Also backwards compatible with USB 2.0 at 480 Mb/s, this docking station is compatible with both Windows and Mac and features LED indicators for power and drive access. Included with the USB 3.0 Dual Bay HDD Docking Station is a power cable, a power adapter, and a USB 3.0 cable. It is protected by a limited 1-year warranty. General Features. The Sabrent Laptop Docking Station With Stand is one model that comes with a stand to hold your smartphone or tablet. It features two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, two high-speed ports for charging your phone and tablet, an HDMI port, a DVI port and a VGA adapter. There’s also a microphone jack, a port for your speaker and a port for an.

The best way to expand your laptop’s functionality in a simple way is through the use of a docking station. The best docking station will make it easier to work from home if need be. Have you always liked the features of a desktop but didn’t appreciate the bulk? Now you have the freedom to turn your laptop into a proper work station complete with dual monitors, speakers, mouse and keyboard. In fact, you can connect any device as long as it has a USB port.

Docking stations come in handy especially if you have a laptop that has few ports, like a MacBook. If it is your first time shopping for the best docking station, you may become overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available. We want to make your shopping experience a bit easier by providing you with a list of the top docking stations on the market.

List of The Best Docking Stations in 2021

10. WAVLINK Docking Station

This versatile docking station is a kit that is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems. It has dual display outputs through 1080P HDMI and DVI ports. We like that you get DVI to VGA adapters which increases the docking station’s flexibility. What this essentially means is that you can have two display monitors from one laptop. This means that you can surf the internet while also watching a movie. No need to constantly switch between tabs which is annoying.

The docking station comes with six USB ports, and two of them offer supers SuperSpeed 3.0 for faster connections. This is on our list of the best docking station because of how it enables you to connect your laptop to several screens, speakers, printers, mouse, keyboard and other USB devices.

Key features

• Provides SuperSpeed USB 3.0
• A built-in dual screen support
• Supports both Windows and Mac OS

9. UtechSmart Hub Station

UtechSmart takes pride in being the first docking station on the market that offers a triple USB type C display connection. The hub itself is made from aluminum which makes it both sturdy yet lightweight. Not many companies have been able to offer multi-display using type C connectors. UtechSmart overcame this challenge to provide you with a docking station offering a triple monitor display.

This docking station features an ultra-slim design making it both powerful and portable. Thanks to the USB connectors, you don’t have to carry multiple cable types. Instantly plug and play with the fast USB ports. If you are a gamer or a power user then you will appreciate the ultra-fast data transfers that enable you to transfer files and download movies quicker.

Key features

• Triple display for USB Type C
• Three display mode options
• Durable and lightweight with slim and portable design
• Fast data transfer speeds

8. TOTU Docking Station

This is the best docking station to use if your laptop supports Type C Thunderbolt 3.0. You need to note that even though this station supports both Windows and Mac operating systems, you will see different content on the extend mode on Mac OS. However, when in mirror mode, all the content displayed on the screens is the same.

The station offers a triple display for Windows OS only. Mac OS is not supported. You can also extend or mirror your display using a USB C adapter. For a true cinema-like experience, you can stream 4K FHD and UHD. However, if you extend multiple displays, you will be limited to 1080p for each display. The device is compatible with the latest tablets, laptops and smart devices on the market.

Key features

• 12-in-1 connectivity
• Triple display for Windows system only
• Ultra-high-speed data syncing and transmission
• Compatible with the latest laptops and smart devices with USB Type C

7. Targus Universal Station

If you are short on space and need a device that will function as a desktop but without the bulkiness, then the best docking station from Targus will fulfill your needs. Its sleek and compact design makes it ideal to use in small spaces. The angled top provides a good space for you to play your laptop on as you work. The non-slip cover also ensures that your laptop will not accidentally slip and slide.

This docking station also supports dual display port that allows you to set up two different monitors. You can multitask by using one for work and the other for play. Or perhaps you want to keep surfacing the internet and you keep up with your favorite TV show. Lastly, the station has a USB 3.0 port that offers blazing-fast data transfer speeds.

Key features

• Sleek innovative design
• Supports dual display ports
• USB 3.0 for faster connections

6. CalDigit TS3 Station

If you are looking for a solidly made docking station with enough connectivity options then look no further than the TS3 form CalDigit. It has a solid aluminum frame which is both sturdy and lightweight, and measures in at slightly over one pound. It offers up to 15 ports that you can use to connect to other devices such as keyboards, SD card, ethernet cable, monitors and more.

The dock has a small enough footprint and you can place the station vertically or horizontally depending on the space available. We like that you get a lifetime of customer care support in case of any issues that may arise. You also get a one-year warranty with the device. The docking station is also capable of charging your laptop with up to 85W of power.

Key features

• 15 port connectivity options
• Small footprint
• Delivers up to 85W of power
• Sturdy yet lightweight aluminum frame

5. Dell D6000 Dock

If crystal clear entertainment is your thing, then you can enjoy ultra HD 5K resolution on one screen or 4K resolution on three displays. Why have a mediocre gaming or movie experience with low resolutions when you can have the best? This is one of the best docking station from Dell and offers the means to connect your laptop with other devices through USB Type C and 3.0 ports. It doesn’t matter which type of laptop or operating system you have; this docking station supports them.

This is ideal if you need to share workspace, share content or are on the move and need the ability to connect to various devices without the bulk of a desktop computer.

Key features

• Enjoy single Ultra HD 5K resolution or three Ultra HD 4K
• Compatible with multiple operating systems and devices
• Plug and play feature that allows fast and instant connection

4. ​Sabrent Docking Station

This docking station from Sabrent offers a variety of connectivity options to enable you to expand your laptop’s capabilities. Whether you need to improve your workstation or enhance your entertainment experience, this is the docking station to choose from. It is compatible with both Windows and Mac OS.

The two USB 3.0 ports provide superspeed connectivity allowing you to make data transfers at a fast rate. The station also has a microphone jack, two USB 2.0 ports, gigabit ethernet port for lightning-fast speeds, and a speaker port. It also supports HDMI and DVI displays.

You can also charge your laptop or other smart devices using this station thanks to the two fast-charging 2.4A ports. These can come in handy when your smart devices are running low and need a quick battery boost.

Key features

• Superspeed USB 3.0 connection
• Multiple display monitor
• Compatible with both Windows and Mac OS
• Two USB 2.0 ports

3. Plugable Docking Station

This the best docking station if you are looking for a simple yet effective way to expand your workstation. Geared towards Windows users, this device offers dual video outputs, USB 3.0 ports, microphone jacks, and a 2-year warranty.

In addition to being compatible with only Windows operating system, you also cannot connect it to non-Display link USB graphic adapters. These include SMSC, j5, and MCT. If this connection is important to you, we suggest looking for an alternative docking station. You are also limited when it comes to playing some protected Blu-ray disks. The device does not offer HDCP either. If you are a gamer then we would suggest you look elsewhere for a docking station that is compatible with your needs. However, despite that, it is still a useful docking station.

Key features

• Compatible with Windows operating system
• Dual HD monitors
• Flexible expandability options
• Best used for web and productivity software

2. Microsoft Docking Station

This is the right docking station to use if you are looking for a simple device that transforms your laptop into a desktop PC. The Surface connect from Microsoft is capable of providing a variety of connectivity options as well as charging your laptop. Connect your monitors, mouse, keyboard, speakers and more, and utilize the full capabilities of this docking station.

The docking station comes with all the ports you could need including four USB 3.0 high-speed ports, gigabit Ethernet port, HD video ports and audio output. If you are a fan of the minimalist concept then you will love how sleek and simple this station looks. All the ports are designed to offer lightning-fast connectivity. You can easily plug and play in a matter of seconds. It is designed to be easy to set up so that anyone can use it.

Key features

• Windows and Mac compatibility
• Magnetic surface connect cable
• Fast connectivity
• Easy setup

1. Dell D3100 Station

With just one cable, the Dell D3100 docking station enables you to connect to the internet, various external devices, and an extra three display monitors. The docking station offers a simple yet effective way of expanding your laptop’s capabilities. If you are looking for an enhanced work and entertainment environment then this station should be your first choice. In addition to supporting Ultra HD 4K displays, you also get high-speed connectivity thanks to the three USB 3.0 ports. You also get two USB 2.0 ports which enable you to connect with a variety of different devices such as speakers, scanners and printers.

We like that you no longer have to feel constrained with the limited connectivity your laptop may have. With a docking station, you can include everything you need.

Key features

• Connects to three additional monitors
• Supports one Ultra HD 4K display and 2 FHD displays
• USB 3.0 high-speed data transfer
• Suitable for gaming

Buying Guide – Docking Stations

As you shop for the best docking station, there are various factors you need to have in mind.

Type and laptop model

Despite there being hundreds of different types of docking stations available on the market, not all of them work with all laptop models and types. If you have a Windows laptop, you may want to look for docking stations that cater to Windows operating system. The same goes for if you have a Mac OS. Better yet, for flexibility, you may want to choose a docking station that is universal and compatible with all laptops. This way, if you ever change your laptop you can still use the same docking station.

Type of the main connector

Which port on your laptop are you going to use to connect the dock to your machine? The connector you intend to use should be the same as the connector on the dock, otherwise, you will not be able to use the docking station. USB Type C ports tend to offer more flexibility in terms of connectivity. Which a Type C port you will be able to connect to multiple devices like monitors, keyboards, flash drives and more.

Your needs

The type of docking station you choose will depend on what you need it for. Does your work require you to have multiple screens at a time? Or is just one extra screen enough? Also, if you are always on the move you may need a docking station that is capable of charging your laptop. This minimizes the need to have an extra power bank.

The right cables

You also need to ask yourself whether you have the right cables to connect the various devices to your docking station. For example, an HDMI port needs an HDMI cable, without which you will not be able to utilize that port.

Conclusion

Docking stations are ideal to have if you want the benefits of a desktop without the actual bulk of one. Our reviews have made it easier for you to choose the best docking station that will suit your needs. Now you can enjoy working from home without compromising on additional tech features.

FURTHER READING

Get a data lifeguard for Mac

Most of the time, when you connect an external hard drive to your Mac’s USB port, you soon see it mount on the desktop. Apple likes to ensure these are easy to find, so they also appear in the Finder in the left-hand column under Locations.

However, sometimes, an external hard drive doesn't show up. It’s annoying, especially when you need to transfer something right then. And besides, there can be a risk that data on the external USB pen, hard, or flash drive is corrupt, which means you can’t transfer what you need between devices at all.

Corrupt data can be one reason your Mac won't recognize an external drive, but there are other reasons too. Let’s take a look at why this is happening and how you can fix the external hard drive not showing up problem:

Why your Mac does not recognize external hard drive

Let’s say you’ve encountered the problem of SSD not showing up. There could be a few reasons why SSD isn’t making an appearance (just as any other external drive), the most common being:

• There’s something wrong with the cable
• There’s a power supply problem
• Your drive has been corrupted or broken
• The drive is not readable on macOS
• NTFS read-only problem.

How to fix an external disk drive that won't show up on a Mac

While it’s impossible to instantly figure out why an external disk drive is not showing up, you have to try to fix the problem.

Access an External Drive Not Showing on Mac

Get a huge set of top utilities for troubleshooting external hard drives not mounting on a Mac

Start with the basics:

1. Check whether the drive is properly plugged in. It sounds obvious, but since this relies on a wire - either a USB cable or HDMI cable - if it’s not connected properly then it won’t appear on your desktop.
2. Faulty cable. Assuming it’s plugged in correctly, not wobbly or loose, the cable could be at fault. Try connecting the same device with a different cable.
3. Damaged USB or flash drive port. It could be a hardware issue with the Mac. If you’ve got another port, try connecting the device to that one.
4. Reboot your Mac. Sometimes, if a USB disk won't boot, the cause is a macOS issue. Hopefully, some data damage can be fixed by restarting. Choose the Apple menu > Restart. Or press and hold the power button and, when a dialog box appears, click Restart or press R. Restarting your Mac essentially clears your macOS’s memory and starts it up fresh.
5. Incorrectly formatted drive. Not every external drive is optimized for Macs. It could be that you are trying to connect something only fit to interact with Windows devices. If you’ve got a PC or laptop, it’s worth connecting and seeing if you can access the files through another device. The best way to look for an incorrectly formatted drive is to go to
   Apple (in the top toolbar menu) > About This Mac > Storage.
   See if the external drive shows up here. For more information, go to the same menu option, then select System Report.
6. Mac not formatted to display external drives on the desktop. It could be that your Mac already recognizes the device, but just isn’t showing its icon on the desktop screen. Even if that is the case, the drive will still appear in the left-hand column of the Finder menu under Locations. You should be able to access your drive that way, and, in the Finder menu under Preferences > General, you can check External Drives to ensure that from now on it shows up on your desktop too.
7. Reset NVRAM. To do this, shut down or restart your Mac, switch it back on and immediately press these four keys together for at least 20 seconds: Option, Command, P, and R. It should look as though your Mac has started again; if it has, release the keys when you hear the second startup chime. Hopefully, the hard drive has shown up now.
8. Check Apple’s Disk Utility to see if an external drive is showing up. Disk Utility is within System Preferences, or you can find it using Spotlight. If it is visible, then click the option to Mount, which should make it visible on the desktop and in the External Drives option in the Finder menu.

Unfortunately, if none of those options has worked and you continue having the external hard drive not showing up problem, then it could have crashed, or be well and truly broken. But there might still be a way you can recover the data on the external drive.

How to fix new hard drive not showing up in Finder

When you connect a drive to Mac, it should appear in Finder under Locations. What to do if external hard drive is not detected? In most cases, when Finder doesn’t see your drive, you just have to change a few things in Preferences. However, sometimes, there are more serious problems such as insufficient power supply. Let’s see how you can fix these things.

How to show connected devices in Finder

1. Go to the Finder menu > Preferences

2. In General, click on External disks to ensure that from now on it shows on the desktop.

In the Sidebar tab, you can choose which folders and devices will be shown in the left-hand column of the Finder window.

How to add cloud storages to Finder

You can also mount cloud storage as a local drive on your Mac. By connecting Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon to your computer, you get more space for securely accessing and sharing files. For your ease, add cloud drives to Finder with CloudMounter so that you keep them close at hand. You can read detailed instructions on managing cloud storage as local drives here.

Repair the failed external drives with First Aid

The most direct reason your external hard drive could be detected by macOS but can't be opened is the file system problem. If your drive is having such problems, you can try to fix them yourself with First Aid and therefore get access to your files.

First Aid tool will check the disk for errors and then attempt a repair as needed. It helps to verify and repair a range of issues related to startup HD and external drive problems. If you are able to fix the hard drive or SSD in your Mac (or any external drive) using Disk Utility you will hopefully be able to recover your files.

To run Fist Aid on an external hard drive:

1. Open Disk Utility. You can search for it using Spotlight or via Finder > Go > Utilities
2. Check on your external hard drive, click the First Aid tab and select Run to start running diagnostics.

How to recover data from a crashed drive

If First Aid has been successful in fixing errors, the external drive should be available to mount. If the utility hasn’t repaired issues, your drive truly is broken or formatted using a file system that the Mac cannot read — in this way you have to recover data from a damaged disk drive.

Thankfully, there is an app for that. Disk Drill is the world’s premier data recovery software for Mac. Powerful enough to retrieve long-lost, mistakenly deleted files from Macs, external hard drives, USB drives, and camera cards.

Get a file recovery app

With Setapp you get a pack of professional tools for file recovery and Mac maintenance.

An easy way to recover lost files on an external hard drive

Here’s how to recover files with Disk Drill (pro version available on Setapp):

1. Connect your drive to the Mac.
2. Quit all other applications on the Mac, especially those that may be trying to access the external drive (e.g. iPhoto, Words)
3. Launch Disk Drill.
4. Click on the external drive that you are trying to recover files from. If it has partitions, you will see all of them. If, however, you still don’t see any volume to the external drive then you may need to try some of the steps above again or read the Disk Drill Scanning FAQs.
5. To avoid the external drive being accessed during the recovery process, click Extras next to the drive or drive partition or file, then select Remount Volume As Read Only. A padlock will appear, protecting the drive during the process.
6. Now click Rebuild (or Recover) next to the file(s) you are trying to recover. Once the scan is finished - it may take some time if the files are large - a list of files will appeal.
7. Next, click Mount Found Items as Disk button on the bottom-left below the scan results.
8. Disk Drill 'strongly suggests saving the files to a different drive than the one you are trying to recover files from. Saving to the same drive substantially lowers your chances of recovery.'
9. A drive icon will appear, which once you double click will give you the option to open the files as you would do before they were lost. Drag them to another location, such as your desktop or a folder on your Mac.
10. Open the files to ensure they have been recovered properly and safely eject the external drive.

Disk Drill does have other ways to recover lost files but assuming there are no complications, this method is the most effective.

A few more tips on getting your files back

1. Macs and third-party apps that look after Macs, such as Disk Drill and iStat Menus come with a S.M.A.R.T. (also known as Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) status monitor. If a SMART check reports errors, then it could mean the hard drive is at risk of failing completely. Within Disk Utility and Disk Drill, there are several solutions for this: Repair Disk Permissions and Repair Disk. If neither of them works, it’s recommended to back up all of the data from the disk, erase it, then run a SMART check again. The external hard drive should show up as Verified.
2. Partitions can get lost within hard drives, temporarily hiding all of the information contained within. Disk Drill can help to identify and restore this information.
3. Within Disk Drill, you can restore data when a hard drive is damaged or add formatting, which is also something Disk Utility can help with.
4. CleanMyMac, another useful app available from Setapp, can help you identify external hard drive errors and repair them. It is an essential tool worth trying when you’re having external hard drive difficulties.

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Alternative ways to recover data from an external hard drive

Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) if your Mac shuts down when you plug in an external hard drive. Then use a different port to connect the external hard drive. If you’ve got a battery that you can’t remove:

• Shut down and unplug the power adapter
• Press and hold Shift-Control-Option and the power button for 10 seconds
• Release all keys
• Plug the power adapter back in and switch your Mac back on.

For Macs with removable batteries, you need to switch them off, remove the battery, then press and hold the power button for 5 seconds. After that, put the battery back in, plug in the power adapter and switch the power on again.

How to fix external drive NTFS read-only problem

External hard disk detected but not opening? One reason your Mac isn’t recognizing the hard drive is the file format. Windows uses NTFS file formats, while Macs, up until the introduction of Sierra, have used HFS+. Now, Apple has introduced the Apple File System (APFS) for newer operating systems.

If you connect an NTFS drive, your Mac will be able to read it but not edit it. This means you can’t really complete your task (move, copy, or delete any files) as long as you experience the read-only problem. There’s an easy way to fix this with iBoysoft NTFS, an app that enables full read/write support for NTFS drives on Mac.

How to make Ext2/Ext3 drives readable on Mac

The common issue is Ext2- and Ext3-formatted drives are not readable on macOS. There are two ways to access such external drives on your Mac — via Linux OS or FUSE system. The easiest would be installing Linux to a secondary drive or virtual machine.

If you go with Linux installation, dual boot your Mac with Linux on another drive and use FAT32 as a transfer intermediary. If you don’t have the drive to install Linux to, use a virtual machine as an interface for it. Transferring can be done the same way – with FAT32, or via network.

Another option for reading Ext2/Ext3 disks is mounting disk with Filesystem in Userspace (FUSE). Basically, it works as an extra interface enabling file system access via specially installed modules. Here’s how to mount drives with FUSE:

1. Install FUSE for macOS or MacFUSE as well as a fuse-ext2 module.
2. Use the following Terminal command to enable Disk Utility’s debug menu and see all partitions: defaults write com.apple.DiskUtility DUDebugMenuEnabled 1
3. Attach your Ext2/Ext3 drive and locate the device name via Disk Utility.
4. In your user account, create a folder to be used as a mount point.
5. Use the following Terminal command to mount the drive as read-only: fuse-ext2 /dev/disk2s2 /Volumes/mountpoint
6. For write support, use the command: fuse-ext2 -o force /dev/disk2s2 /Volumes/mountpoint

And that’s not the only case where Terminal helps you access external drive. Employ the handy all-powerful Terminal, which always comes forward with solutions for difficult problems. Especially if System Information does recognize the USB or hard drive, but continues to hide it from you, disconnect the drive and try to find it using the Terminal, which you can find in Applications > Utilities.

• Once in the Terminal, type in the command diskutil list
• A list with information about volumes and drives should appear
• Look for a section labelled /dev/disk_ (external, physical)
• Make a note of the whole line after the word disk
• Now put the following command into the Terminal diskutil info disk followed by the number or digits assigned to that disk
• Now you should see detailed information about the drive, therefore confirming that your Mac can and does recognize it
• Eject using the Terminal by entering the command diskutil eject disk followed by the number or digits assigned to that disk
• Physically remove the disk from your Mac
• Plug it back in and your Mac should recognize it.

Console is also reliable when it comes to solving tricky problems, although it isn’t always that easy to use. You can find Console under Applications > Utilities > Console or via Spotlight. Console shows if an external drive or any error is detected under the Errors and Faults tab. If no errors show up, then the problem is not caused by the device.

How to fix insufficient power supply

Another thing that might cause USB drive not showing up is that your USB cable is just not powerful enough. Typically, a USB 1.0 or 2.0 works, but there are drives that require more power. In this case, you should get another connector or use some type of USB hub to increase the power supply. If you still can’t access external hard drive, consider switching to another Mac.

Conclusion

Hopefully, we’ve covered the topic so you don’t have to google “external hard drive disappear from the computer” ever again. There are lots of potential solutions for a Mac not reading/writing an external hard drive. If you’re trying to connect an NTFS drive, do it with iBoysoft NTFS for Mac. If you need to add cloud storage, CloudMounter will help you. Most importantly, you’ll never have to worry about a crashed or corrupted external drive because Disk Drill will help you recover all the data stored on it.

How To Initialize A Sabrent Docking Station For Mac Mini

iBoysoft NTFS, CloudMounter, Disk Drill, and other powerful apps such as CleanMyMac X are all available via Setapp, a productivity suite that solves your tasks with apps. Give it a try for seven days free and fix all your Mac issues in one go.

How To Initialize A Sabrent Docking Station For Macbook Pro

How To Initialize A Sabrent Docking Station For Mac Os