docking station

[jennyb128]

Can i use my HP pavilion with a dell docking station wd15 ? I cant figure out what do with the power cord that came with the laptop 

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @jennyb128,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

I understand you want to use your HP Pavilion laptop with a Dell WD15 docking station and are unsure what to do with the laptop’s power adapter. Let’s go through the details.

Dell WD15 docking compatibility
The Dell WD15 is designed primarily for Dell laptops with USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode and Power Delivery (PD).
It can provide video, USB, and Ethernet over a single USB-C cable if your HP Pavilion supports USB-C PD and DisplayPort Alt Mode.

Power delivery considerations

The WD15 can deliver up to 45W of power.

Many HP Pavilion laptops require more than 45W (often 65–90W) to charge while in use.

If the docking station does not provide enough power, the laptop may slow charge or not charge at all.

Using your laptop’s power adapter
If your HP Pavilion needs more than the WD15 can provide, you should continue using the original HP power adapter.
Plug the adapter directly into the laptop; the docking station can still handle USB devices and monitors, but the laptop draws power from its own charger.

Practical setup

Connect the WD15 docking station to the laptop via USB-C.

Plug external monitors, keyboard, mouse, and Ethernet into the dock.

Connect your HP power adapter directly to the laptop to ensure proper charging and performance.

Alternative
If you want full laptop charging via the dock, you would need a dock that supports higher power delivery (65W+) compatible with HP laptops.

Summary:

You can use the WD15 dock for peripherals, but charging may be insufficient.

Keep using your HP power adapter with the laptop.

Dock handles monitors, USB, and Ethernet; laptop draws power from its own charger.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

[jennyb128]

I did try hooking everything up and the laptop is not recognizing that i have 2 additional monitors. One thing I failed to mention is that my laptop is running Win 11- I briefly looked at the Dell Website for the WD15 and its not compatible with Win 11  from what I can tell ? would that be reason I cant see the additional monitors? 

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @jennyb128,

Thank you for the response.

I understand your HP Pavilion laptop running Windows 11 is not detecting the two external monitors when connected through the Dell WD15 docking station. Let’s go through a few steps to check what could be causing this.

Confirm USB-C video support on the HP Pavilion
Not all USB-C ports support video output.
Check your HP Pavilion specifications to confirm the USB-C port supports DisplayPort Alt Mode. If it does not, external monitors will not work through the dock.

Windows 11 compatibility clarification
The WD15 is not officially validated for Windows 11 by Dell, but it can still function at a basic level.
Lack of official support does not usually block monitor detection entirely, but missing drivers can.

Install or update the WD15 dock drivers
Windows 11 may not automatically load the correct dock firmware or DisplayLink components.
Install the latest WD15 dock firmware and drivers from Dell’s support site while the dock is connected.

Check display detection settings in Windows
Right-click the desktop > Display settings > Multiple displays.
Click “Detect” to force Windows to search for external monitors.

Verify monitor connection types
The WD15 supports HDMI, mini-DisplayPort, and VGA, but not all ports work simultaneously in some configurations.
Test one monitor at a time and avoid using mixed adapters if possible.

Power limitation impact
If the dock is underpowered or the laptop is drawing power from its own adapter, video output should still work.
However, unstable power can cause monitors not to initialize correctly—keep the HP charger connected directly to the laptop.

Test direct monitor connection
If possible, connect one monitor directly to the laptop (HDMI or USB-C adapter).
If this also fails, the issue is likely with the laptop’s graphics output rather than the dock.

Graphics driver update
Update the Intel or AMD graphics driver from HP’s website for your exact Pavilion model.
Outdated graphics drivers are a common reason external displays are not detected.

In most cases, the issue is related to USB-C video support or missing dock/graphics drivers rather than Windows 11 itself. Following the steps above should help determine where the limitation is.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

[jennyb128]

My HP pavilion USBC port does not accept video output as you said below, I did connect one of my monitors using the HDMI port and the monitor does work directly connected .

I ordered a display link docking station & a HDMI male to VGA female video converter ( for my 2nd monitor that has a vga cable)  and when it gets delivered, I will get it set up and see if that works . thanks for the feedback 

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @jennyb128,

Thank you for the update, and great troubleshooting on your end. 👍

You’re absolutely right  since your HP Pavilion’s USB-C port does not support video output, the Dell WD15 would not be able to drive external monitors, which explains why Windows never detected the additional displays. The fact that your monitor works when connected directly via HDMI confirms that the laptop’s graphics output itself is working correctly.

Your plan going forward makes perfect sense:

A DisplayLink-based docking station is the correct solution for laptops whose USB-C ports do not support DisplayPort Alt Mode. DisplayLink handles video over USB using software, so it does not rely on native USB-C video output.

Using an HDMI-to-VGA adapter for the second monitor is also fine, as long as the adapter is active (most HDMI-to-VGA adapters are).

Once your new dock arrives, a couple of tips for setup:

Install the DisplayLink driver when prompted (or manually if needed) before connecting all monitors.

Keep your HP power adapter connected directly to the laptop for proper charging and performance.

After everything is connected, check Display Settings > Multiple displays and click Detect if needed.

You’ve taken the right path, and your setup choice should resolve the multi-monitor issue on Windows 11. Feel free to update the thread once the new dock arrives, and we can fine-tune the setup if needed.

Thanks again for following up, and I’m glad the root cause is now clear 😊

Best regards,