Troubleshooting Targus Dock Not Detecting Mac: Simple Solutions

Now, listen up, you might be having trouble with that Targus box not detecting your Mac, huh? I’ve seen it happen before, especially if you’ve got a newer MacBook and you’re trying to hook it up to one of them Targus docking stations. Don’t worry though, it ain’t the end of the world, and there’s a few things we can try to get it working again.

Troubleshooting Targus Dock Not Detecting Mac: Simple Solutions

First thing’s first: turn off that Mac of yours. I know, I know, you’ve probably tried that already, but sometimes it helps to just give it a good rest. Let it sit there for a good 60 to 90 seconds after it’s shut down. Now, don’t rush. Turn it back on, and when you’re all logged in, wait another 30 to 60 seconds before you plug that power back into your dock. Plug in the dock first, then connect it to the Mac. And make sure you’re using that USB-C to USB-C cable they gave you with the dock—don’t try using any old cables, it can make a big difference.

Now, if that don’t work and you’re still sittin’ there staring at that blank screen, you might wanna check that the dock itself is plugged in properly. It’s gotta be plugged into a good power source, and make sure all them cables are snug and tight. Sometimes, it’s just a loose connection causing the trouble.

Another thing, check your Mac’s system settings. I’m not saying you don’t know how to do this, but it’s good to double-check. Go to the Apple menu at the top left of your screen and click on System Settings (or if you’re on an older version, it might be System Preferences). From there, click on Displays and press and hold the Option key on your keyboard. That’ll make a button appear that says Detect Displays. Go ahead and click it. Sometimes, you just need to give your Mac a little nudge to see what’s really going on.

If you’ve got a scanner or printer hooked up to that dock too, make sure it’s turned on and plugged in properly. You don’t want to be missing anything important. If it was working before and now it ain’t showing up, you can try deleting the scanner from your system and then adding it back again. I know, sounds like a hassle, but it could do the trick.

Now, I’ve heard some folks say they had the same problem with their Macs and Targus docks. Some people tried using a DisplayLink driver to make things work. You might need to install that, especially if you’re using a Mac with an older operating system. DisplayLink drivers can help your Mac communicate better with external displays connected through your docking station. If you’re running into trouble with a Targus 4K dock or any other model, I’d recommend checking if you’ve got the right drivers installed on your Mac.

If you’re using an older MacBook, like one from 2015, it might have a Thunderbolt 2 port instead of USB-C. Don’t worry though, you can still make it work by using the right adapters. You’ll need a Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 adapter to connect to your Targus dock. Just make sure everything is hooked up right, and check if DisplayLink is installed too. Without it, your Mac might not be able to recognize the dock or the monitors attached to it.

If you’ve checked all this and it still ain’t working, well, maybe it’s time to try a good old-fashioned restart. I’m talking about turning everything off, unplugging it all, waiting a few minutes, and then starting fresh. Sometimes a good restart can fix what looks like a big ol’ problem.

So, don’t give up just yet. There’s a lot of little things that could be causing this issue, but with a little patience and checking, you should be able to get that Targus dock working with your Mac. Keep fiddling with it, and you’ll find the solution in no time!