Skip to main content
Sign Out

Welcome to Dell

My Account
  • Place orders quickly and easily
  • View orders and track your shipping status
  • Enjoy members-only rewards and discounts
  • Create and access a list of your products
  • Manage your Dell EMC sites, products, and product-level contacts using Company Administration.
Sign In Create an Account Dell Financial Services Premier Sign In Partner Program Sign In
Contact Us

Your Dell.com Carts

Some article numbers may have changed. If this isn't what you're looking for, try searching all articles. Search articles

Article Number: 000198334

Damaged Type-C Connector on Dell Laptops and Docks and How to Prevent It

Summary: The following article provides information about the proper way to insert and remove the USB Type-C connector on Dell laptops and docking stations.

This article may have been automatically translated. If you have any feedback regarding its quality, please let us know using the form at the bottom of this page.

Article Content

Instructions

The Proper handling of the Dell laptop and dock's USB Type-C connector and port

Table of contents:

  1. What can happen?
  2. Affected products
  3. Recommended handling
  4. Damages due to improper use

What can happen?

Dell laptops and docking stations may exhibit loose USB Type-C ports and the ports may present with limited or no functionality. The USB Type-C connector can also have movement inside the device.

This can result in the following behavior:

  • The laptop does not detect the Dock and USB devices when they connect to the laptop.
  • USB devices display partial or intermittent functionality when they connect to the laptop.
  • The Docks network adapter port may not work.
  • The Docks video port fails to work or is only partially working.
  • USB devices that connect through the Dock fail to work correctly.
  • Any movement of the USB-C cable impacts the functionality of the port.
  • The USB-C plug or USB-C port shows visible damage.

Affected Products

WD19 WD19S WD19DC
WD19 WD19S WD19DC
WD19DCS WD19TB WD19TBS
WD19DCS WD19TB WD19TBS
WD22TB4 UD22 HD22Q
WD22TB4 UD22 HD22Q
Precision Mobile Workstation Latitude Laptop XPS Laptop
Precision Mobile Workstation Latitude Laptop XPS Laptop
Vostro Laptop Inspiron Laptop G-Series Gaming Laptop
Vostro Laptop Inspiron Laptop G-Series Gaming Laptop
 


Back to Top
 

Recommended Handling

Plugging or unplugging the USB Type-C connector to and from the laptop in the wrong manner can cause several different types of damage. Always remember to unplug any cables from the laptop before moving it away from the desk.

A loose USB Type-C port indicates that exerting external forces on the port results in physical damage. We consider the person using it to be the cause. The standard warranty terms and conditions do not cover physical damage to the port. (For example: Where the damage is visible, or physically moving the connected USB cable affects the ports behavior.)

Note: We do not cover physical damage by default under our standard warranty entitlements. We can still offer a repair, but it is charged at the cost of the repair. However, we cover the repair costs if you have added accidental damage warranty cover to your device.
 
  • Plugging the USB Type-C connector in:
    • Plug the USB Type-C connector into the port horizontally.
Warning: Avoid inserting the connector at an angle with any force.
 
  • Unplugging the USB Type-C connector in:
    • Unplug the USB Type-C connector into the port horizontally.
Warning: Avoid removing the connector at an angle with any force.
 

The Proper and improper way to plug the USB Type-C connector.

  Correct Incorrect
Insert Plugged Correctly Plugged Incorrectly
Remove Unplugged Correctly Unplugged Incorrectly
 


Back to Top
 

Damage Due to Improper Use

Note: Using the improper way to plug or unplug the USB Type-C connector to and from the port on the laptop can cause different types of damage. Always remember to unplug any cables from the laptop before moving it away from the desk.
 

Examples of damage caused when improperly plugging or unplugging the USB Type-C connector to the USB Type-C port:

Damage to USB Type-C Cables Damage to USB Type-C Ports

  • There is a crack on the USB Type-C connector:
  • There is cracking damage to the USB Type-C port and its surrounding plastics:

Zig Zag Crack
Figure 1: Cracked connector

Inline crack
Figure 2: Cracked connector

Broken Apart
Figure 3: Cracked and Broken connector

Damage to port and plastics
Figure 9: Damage to port and plastics

Damage to port
Figure 10: Damage to port

  • External force causes the USB Type-C connector to deform:
  • External force causes the USB Type-C port to deform:

Deformation
Figure 4: Metal deformation

Deformation
Figure 5: Metal deformation

Deformation
Figure 6: Metal deformation

Deformation due to external force
Figure 11:Deformation due to external force

  • The USB Type-C connector is damaged:
  • The USB Type-C port is damaged:

Scoring on Connector
Figure 7: Connector is scoring the metal where it inserts into the port

Damage to port visible
Figure 12: Damage to port visible

  • The cable is breaking behind the USB Type-C connector:
  • The USB Type-C port is broken where it is soldered to the motherboard:

Broken cable
Figure 8: Broken cable

Port damaged behind the plastics
Figure 13: Port damaged behind the plastics
 
Note: You can find out more about troubleshooting the USB Type-C connector/port and the proper handling of a Dell Laptop on the following links:


Back to Top

Article Properties

Affected Product
G Series, Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, XPS, Mobile Workstations, Dell Dual Charge Dock HD22Q, Dell Universal Dock UD22, Dell Dock WD19, Dell Performance Dock - WD19DC, Dell Performance Dock – WD19DCS, Dell Dock – WD19S, Dell Thunderbolt Dock - WD19TB , Dell Thunderbolt Dock – WD19TBS, Dell Thunderbolt Dock – WD22TB4 ...
Last Published Date

04 Dec 2023

Version

11

Article Type

How To

Back to Top