ThinkPad USB-C Dock Gen 2 User Guide

1. About the Dock

The dock is an expansion module. It allows connection of a compatible computer to a local area network (LAN) and multiple devices, such as a headset, external displays, and Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices.

2. In the Box

• ThinkPad USB-C Dock Gen 2
• AC power adapter
• Power cord
• USB-CTM cable
• Documentation

3. Overview

The ThinkPad USB-C Dock Gen 2 provides a comprehensive set of ports for expanding your computer's connectivity. The following describes the key components and their locations:

Dock Layout

Top/Rear View (as depicted in diagrams):

• 1: Power button: Controls the dock's power. Indicator lights show status (Amber for On, Off for Off). When connected to a computer and AC power, it reflects the computer's status (Solid white: On, Blinking white: Sleep, Off: Off/Hibernation).
• 2: Security-lock slot: For attaching a compatible security cable lock.
• 3: Audio connector: A 3.5-mm (0.14-inch) 4-pole connector for headphones or headsets.
• 4: USB 3.1 Gen 2 connector: For connecting USB-compatible devices, supporting data transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps.
• 5: USB-C connector (USB 3.1 Gen 2): For connecting USB-C compatible devices, supporting data transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps.
• 6: USB-C connector (for connecting computer): Connects the dock to your computer using the provided USB-C cable.
• 7: Power connector: Connects to the AC power adapter and power cord.
• 8: DisplayPort connector: For connecting an external display via a DisplayPort cable.
• 9: DisplayPort connector: A second DisplayPort connector for an additional external display.
• 11: Ethernet connector: For connecting to a local area network (LAN) via an Ethernet cable. It features two status indicators: green for LAN connection and blinking yellow for data transmission.
• 12, 13: USB 2.0 connectors: For connecting USB-compatible devices such as keyboards or mice. For optimal data transfer, it is recommended to use USB 3.1 connectors for USB 3.1 devices.
• 14: Always On USB 3.1 connector Gen 2: Supports charging USB-compatible devices (up to 5V, 3A) and data transfer at USB 3.1 speed (up to 10 Gbps).
• 15: HDMI™ connector: For connecting an external display via an HDMI cable.

Connection Diagram

The setup involves connecting the AC power adapter to the power cord, then to the dock's power connector (7). The dock connects to the computer via the USB-C connector (6) using the accompanying USB-C cable.

4. Set up the dock

4.1 Install the dock

Use the accompanying AC power adapter, power cord, and USB-C cable to install the dock. The dock supplies power to the computer when connected to AC power and the computer.

4.2 Install the dock driver

The dock driver is preinstalled on compatible computers. The dock is ready for use after connecting it to AC power and the computer.

5. Use the dock

5.1 Use the video output connectors

The dock supports up to three external displays via its video output connectors:

• Two DisplayPort connectors (support DisplayPort 1.4)
• One HDMI connector (supports HDMI 2.0)

5.2 Configure the external displays

External displays connected to the dock can be configured for:

• Display mode: extend, mirror, duplicate, or single display.
• Orientation, brightness, resolution, color, and other settings.

5.3 To configure the external displays:

1. Right-click a blank area on the desktop and select Display settings (Windows 10).
2. Select the desired display.
3. Configure display settings as preferred.

5.4 Use the Ethernet connector

The Ethernet connector allows connection to a standard 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps, or 1000 Mbps network using an Ethernet cable.

The Ethernet connector has two network status indicators: a green indicator signifies connection to a LAN, while a blinking yellow indicator indicates data transmission.

5.5 Use the audio connector

To use the audio connector, ensure the dock is set as the default audio device on your computer.

To set the dock as the default audio device:

1. Right-click the speaker icon in the Windows notification area and select Playback devices. The Sound window will appear.
2. In the Playback tab, select "ThinkPad USB-C Dock Gen2 USB Audio" and click Set Default.
3. In the Recording tab, select "ThinkPad USB-C Dock Gen2 USB Audio" and click Set Default.
4. Click OK.

Note: Applications using audio devices may need to be restarted for changes to take effect.

6. Troubleshooting

General

a. The dock does not work after connecting to my computer.

Ensure that:

• The accompanying AC power adapter, power cord, and USB-C cable are used.
• The dock is powered by its power adapter. It requires an external power adapter for operation and is not powered solely by the USB-C cable connected to the computer.
• The dock driver is installed on your computer.
• The USB-C connector on your computer functions correctly.

b. Interrupted wireless keyboard or mouse (2.4 GHz) function.

The mouse pointer lags or does not move, and some characters are lost during keyboard input. Connect the wireless device receiver to a USB 2.0 connector on the dock.

c. Mouse or keyboard cannot wake up the computer.

When connected to the Always On USB 3.1 connector Gen 2 on the dock, the mouse or keyboard may not wake the computer. Connect the mouse or keyboard to a USB 2.0 connector on the dock.

d. Slow charging speed for devices.

For devices like smartphones, if charging speed is slow, connect the device to the Always On USB 3.1 connector Gen 2 on the dock.

e. My computer cannot be charged by the dock.

Ensure that:

• The accompanying AC power adapter, power cord, and USB-C cable are used for setup.
• The USB-C connector on your computer supports AC input.

Audio

Issue: I cannot hear anything through the headphone or headset connected to the dock.

Solution: Enable the audio connector on the dock. Refer to the "Use the audio connector" section.

Video output

1. The external display is blank.

Ensure that:

• Your computer is running correctly and is not in sleep or hibernation mode. External displays are blank in these modes.
• The dock is securely connected to AC power, the computer, and the external display.
• The dock driver is installed on your computer.

Also, try reducing the resolution of the external display.

2. Cannot play back videos on the external display.

Some computers do not support High-bandwidth Digital-content Copy Protection (HDCP), preventing playback of protected videos on the external display connected to the dock. To resolve this, connect the external display to a DisplayPort or HDMI connector on your computer and set the display mode to extend or single-display mode.

3. Images on the external display flutter.

Ensure the display cable is securely connected to the dock. Try disconnecting and reconnecting the display cable.

4. Incorrect colors on the external display.

Ensure the display cable is securely connected to the dock. Adjust the color settings of the external display as described in "Configure the external displays".

5. Playback stops when dragging window to external display and maximizing.

Update your Adobe Flash Player program to the latest version.

External Resources

For further support, visit: https://support.lenovo.com/