USB-C Alternate mode not working / not available

[Dudnor]

The two USB-C ports on my new ENVY 13 don't seem to work with my two display adapters, one of them is a Targus ACA932 USB-C to DisplayPort and the other is a Trust USB-C Multiport Adapter (with HDMI). Both the manual and the product specifications states that the laptop's USB-C ports supports DP 1.2 (DisplayPort 1.2 I assume), but none of them works with my external monitor. I'm I missing drivers, can't find any regarding ports, or does this laptop simply not support external displays, which I think is a big drawback?

[Jeet_singh]

Hi @Dudnor,

Thank you for visiting the HP Forums! A great place where you can find solutions for your issues with help from the community! I came across your post and wanted to assist you. I understand you are having issues with the USB Type-C port not showing display on the external monitor. Don't worry as I have a few suggestions which should help you resolve this issue.

To provide you with an accurate solution, I'll need a few more details:

Have you tried to connect one monitor at a time and check if that helps?

Have you tried to check with a different cable?

Have you tried to update the drivers either using Windows update or using HP Support assistant?

In the meantime, let's try these steps here: 

Perform a Hard reset on the notebook: A power reset (or hard restart) clears all information from the computer's memory without erasing any personal data. Performing a power reset might fix conditions such as Windows not responding, a blank display, software freezing, keyboard stops responding, or other external devices locking up.

I would suggest here is to check with one display at a time and check if that helps.

Next thing, I would suggest here is to start off by updating the Bios, Chipset and display drivers on your PC from our HP Support website, using this link.

Also, download and install HP support assistant on your PC. It should automatically download and install the latest updates and drivers for your PC.

Refer this link to know how to use HP support assistant.

Keep me posted,

If the information I've provided was helpful,

give us some reinforcement by clicking the solution and kudos buttons,

that'll help us and others see that we've got the answers!

Good Luck.

[Dudnor]

Hi, thanks for helping.

I only have one external monitor, and I  have tried both using the mentioned adapters (one at a time and at the same time) with corresponding DisplayPort and HDMI cables that came with the monitor. I know the HDMI cable works with my older laptop. The problem is probably not the cables but rather the ports themselves, as I doubt that they actually have a DisplayPort Alternate Mode at this point. I have also seen that it has been mentioned on this forum that USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 1 doesn't support such features.

I only get a connection/disconnection sound from Windows with the multiadapter, and in Device Manager I get a USB-C multiport device, described as a Billboard Device, under USB-devices, but connecting the HDMI cable to the adapter does nothing.

I already have all of the latest drivers and the latest BIOS, and the hard reset didn't seem to help (I didn't really expect that either). I think this might be a hardware related design flaw, and not anything software can do anything with as Alternate Modes should be plug-and-play as far as I know.

[Riddle_Decipher]

@Dudnor

It looks like you were interacting with @Jeet_singh, but he is out for the day & I'll be glad to help you out, 

I'm the Riddle_Decipher & I'm at your service. 

I reviewed your concern and the entire conversation, did some research and here's an article that explains all you need to know about USB Type-C Alternate mode and more:

USB Type-C video modes (Alternate mode): USB Type-C ports support adapters that can output different types of video such as HDMI, VGA, and DisplayPort, all from one USB Type-C port on your computer or device.

USB Type-C power delivery (USB PD): USB Type-C power delivery is bi-directional, so a device can either send or receive power. This power can be transferred at the same time the device is transmitting data across the connection.

For more information about USB Type-C, see http://www.usb.org/developers/usbtypec/ (in English).

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

(By the end of this article all the issues should be resolved)

If I have helped you resolve the issue, feel free to give me a virtual high-five by clicking the 'Thumbs Up' icon below, 

Followed by clicking on "Accept as solution" from the drop-down menu on the upper right corner,

Have a great day!

[Dudnor]

Hi, and thanks again.

I think we are kind of talking past each other, I wil try to be a bit more clear with my problem.

Does the HP ENVY 13-ad000-series specifically have USB-C ports capable of sending display signals? It seems to me that it does not because it doesn't seem to support the alternate modes, but what does the DP 1.2 specification in the specs sheet mean then? How can I possibly connect an external monitor to my laptop? I think I need proof from someone with a laptop from the same series that it does work.

Regarding the page you linked it isn't the alternate modes I am questioning, it is whether my laptop supports it or not, and what sort of adapter I would need to make it work.

[Riddle_Decipher · Accepted solution]

@Dudnor

Thank you for responding,

It's great to have you back 😉

As off now, I'm afraid as mentioned before, the conversion from USB to Display isn't supported by HP devices unless they have a thunderbolt port.

And I'm afraid your device doesn't have a thunderbolt port.

I hope that clarifies your concern.

If I have helped you resolve the issue, feel free to give me a virtual high-five by clicking the 'Thumbs Up' icon below, 

Followed by clicking on "Accept as solution" from the drop-down menu on the upper right corner,

Have a great day!

[Dudnor]

Hi agian.

I guess you are right, but it's a letdown that a ~$1100 laptop doesn't support external monitors/projectors. I have already ordered a USB-A DisplayLink adapter so that should at least work, but it isn't an optimal solution. Thanks for the help though, and HP should probably change their specs info so that there isn't any doubt about it and probably notify retailers as well (mine said that it supported DisplayPort over USB-C).

[Riddle_Decipher]

@Dudnor

Thank you for replying with this detailed response 😉 

I appreciate your time and efforts,

I understand your concern and to be honest, I will be happy to pass your suggestions & feedback to the R&D team, Hopefully they will be able to implement it in the near future.

feel free to give me a virtual high-five by clicking the 'Thumbs Up' icon,

followed by clicking on 'Accepted as Solution' for my efforts to help you identify the reason for your concern.

And Have a great day Ahead!

[Windone]

Hi, I think we have a same problem and i have resolve it on my 13-ad024tu since i have tried every method to get a video output from usb-C port. In fact Envy series surppoted a not-so-popular style of video transport since they used displayport altative mode, which means you need to use a usb-c to dispalyport cable or adaptor. Yet as i know there are few monitor use this port compare to vga and hdmi, so you need to buy a adaptor with display altative mode. this wil use dispalyport to get video from type-c and output transfer to hdmi or vga, while it will lost some solution, especillay using hdmi monitor. 

I have bought one external graphic chip adaptor from HP, which cost me over 100 dollars, but it still have a problem in some situation. After i lost it i have got another one with dispalylink chip, yet still not so good because this kind of external graphic chips will have alot of problem in some situation, though they support multiple monitor at one time. So i keep search on this topic and found even HP's Support Agent can't explain it clearly, which i think impossible. Anyway, i got a adapter which work great now, and in a quite fair cost. So if you still want a better way other than external graphic chip adaptor, just try this product or something like this one, with DP ALT MODE as the keyword. 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M5JE55S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hope it will help.

[Thomas_DK]

Hi - I got this usb c 3.1 to HDMI adapter which clearly states: 

Important Information: The USB-C port on your device must support "DisplayPort Alternate Mode", so you can use the HDMI function in this adapter.

https://www.av-cables.dk/usb-c-til-hdmi-adapter/usb-c-3-1-hdmi-multi-adapter-kabel-hvid.html

Called my local HP tech office, and they said it should work. Well unfortuntaly it doesn't. Was it all plug and play for you, or did you work with drivers etc? I already tried to update all updates from windows and put the newest bios from HP.