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February 26th, 2023 11:00
U2723QE, KVM switch not working?
Dear Dell community,
I recently purchased the Dell U2723QE. I use a Lenovo ThinkPad (Windows) for work and a MacBook Pro M1 Pro for personal pursuits.
I connected them as follows:
1. Lenovo: USB to USB-C cable supplied with the Dell U2723QE from USB port in the Lenovo to the USB-C 90W video and data Upstream Dell U2723QE port (first of the two upstream ports), USB-C to HDMI cable from USB-C port in the Lenovo to the HDMI port in the Dell U2723QE
2. MacBook Pro: USB-C to USB-C cable supplied with the Dell U2723QE from USB-C port in the MacBook to second upstream USB-C port on the Dell U2723QE (the data only no video one), USB-C to DisplayPort cable from USB-C port in the MacBook to the first DisplayPort port (not the DisplayPort (out) port, which is the second one) on the Dell U2723QE
When I try to have both laptop screens displaying simultaneously on my Dell U2723QE, it doesn't work, i.e. the laptop I'm using in the majority of the screen (let's say the Lenovo) shows up fine, but the MacBook screen (that I set to appear in a tiny square on the top right-hand corner, for example, doesn't show (instead, I get a black screen there).
Did I set the laptops up correctly? Is the USB-C to HDMI for the Lenovo, for example, superfluous, considering the upstream USB-C port it connects to in the Dell U2723QE already supports video. Secondly, what am I missing to get the KVM switch to work?
Grateful in advance for any help you guys could give me.
Cheers,
Francisco
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DELL-Chris M
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February 27th, 2023 05:00
To receive assistance from Dell support, they need to verify the warranty status and ownership. Click the "Get help now" icon on the right to start a live chat session. Provide to them the private U2723QE Service Tag.
A very confusing setup!
"USB to USB-C cable", do you mean USB-A to USB-C cable?
"but the MacBook screen (that I set to appear in a tiny square on the top right-hand corner", I think you mean PBP, page 64?
I will try to show how I would set this up using the port numbers as shown in the U2723QE User's Guide pages 12 and 13.
Lenovo USB-C port --> USB-C to HDMI cable --> U2723QE #3 HDMI in port
Lenovo USB-A port --> U2723QE USB-A to USB-C cable --> U2723QE #8 USB-C (Data only) upstream port
MacBook Pro USB-C port --> U2723QE USB-C to USB-C cable --> U2723QE #5 USB-C (Video + Data) port
Feoktist
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March 4th, 2023 07:00
Hi Chris,
Thank you for your support. (I bought the U2723QE at the end of 2022).
I followed your advice and disconnected the DP cable. I have set the laptops up like you suggested - and finally managed to get my work laptop to show up on the small right-hand square (PBP)!
However, two details.
First, I find that I can no longer seem to be able to use the Dell U2723QE as my main display, as this limits the resolution to max. 1800x1169 resolution, which is suboptimal, considering it is a 4K display that goes up to 3840x2160.
In order to benefit from a resolution that gives me decent screen real estate, like 2560x1440, I need to make my Mac my main display, and this then results in my having a tiny dock for apps at the bottom.
Ideally, I would like to make the U2723QE my main display, and the Mac (or Lenovo, if at that moment I am teleworking) the extension display, and still be able to make the KVM switch work.
Second, once I select "USB Switch," I find that my mouse and keyboard stop working on my Mac, but don't seem to transfer to the little square on the top right-hand corner where my Lenovo is (if I'm engaged in personal pursuits, as opposed to teleworking, and so when my Mac is taking up the majority of the U2723QE, plus the Macbook's built-in display).
My peripherals are laid out as follows on the monitor's hub (#s according to the U2723QE user's guide): wireless mouse USB-A #10, wireless keyboard USB-A #11. External webcam USB-A #12. External HDD USB-A #9.
I also have an external USB-C to USB-A microphone that I would like to connect to the screen somewhere.
Finally, it seems that always having the external HDD connected to the screen may be a bad idea as a simple "USB Switch" can lead to it disconnecting without ejecting, and I understand that this can have adverse effects on the external HDD over time (not ejecting before disconnecting and reconnecting it).
Grateful for any additional support you may be able to provide,
Francisco