Advanced Thunderbolt 4 configuration in Windows 11

When you start tinkering with Thunderbolt 4 on a Windows 11 PC You quickly discover that it's not "just another USB drive"; check it out What can you do with a Thunderbolt port?It's a very powerful interface that combines data, video, network, and power into a single cable, but it can also cause headaches when something goes wrong or isn't configured correctly.

In this article we will see in great detail how Configure Thunderbolt 4 in advanced settings on Windows 11How to diagnose typical problems (such as when the eGPU, a NAS, a docking station, or a RAID enclosure stops appearing), what settings to adjust in BIOS, Windows, and the Thunderbolt software itself, and how to truly take advantage of its 40 Gbps for professional workflows, without forgetting what's coming next (USB4, Thunderbolt 5) and when it's worth investing in this technology.

What is Thunderbolt 4 and how does it differ from USB4 and Thunderbolt 5?

Before we get into the settings, it's important to be clear about exactly what it offers. Thunderbolt 4 versus USB4, Thunderbolt 3, or even a simple 10 Gb Ethernet connectionBecause that will determine whether we get the most out of it or not.

the interface Thunderbolt 4 was developed by Intel and use the connector USB-C standard, but beneath that familiar form it hides much more than a normal USB port: it combines PCIe, DisplayPort and USB traffic into a single link of up to 40 Gbps.

In terms of speed, Thunderbolt 4 offers a dedicated bandwidth of 40 Gbps for data and video. To give you an idea, that's double that of USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) and well above many 2,5 Gb or even 10 Gb networks in home environments.

A key advantage is that Thunderbolt 4 maintains full compatibility with USB4 and with previous generations of Thunderbolt, so you can use the same port for an external USB drive, a DisplayPort Alt Mode monitor, or a Thunderbolt docking station without changing connectors.

Another important point is its ability to transport PCI ExpressThis makes it possible to connect devices such as eGPU enclosures, RAID cards, PCIe expansion chassis, or NAS with Thunderbolt connectivity and that the system sees them almost as if they were internally connected to the board.

Regarding video, Thunderbolt 4 integrates DisplayPort 2.0, which allows handling up to Two 4K displays at 60 Hz (or equivalent combinations) through a single cable, either via USB-C ports or via conventional HDMI/DisplayPort adapters, and allows you Find out if your screen supports HDR.

In addition, many Thunderbolt-enabled devices offer simultaneous support for all three functions. network connectivity up to 10 Gbps over the same link, either natively, or through features such as Thunderbolt-to-Ethernet (T2E), widely used in professional NAS devices.

Don't forget about nutrition: Thunderbolt 4 supports Power Delivery up to 100Wenough to power or charge many portable, while also providing power to daisy-chained drives, docks or monitors.

If we compare it to the standard USB4So, here's the thing: USB4 can work at 20 Gbps by defaultwith optional modes that reach 40 and even 120 Gbps in very specific scenarios, but it does not always guarantee everything that Thunderbolt 4 requires as standard.

Respecto a Thunderbolt 5The already announced new generation promises 80 Gbps bandwidth and up to 120 Gbps video modeswith DisplayPort 2.1 support and charging power up to 240W, following the improvements of USB PD. In practical terms, however, Thunderbolt 4 is still more than enough for the next few years in most professional environments.

One detail that is rarely discussed is the cables: Thunderbolt 4 allows the use of passive or active cables up to 2 meters long while maintaining 40 Gbps.In Thunderbolt 3, to maintain that speed at 2m you needed more expensive active cables, or you were limited to about 0,5m in passive mode.

Who really needs Thunderbolt 4 on Windows 11

The theory is very nice, but the key question is: Do you really need Thunderbolt 4 on your Windows 11 computer, or is a good USB 3.2 Gen2 more than enough?

Today it is common to see Thunderbolt 4 ports in Gaming laptops, mobile workstations, high-end ultrabooks, and some motherboards Both Intel and AMD (increasingly). This means many people have TB4 without really knowing what to do with it.

In "normal" use of office software, browsing, streaming and some light work, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port at 10 Gbps With video output and fast charging, it usually more than covers daily needs. Many USB-C monitors, multiport hubs, and SSD External players already perform very well in that environment.

Where Thunderbolt 4 makes a difference is in workflows with large volumes of data or mixed needs of video + data + simultaneous feedThis includes profiles like those of 4K/8K video editing, animation, VFX, professional photography, audio post-production, 3D CAD/architecture or intensive virtualization.

In these scenarios, power Connect a Thunderbolt 4 NAS, an eGPU, an external RAID, or multiple high-resolution displays Using a single cable greatly simplifies the workstation, reduces copying times, and improves the experience compared to combining multiple USB and HDMI ports.

Added to this is the world of Thunderbolt 4 docking stations, such as the Microsoft Surface Thunderbolt Dock (see Microsoft Surface models) or docks from manufacturers like Caldigit and others, which allow you to turn a laptop into a "pseudo desktop" with wired network, audio, multiple monitors and extra ports by plugging in a single cable.

In markets that are undergoing rapid digital expansion, such as Colombia, Thunderbolt 4 is starting to play a key role in remote work, hybrid classrooms, and creative environments.because it helps to set up flexible, high-performance workstations in offices, homes, or studios with a relatively low infrastructure cost.

For advanced home users, the interface may be of interest if they plan Use ultra-fast external SSDs, docks with multiple 4K monitors, or NAS devices with Thunderbolt connectivity.But if none of that is in your plans, a good USB3.2 Gen2 or a 2,5 Gb network should usually be more than enough.

Advanced Thunderbolt 4 configuration in Windows 11 and BIOS

Once you know you need TB4, you need to make sure it's available. properly configured in both BIOS and Windows 11 and that the system itself recognizes the interface correctly.

On many modern motherboards and laptops, the port that you physically see as USB-C appears in Windows 11 under the USB4 umbrella. That is, in the Device administrator You will see references to USB4 Host Router or similar drivers, without the word "Thunderbolt" appearing explicitly.

That doesn't mean you don't have Thunderbolt; it simply means Windows 11 natively integrates the Thunderbolt controller stack over USB4Especially on certified devices. In those cases, you will no longer see the typical separate "Thunderbolt Controller" as in Windows 10, where a specific manufacturer's driver was usually installed.

If your equipment comes from a clean installation of Windows 10 And if you've lost Thunderbolt 4 functionality, the situation changes: In Windows 10, the TB4 driver is not always included.and it may be necessary to go to the manufacturer's website (Acer, Dell, HP, etc.) and download and install the Thunderbolt 4 controller corresponding to your model already Windows 10 64 bits.

These packages usually contain a script or style installer “Controller_configuration.cmd” This command must be run as administrator to apply the driver and associated services. After restarting, the port should reappear with Thunderbolt functionality enabled.

In Windows 11, however, It is not usually necessary to install additional Thunderbolt drivers Because the system comes with built-in support. Even so, it's recommended to keep the firmware and chipset/USB4 packages updated as released by the laptop or motherboard manufacturer to correct any potential issues.

Another critical point is in the Thunderbolt configuration in the BIOS or UEFIMany laptops include specific options to enable or disable the interface, adjust the security mode (Thunderbolt Security), or control how it negotiates with external devices.

In the BIOS you can find parameters such as “Thunderbolt Security” or “Thunderbolt 3/4 Support”According to the system, it's possible to choose modes such as "No Security," "User Authorization," or similar. A common configuration to avoid recognition problems is to use “User Authorization” (the system requests device approval) or “No security” in controlled environments where you trust connected equipment.

If you notice that nothing happens when you connect an eGPU enclosure, dock, or Thunderbolt NAS (no sound, no notifications, and no appearance in the Thunderbolt software), it's worth investigating. Enter the BIOS and verify that Thunderbolt is actually enabled. and that the security level does not block unknown devices.

Before changing any firmware option, it's advisable to perform a back up your most important dataA poorly applied setting or a failed BIOS update are not common, but they can end in trouble if you don't have any backups.

Diagnosing typical problems: eGPU, docks, and devices that do not appear

One of the most common issues with Thunderbolt 4 in Windows 11 is that, suddenly, Your eGPU, RAID enclosure, TB4 NAS, or docking station stops appearing in the system even though it previously worked without problems.

Imagine a real-life scenario: a powerful laptop connected to a eGPU enclosure or TB3/TB4 chassis with a RAID controller It was working perfectly until, overnight, the device disappeared from Windows, without any warnings or errors. hardwareYou connect the same chassis to another device and it works perfectly. You use the same cable to charge your phone from that port and it charges, but the Thunderbolt box still isn't detected.

In situations like this, it's easy to think that The problem is with Windows or the Thunderbolt controllerespecially if you have made recent changes such as BIOS updates, forced hibernations, or system reinstalls.

A starting point is to review the Thunderbolt Control Center or the official Thunderbolt app which some manufacturers still include. Sometimes, the app's internal configuration gets "stuck," blocking previously authorized devices or leaving the permissions table in a strange state.

Updating that app, resetting its settings, or uninstalling and reinstalling it may help. Clean up corrupted permissions and force Windows to renegotiate devices when you reconnect them.

Furthermore, it is essential to check the Windows 11 Device ManagerUnder “Universal Serial Bus Controllers” or “System Devices” you should find references to USB4, Intel Thunderbolt controllers, or related servicesIf you see any warning icons, it's a good idea to update the driver, uninstall it, and restart so that Windows reinstalls it.

Another useful trick is to completely turn off and "reset" the Thunderbolt base or dockTo do this, disconnect all cables: power, laptop cable, and peripherals. Leave it without power for a few minutes and then reconnect it completely; sometimes these workstations enter abnormal states and need a complete shutdown to recover.

Do not underestimate the influence of the Windows 11 power management optionsSometimes, the system may turn off ports or controllers to save power, causing the Thunderbolt controller to not react properly when reconnecting the device.

In Device Manager itself, you can review each USB root hub, USB4 controller, and Thunderbolt-related entriesOpen its properties and, in the "Power Management" tab, uncheck the box for "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power." This prevents the system from leaving those controllers idle in low-power states.

Finally, when you want to rule out a hardware failure, it's advisable to test the same Thunderbolt port with another type of deviceFor example, try an external 1TB SSD, a different docking station, or even a monitor that receives video via USB-C. If these also fail, your laptop's Thunderbolt controller may be damaged. If they work, the problem is more likely with the specific combination of conflicting driver, firmware, and device.

If you believe the problem arose from a Windows update or recent configuration changeThe option to restore the system or uninstall the latest update can be helpful. Returning to a previous point where everything was working allows you to confirm whether the problem was introduced by a patch or a new driver.

Thunderbolt 4 docking stations on Windows 11 and Surface

The Thunderbolt 4 docks for Windows 11, such as the Surface Thunderbolt Dock Microsoft's products have become the nerve center of many remote work desktops and modern offices.

These docks connect to the laptop via a single USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 cable and, from there, offer Additional ports (USB-A, USB-C), video output, Ethernet, audio and charging for the team itself, simplifying cable and connection management.

In the specific case of Surface, Microsoft maintains a table of compatibility that indicates the data transfer speed via USB-C for each modelThe latest devices, such as the latest generations of Surface Pro and Surface Laptop (see Surface Pro 11 vs MacBook Air M4 comparison), reach up to 40 Gbps, while previous models remain at 10 Gbps.

This means that, even if you connect a Connect Surface Dock Thunderbolt 4 to an older Surface deviceThe data speed will be limited by the device's own port, not reaching the base station's maximum. However, many of the benefits (multi-monitor(wired network, audio, etc.) will continue to be available.

The setup is usually very simple: You place the base on the desk, connect the power supply, plug in the network, the USB peripherals, the monitors to the USB-C video port, and finally, connect the Thunderbolt cable to the laptopFrom that moment on, the system charges the device and automatically connects to all the dock accessories.

Once connected, you can configure the Screen behavior in Windows 11 from Settings > System > DisplayYou can choose whether to duplicate your desktop, extend it, or use just one monitor. This flexibility is key to adapting your workspace to each task.

Something similar happens with the audio: after connecting speakers or headphones to the base, in Settings > System > Sound You can select your preferred input and output device. When using the dock, you may not hear anything through your laptop's internal speakers until you change the default playback device.

To ensure that everything performs as it should, it is highly recommended to have Windows and Surface firmware updatedMicrosoft distributes updates for both the devices themselves and the docking stations, which fix compatibility, video stability, power management, and performance issues.

If you're in a business environment, a well-utilized Thunderbolt 4 station can reduce support costs (standard configurations, fewer loose adapters), extend the lifespan of laptops (less wear and tear on ports) and facilitate the deployment of hybrid workstations in offices and homes.

NAS and professional storage via Thunderbolt 4

One of the scenarios where Thunderbolt 4 particularly shines is that of storage professional connected via TB4, such as Thunderbolt NAS or RAID chassis designed for video editing and heavy audiovisual projects.

Manufacturers like QNAP offer equipment similar to a Compact NAS with Thunderbolt 4 ports and all SSD storage, geared towards All-Flash workflows and professional content creation, and know Who manufactures flash memory chips? can help in choosing suitable components.

These NAS usually combine Modern Intel CPUs (e.g., Raptor Lake with Iris Xe graphics), several M.2 PCIe slots for high-speed NVMe SSDs, advanced operating system (such as QuTS hero) with deduplication features, robust RAID and hardware video transcoding capability.

Although they have Thunderbolt 4 ports, they don't always take full advantage of the standard: some models limit their Effective Thunderbolt bandwidth of 20 GbpsThis translates to a theoretical transfer speed of around 2,5 GB/s, which in practice is still spectacular for most editing workflows.

These devices allow us to consider scenarios such as the one in directly upload the raw camera footage (4K/8K RAW) to the NAS and that the editor connects via Thunderbolt 4 from their laptop to work on the material without needing intermediate local copies, taking advantage of the low latency and high bandwidth.

The NAS, thanks to its transcoding engine and its advanced file systemIt can serve files to the studio monitor or other computers over the network simultaneously, while maintaining backups, snapshots, and deduplication to save space.

In another scenario, the NAS acts as shared storage connected via Thunderbolt 4 and simultaneously to a 10 Gbps LANallowing a main team to work at maximum speed directly via TB4 and the rest of the studio to access via fast Ethernet network, thus centralizing the project.

Setting up a Thunderbolt 4 NAS in Windows 11 is usually similar to connecting it over a network: it's often accessed via IP addresses and protocols such as SMB (Samba), FTP, or proprietary tools like QFinder/QSync that help discover the device and mount the network drives.

Tools like QFinder Pro detect the NAS connected via Thunderbolt and LAN, displaying its IP address and connection type. From there you can launch network utilities to set up Samba or FTP shares directly, authenticating with username and password and accessing shared folders according to the configured permissions (local users or integrated with LDAP/AD).

One curious and very useful function is that of T2E (Thunderbolt-to-Ethernet)where the NAS acts as a network "bridge" for the PC connected via Thunderbolt. In other words, you can connect the laptop to the NAS using only Thunderbolt, and the NAS will provide internet access through its own LAN interface at up to 10 Gbps.

Enabling T2E is usually as simple as selecting the option in the NAS software; The PC renews its IP address (using a command like ipconfig /renew in the background) and uses the network as if it were directly connected to the switch, but taking advantage of the Thunderbolt link as a transport path.

In terms of performance, the key is always in the slowest part of the chain.

A single SSD in a Thunderbolt NAS can cost around 2 GB / s, while a well-configured RAID 0 with multiple NVMe drives can easily reach 3-4 GB/s, according to real-world test data.

If you connect the NAS to a 2,5 Gbps networkYou're limited to an effective speed of around 280 MB/s; a 40 GB file will take about 2 minutes and 20 seconds to transfer. 10 GbpsThe time for that same file is around 40 seconds, assuming that both the NAS and the client and the switch support 10G.

With Thunderbolt 4 working at full capacityYou can achieve transfer speeds of around 2 GB/s, which means that 40 GB file takes about 20-25 seconds to copy. When we're talking about hours of 4K/8K recording that add up to several terabytes, The workflow improvement is enormousTo move large files, utilities like teracopy They can speed up the copy and verify its integrity.

Even so, we have to be realistic: Thunderbolt 4 All-Flash NAS devices with NVMe SSDs and powerful CPUs These are expensive solutions, designed primarily for video studios, creative agencies, audiovisual production companies, and professional environments where the time saved translates into money.

For domestic use or small businesses without extreme needs, a combination of Conventional NAS with 2,5 or 10 Gbps LAN and hybrid storage It is usually more balanced in terms of cost-benefit, reserving Thunderbolt 4 for those flows where it really makes a difference.

Looking at the whole picture, from Thunderbolt 4 docks for Windows 11 and Surface to professional NAS devices, it's clear that Thunderbolt 4 is much more than a pretty connector: it's a key tool for combining data, network, video, and power into a single cable with guaranteed performance.Properly configured in BIOS and Windows 11, with updated drivers, adequate security, and correct power management, it becomes the perfect backbone for advanced workstations, professional editing, and hybrid environments, offering an investment that can remain valid for years despite the arrival of Thunderbolt 5.