thunderbolt port not working

[OM105]

hi i have hp spectre x360 13-ae0xx, its thunderbolt port stopped working and its not connecting to lenovo tunderbolt gen 2  dock, a month ago it was working fine.

[zoey7886]

@OM105, Welcome to the HP Support Community!  

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding Thunderbolt Port Issues on HP Spectre x360! 

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

If your HP Spectre x360's Thunderbolt port has stopped working, here's a step-by-step guide to help diagnose and resolve the issue:

Update BIOS and Thunderbolt Drivers:

• Ensure your BIOS is up-to-date. You can check and update it through HP Support Assistant or directly from HP's website.
• Update Intel Thunderbolt software which includes the firmware version for the Thunderbolt controller as well as the operating system drivers.

Check Thunderbolt Port Settings:

• Access the BIOS setup by pressing the F10 key during boot.
• Confirm that the Thunderbolt port settings are correct and enabled.

Reset User Account Settings to Default:

• Sometimes user settings might cause connectivity issues. Reset these to default from the BIOS setup.

Verify Cable Connections:

• Ensure that the cables are properly connected and there are no visible signs of damage.

Test the Thunderbolt Device:

• Confirm that the Thunderbolt device is detected in Windows Device Manager. If not, try testing with a verified working Thunderbolt device or cable.

Perform a Hardware Reset:

• Power off your notebook and remove any connected peripherals.
• Press and hold the power button for about 15 seconds to reset the system. This can sometimes help resolve underlying hardware issues.  

Hope this helps! 

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, Please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!  

Regards, 

[OM105]

I have update bios, checked with working thunderbolt hub it was detected, I did hard reset. it is still not detecting my Lenovo thunderbolt dock gen 2. I varified from other laptop that this lenovo gen 2 hub firmware is upto date.

[zoey7886]

@OM105, Thanks for trying those steps and confirming the updates — that’s very helpful. Since your Spectre x360 detects other Thunderbolt devices but not the Lenovo Thunderbolt Dock Gen 2, it points to a potential compatibility or security setting issue rather than a hardware fault.

Here are a few things to check:

Thunderbolt Security Level

Go into your BIOS (F10 at startup) → Advanced → Port Options or Thunderbolt Settings.

Make sure the Security Level is set to No Security or User Authorization. If set to “Secure Connect,” you may need to manually approve the dock in Windows.

Approve the Device in Thunderbolt Control Center

Install or open the Thunderbolt Control Center from the Microsoft Store.

If the dock appears under “Attached Devices,” click Approve and Always Connect.

Check Power Delivery & Cable

Some docks require a high-speed, 40 Gbps-rated Thunderbolt 3/4 cable. Try the original Lenovo cable that came with the dock.

Device Manager Check

In Device Manager → System Devices, look for “Thunderbolt Controller” and ensure there are no warnings.

If you see the dock listed but disabled, right-click and enable it.

Windows Fast Startup

Disable Fast Startup in Control Panel → Power Options → Choose what the power buttons do. Sometimes Thunderbolt devices aren’t reinitialized properly with Fast Startup on.

Hope this helps! 

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, Please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!  

Regards, 

[OM105]

thunderbolt controller is good in system devices, all other hardware is working an tested on other laptop to verify functionality. my bios on is  AMI F38 and it does not have any advance or port setting option.

[zoey7886]

@OM105, thanks for sharing that extra detail — very useful.

Since your Spectre x360 is running BIOS version AMI F38 and doesn’t show advanced/port settings for Thunderbolt, that narrows things down. On many HP consumer models, Thunderbolt security settings are locked down by default in BIOS and can’t be manually changed by the user.

Here are a couple more paths you can try:

1. Thunderbolt Control Center (Windows side):

Even if BIOS doesn’t give you the option, Windows should still let you manage authorization.

Open the Thunderbolt Control Center (Microsoft Store).

Check if the Lenovo dock appears under “Attached Devices.” If it does, make sure to select Always Connect.

2. Reinstall Thunderbolt Software & Firmware:

Go to the HP Drivers & Downloads page for your Spectre x360 13-ae0xx.

Reinstall the Intel Thunderbolt Controller Driver and Firmware Update Utility.

A mismatch between Intel’s updates and HP’s approved firmware can sometimes cause selective device issues.

3. Dock Compatibility:

If the dock works fully on another laptop but not on the HP, it’s likely a compatibility limitation rather than a defect.

Hope this helps! 

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, Please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!  

Regards, 

[OM105]

going to microsoft store and search for 
1. Thunderbolt Control Center : no related app come up.

Go to the HP Drivers & Downloads page for your Spectre x360 13-ae0xx.: its showing only windows 10 as operating system, but mine is windows 11. 

Although I selected windows 10 and then install thunderbolt driver and now its working.