that are working properly?

Thanks so much.
 
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rocky67z said:
I have the Anker USB-C Hub 341 and everything works except pass thru charging on my iPad Pro M2. Would you mind sharing the exact model numbers of the hub and charger you purchased that are working properly?

Thanks so much.
Click to expand...

Had to dig around a bit but I found my Anker 341 hub - I had updated to the 555 from it. I tried it with a 65W PD charger from RAVPower and it does work with pass-through. Most of the chargers I use are 60-65W PD.
 
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sparksd said:
Had to dig around a bit but I found my Anker 341 hub - I had updated to the 555 from it. I tried it with a 65W PD charger from RAVPower and it does work with pass-through. Most of the chargers I use are 60-65W PD.
Click to expand...
Thank you @sparksd. I appreciate you trying that out with your old 341. I am going to order the Anker charger you recommended. Until I receive that particular charger, I discovered a very odd (unexpected) workaround. I plugged my wife’s Nintendo Switch USB-C charger into the 341 PD port and it worked nicely. It charged my iPad up and kept it charged for several hours.

Currently, I’m using the 341 with that charger, Samsung 4K monitor, Logitech back-lit wired keyboard and mouse and a Samsung T5 SSD. I couldn’t be more pleased with the configuration, performance and experience overall (including Stage Manager). I have been waiting for this improvement for a long while.
 
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Night_Ink said:
See? I’ve owned this iPad for almost two years, and have tried so many hubs, and nowhere is this info readily available. “In order to use a hub, you also need a higher-wattage power adapter than what is included with the iPad.” That sentence on Apple’s iPad page would make a huge difference.

So let’s spell this out-

In order to use a usbc hub on a iPad Pro, and charge your iPad at the same time, you will need a higher wattage power supply than what comes stock with the iPad Pro. This is because the iPad requires exactly the amount of power that comes from the stock power adapter. The addition of any hub, and therefor any peripherally connected accessories, will draw power away from the iPad Pro, and charging will not happen.

Would we agree that this is a true statement?
Click to expand...
Not 100% true. The iPad requires what the iPad requires. The hub requires what the hub requires. The power supply has to be big enough to support both of those. Apple doesn't know what sort of hub or IF you'll be connecting a hub, so it's not up to them to alert you to this concern.
 
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