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HP EliteBook and ZBook Mobile Workstations PCs - USB-C Ports Cannot Power Two Thunderbolt Devices Simultaneously

Two Thunderbolt devices cannot run simultaneously.

Description

The USB-C ports cannot provide power to two (2) Thunderbolt devices simultaneously.

This issue can be seen when:

  • Connecting 2 USB-C Powered Type-C Thunderbolt devices at same time.

  • It does not matter which port was connected first, second device may not connect.

The following scenarios are exhibited:

  • Only the first USB-C powered Thunderbolt device is recognized as a Thunderbolt device.

  • Second Type-C powered Thunderbolt device may not be recognized by system.

  • Second Type-C powered Thunderbolt device may be recognized by system but not function as a Thunderbolt device.

The following messages may be displayed when connecting a second device:

Error message 1:

USB Type-C Connector: USB device is requesting more power than system can provide.

Screen shot of USB device is requesting more power than system can provide.

Error message 2:

USB device might need more power. Your PC might not provide enough power to the USB device. Please connect your device to external power, or try using a different PC.

Screen shot of USB device might need more power. Your PC might not provide enough power to the USB device.

Scope

The information in this document applies to the following:

Computers

  • HP EliteBook 1040 14 inch G9 Notebook PC

  • HP EliteBook 1040 14 inch G10 Notebook PC

  • HP EliteBook 830 13.3 inch G9 Notebook PC

  • HP EliteBook 830 13 inch G10 Notebook PC

  • HP EliteBook 830 G8 Notebook PC

  • HP EliteBook 835 13 inch G10 Notebook PC

  • HP EliteBook 840 14 inch G9 Notebook PC

  • HP EliteBook 840 14 inch G10 Notebook PC

  • HP EliteBook 840 Aero G8 Notebook PC

  • HP EliteBook 840 G8 Notebook PC

  • HP EliteBook 845 14 inch G10 Notebook PC

  • HP EliteBook 850 G8 Notebook PC

  • HP EliteBook 855 G8 Notebook PC

  • HP EliteBook 860 16 inch G9 Notebook PC

  • HP EliteBook 860 16 inch G10 Notebook PC

  • HP EliteBook 865 16 inch G10 Notebook PC

  • HP EliteBook x360 830 G8 Notebook PC

  • HP ZBook Create 15.6 inch G8 Mobile WKS PC

  • HP ZBook Firefly 14 inch G8 Mobile Workstation PC

  • HP ZBook Firefly 14 inch G9 Mobile Workstation PC

  • HP ZBook Firefly 14 inch G10 Mobile Workstation PC

  • HP ZBook Firefly 15.6 inch G8 Mobile Workstation PC

  • HP ZBook Firefly 16 inch G9 Mobile Workstation PC

  • HP ZBook Firefly 16 inch G10 Mobile Workstation PC

  • HP ZBook Fury 16 G9 Mobile Workstation PC

  • HP ZBook Fury 16 G10 Mobile Workstation PC

  • HP ZBook Fury 17.3 inch G8 Mobile Workstation PC

  • HP ZBook Power 15.6 inch G10 A Mobile Workstation PC

  • HP ZBook Power 15.6 inch G8 Mobile Workstation PC

  • HP ZBook Power 15.6 inch G9 Mobile Workstation PC

  • HP ZBook Power 15.6 inch G10 Mobile Workstation PC

  • HP ZBook Firefly 16 inch G11 Mobile Workstation PC

  • HP EliteBook 860 16 inch G11 Notebook PC

  • HP EliteBook 840 14 inch G11 Notebook PC

  • HP EliteBook 830 13 inch G11 Notebook PC

  • HP ZBook Firefly 14 inch G11 Mobile Workstation PC

  • HP ZBook Firefly 14 inch G11 A Mobile Workstation PC

  • HP EliteBook 865 16 inch G11 Notebook PC

  • HP EliteBook 845 14 inch G11 Notebook PC

  • HP EliteBook 835 13 inch G11 Notebook PC

  • HP ZBook Power 16 inch G11 Mobile Workstation PC

  • HP ZBook Power 16 inch G11 A Mobile Workstation PC

  • HP ZBook Studio 16 inch G11 Mobile Workstation PC

  • HP ZBook Fury 16 G11 Mobile Workstation PC

Effective date

04/09/2024

Document Information

Current document version

1

Date

04/09/2024

Resolution

This is working by design.

The Standard USB-C device require 5v/1.5A, the Thunderbolt devices requires 5V/3A.

On computers with two (2) USB-C ports, only one USB-C port can supply 5V/3A at a time. The other USB-C port is switched to 5v/1.5A. The sum of the two ports can only provide up to 4.5A This is an industry standard and not unique to HP products.

The USB-C power balance policy is, the first device plugged in and synced, will get the maximum current of 3A. The current provided to second or third USB-C device synced will be limited up to 1.5A.

This is due to the USB-C power current limitations (5V/3A+5V/1.5A) and USB-C TBT storage device power distribution.

Some Thunderbolt devices may have the ability to switch to lower 1.5A current non-Thunderbolt mode. In non-Thunderbolt mode the devices are still seen by the computer without their Thunderbolt capabilities.

If two Thunderbolt USB-C devices are preferred to be used simultaneously, one must be self-powered. Refer to following list for details.

Thunderbolt USB-C Devices

First Device

Second Device

Result

USB-C Powered Storage

Externally Powered Storage

Pass

Externally Powered Storage

USB-C Powered Storage

Fail

USB-C Powered Storage

USB-C Powered Storage

Fail

Externally Powered Storage

Externally Powered Storage

Pass
Note:

For more information, refer to the following link to the Microsoft reference.

Revision history

This document has been revised according to the information below.

List of versions

Version

Description

Date

1

Initial Release

04/09/2024

Legal Information

Notice:

The information in this document, including products and software versions, is current as of the release date.The document is subject to change without notice.

© Copyright 2024 HP Development Company, L.P.

HP Inc. shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.The information provided is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind.To the extent permitted by law, neither HP or its affiliates, subcontractors or suppliers will be liable for incidental, special or consequential damages including downtime cost; lost profits; damages relating to the procurement of substitute products or services; or damages for loss of data, or software restoration.The information in this document is subject to change without notice.HP Inc. and the names of HP products referenced herein are trademarks of HP Inc. in the United States and other countries.Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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