10 Tips & Tricks for your CalDigit Thunderbolt Docks

In this video we cover 10 great ways to get the most out of your Thunderbolt docks.

Included in this video are the CalDigit TS3 Plus, TS4, and Element Hub.
For more info on these products follow the links below.

Also included in this video is the CalDigit Thunderbolt 3 Mini Dock HDMI.

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For more info on Jeff Benjamin follow him on YouTube & Twitter:

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Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:10 - Convert USB-A ports to USB-C
0:50 - Save a spare Thunderbolt port
1:34 - Organize your cables
1:55 - Adding extra storage
2:17 - More Power for your Accessories
3:31 - One-Click Disconnect
3:57 - Adding More USB ports
4:17 - Connecting Wireless mice
4:45 - Use your Laptop's PSU
5:23 - macOS Ventura & Continuity Camera

[garyclement]

This was very helpful and jam-packed with good information.

[dplj]

the mouse dongle on longer cable adapter…great tip!!!! Had gotten alerts that Logitech K480 for example might interfere.

[DmitryKaminski]

Cool, thanks!
Didn't know what's causing the lags of a wireless mouse, now it's fixed :)

[michaelbucciarelli]

Great suggestions. And simple and clear explanations, without the fake-happy salesmen voice you get on other Mac reviews. I find a lot of the fake cheery-jokey-talk that other presenters give tedious. You have keep it simple, concise, and with clear visuals.

[AdamGonzebra]

What a beautiful video thank you so much for explaining every single detail! I had already targeted the cal-digit TS4 for a while because I’m running out of ports and storage, so this is the main reason why I’m getting informed onto this beautiful machine 👏

[AndrewTindale]

This is a great video. A much different perspective than speed tests or compatibility.

[Fred_the_Head]

I purchased the Element hub in 2023 because I needed it fairly soon. I also know that Thunderbolt 5 products will be released in 2024. I will probably end up with two daisy chained Element hubs in 2024.

[J-Dawg-]

The TS4 is amazing! A great solution for the problem of connectivity.

[ライ-nx]

Love this guy. Thanks for the great tips Jeff!

[janesam]

I have the TS3 Plus and an M1 Pro MBP. I plan to use an LG USB-C monitor. Will audio work through speakers that are connected to the USB-C monitors, not the dock?

i.e MBP > TS3 Plus > Monitor > Speakers

[timsstereosystems]

Can you do a video walkthrough on the cal digit download utility, I'm having issues setting it up. I'm still new to Mac so I'm sure its something silly

[nicolelangford]

I need one with a usb-c KMV switch! I use a mac and a pc at the same desk. unplugging my stuff every time is getting real old

[salmonsandwich]

Very informative and succinct. Thanks Jeff. Would you happen to know how well these work with audio interfaces and/or their compatibility with Thunderbolt 2 mini displayport outputs on old Lenovo Thinkpads? I imagine I need an adapter of some kind. Any recommendations you can send my way would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again!

[jalangstead]

Great video. Is it ok to leave the dock ON when not connected to a MacBook? There’s no power button and to disconnect from the power I’d have to scramble under the desk

[Hassan_MM.]

Can we Run Laptop without Battery on the Dock station ❓️

[kentvun]

@4:45 Can I clarify this can apply to PC not just mac, that I can continue to charge my pc with it's own charger at the same time plug in to my element hub that has its own power supply? I am worries 2 electric source would conflict? Would you be able to confirm this is ok? because the 60w passthrough charging from element hub is slightly less than what my pc required. thank you

[dancastrochannel]

HELP! I just bought this a couple of days ago and works perfectly but I’m having a big issue I hope you can help me with. I’m using one thunderbolt 4 to my computer (M1) and the rest I’m using for external ssd drives and one usb connectors for an a other external hard drive. The problem is when I turn of my laptop everything is still on except the ts4. Everything connected to the ts 4 is still on eg… all my ssd’s and external hard drive. I’m assuming that turning of the laptop turns of everything connected to the Ts4, or at least it should. Am I doing something wrong? I really don’t want to return this, please help. Thank you!

[sphchurch]

You were a little fast on the A to C adapter for SSD drives?

Can a late-2013 Macbook Pro with Thunderbolt 2 connect through the host port and still able to display two monitors and connect to external drives via the dock/hub?

[sphchurch]

Gaming is fine, but what very day office use. My computer is a Mac mini 2018 addition. I’m trying to run two external hard drives and two monitors. What dock and cabling and equipment suggestions for that. At the moment I use a SVGA main and a 32 inch HDMI.