Dell Docking Station not working on Windows 11

The Dell Docking station is a must-have tech as computers and laptops limit our ports. The docking system lets you connect different peripherals to your laptop or PC, such as an external monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc. However, what if your Dell Docking Station is not working on Windows 11?

That is undoubtedly something to worry about. But don’t worry; this post will discuss several issues with the Dell Docking station and how to fix them. So here we go.

There can be multiple reasons why the docking station won’t work on a Windows PC. Here is a list of troubleshooting steps to help you with various issues.

Docking station does not power on
No Video
The video on the attached monitor is distorted or flickering.
The video on the attached monitor is not displaying as an Extended Monitor.
The audio connector is not functioning, or there is a lag in the audio (WD19DC only)
LAN Port Is Not Functioning
Other Troubleshooting Methods

Fix Dell Docking Station not working on Windows 11

Make sure you have a clear understanding of the hardware before going ahead. Also, ensure you have the latest BIOS and drivers on your PC and docking station.

1] Docking station does not power on

One of the common errors with the Dell Docking station is that it does not power on. However, this can be easily fixed by following the below steps:

First, disconnect all the cables from the docking station, including the AC adapter.
Next, check the LED on the AC adapter plug and see if the LED is off. If it’s so, then do try using another AC adapter and see if it’s working. If that’s not the case, go to the next step.
Next, let your docking station perform an auto reset. Ensure not to connect cables to the docking system for 3 minutes.
After that, connect the AC adapter to the docking station, and the LED on the power button will flash 3 times to indicate that it has passed the self-test.
Next, power on the docking station and see if the LED on the power button remains lit.
Finally, if the docking station does not power on after following the above steps, contact Dell Technical Support.

2] No Video

Another standard error is that you don’t get video output on the docking system’s external monitors connected to the HDMI or DisplayPort port. To fix this, you can follow the below steps:

Securely connect your PC or laptop to the docking station.
After that, disconnect both ends of the video cable and check for damaged or bent pins. Securely reconnect the cable to the monitor and docking station.
Also, ensure that the HDMI or DisplayPort cables are correctly connected to the monitor and the docking system. Also, connect to the correct video source for your monitor.
After that, do check the resolution settings on your laptop. Your monitor may support higher resolutions than the docking station can support. So you must adjust the resolution settings for your secondary monitor.
If the monitor is connected to the docking system, your laptop’s video output may be disabled. To enable the video output, go to the Windows control panel.
Finally, you should also go to Windows Display properties and select and check output settings for the secondary monitor.

3] The video on the attached monitor is distorted or flickering

If the video on the secondary monitor is flickering or you are getting a distorted video output, follow the below steps:

First, reset the monitor to Factory defaults. Check with the OEM manual to find out about it.
Next, ensure that the HDMI or DisplayPort cables are connected securely to the monitor or the docking station.
After that, power off the docking station by disconnecting the Type-C cable and removing the power adapter from the dock.
Next, power the docking station by connecting a power adapter to the dock before connecting the Type-C cable to your laptop.
Finally, undock and reboot the laptop if the above steps don’t work.

Read: How to find docking station in Device Manager

4] The video on the attached monitor is not displaying as an Extended Monitor

If you are facing trouble while setting up the secondary monitor as an extended monitor, then follow the below steps:

First, ensure the Intel HD graphics driver is installed on your PC. You can confirm this by going to Device Manager.
Next, ensure that NVIDIA or AMD Graphics drivers are installed on your computer, depending on your GPU manufacturer.
Finally, open the Windows Display Settings, go to Multiple Displays control, and set the display to the extended mode.

Read: Fix Video Stuttering and Lagging issues in Windows

5] The audio connector is not functioning, or there is a lag in the audio (WD19DC only)

If you are using Dell Docking Station model WD19DC and your audio connector is malfunctioning, the steps below will help you. However, the below steps won’t apply to other docking station models.

Enable the Audio option in the BIOS.
Ensure that the correct playback device is selected on your computer. You can check this by clicking the speakers’ icon in the Windows system tray > Sound settings.
Next, try replugging the audio cable to the external speaker output on the docking station.
You should also power off the docking station by disconnecting the Type-C cable and removing the power adapter from the dock.
Then, power the docking station by connecting the power adapter to the dock before connecting the Type-C cable to your laptop.

6] USB Ports Are Not Functioning

If the USB ports on your Dell docking station have stopped working, then do follow the below steps:

If your BIOS setup has a USB Enabled/Disabled option, set it to Enabled.
Next, go to Device Manager and see if Windows detects the device.
Also, ensure the docking station is connected securely to your laptop. After that, try disconnecting and reconnecting the docking station to the laptop.
You should also check your USB ports and see if they are being detected by plugging them into another port.
Finally, power off the docking station by disconnecting the Type-C cable and removing the power adapter from the dock.
Then, power the docking station by connecting the power adapter to the dock before connecting the Type-C cable to your laptop.

7] LAN Port Is Not Functioning

If your LAN port is not working, then follow the below steps:

Ensure that the RealTek Gigabit Ethernet Controller is installed on your PC.
Also, if your BIOS Setup has a LAN/GBE Enabled/Disabled option, set it to Enabled.
Ensure the Ethernet cable is connected securely to the docking station and the hub, router, or firewall.
Check the status LED of the Ethernet cable to confirm connectivity. Then reconnect both ends of the Ethernet cable and check if the LED is not lit.

Read: Fixed: Accidentally deleted Ethernet, WiFi, or Network Adapter driver

8] Other Troubleshooting Methods

Apart from the above troubleshooting steps, many minor errors can happen with your Dell docking station. These errors and their fixes are:

The HDCP content is not displayed on the attached monitor: Make sure you have Dell Docking station WD19 or WD19S, as both models support HDCP 2.2. Also, your external monitor should support HDCP 2.2.
Cable LED is not ON after it is connected to your host: Ensure that the docking system is connected to the power adapter and your laptop to the docking station. You can also try disconnecting and reconnecting both devices for a proper connection.
A USB port has no function in a pre-OS environment: Enable USB Boot support and External USB Port.
PXE boot on the dock does not function: Enable USB Boot support.
USB Boot does not function: Enable USB Boot support and External USB Port via the Boot menu.
Peripherals connected to the docking station do not work in a pre-OS environment: Enable the external USB port via the boot menu.
You have attached an undersized power adapter to your computer: First, ensure that your docking station is connected correctly and your laptop runs 130w power input. Then turn off the docking station by disconnecting the Type-C cable and removing the power adapter from the dock. Then, turn on the docking station by connecting the power adapter to the dock before connecting the Type-C cable to your laptop.

In conclusion, to fix the isue where your Dell Docking Station is not working on Windows 11, you can try updating the drivers and firmware for the docking station. Also, you must check your USB connections and power supply and ensure that the docking station is correctly recognized in the Windows. If you still encounter an error, consider seeking help from Dell Technical Support.

How do I reset my Dell docking station?

To reset a Dell docking station, unplug it from power and disconnect all peripherals. Wait a few minutes to discharge residual power. Then, reconnect the docking station to power your computer, then reattach the peripherals.

How do I update my Dell docking station firmware?

To upgrade the firmware of your Dell docking station, start by identifying the model and visiting Dell’s support website. Download the most recent firmware update specific to your docking station. Connect the docking station to your computer and ensure it is powered on. Launch the firmware update utility and follow the on-screen guidelines to initiate the update. While the update is in progress, do not unplug the dock. Confirm the successful update by verifying the firmware version.