When connecting displays across different ports—USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, and VGA—some conversions are possible, while some are not practically possible with simple adapters. Here’s a quick guide to what you can and can’t do when adapting video output formats.

Compatible Video Output Conversions

USB-C to:

HDMI – Supported

DisplayPort – Supported

DVI – Supported

VGA – Supported

Tip: Ensure your USB-C port supports DisplayPort Alt Mode for video output compatibility.

DisplayPort to:

HDMI – Supported via passive adapters or cables (if the source supports DP++), or via active adapters (if the source does not support DP++)

USB-C – Supported, but requires a bidirectional USB-C to DisplayPort adapter

DVI – Supported using an active DisplayPort to DVI adapter.

HDMI to:

DVI – Supported

VGA – Requires an active HDMI to VGA adapter (HDMI is digital, VGA is analog).

Incompatible or Limited Conversions

Not all conversions are technically or electrically possible, especially when going “backward” from digital standards to analog or from display-focused outputs to data-centric inputs.

These will not work without practically without more complex adapters:

HDMI to DisplayPort – Requires an active HDMI to DisplayPort adapter, which can have mixed results

HDMI, VGA, or DVI to USB-C – Not supported

VGA to HDMI, DVI, or DisplayPort – Being analog, VGA needs active conversion to work with digital video standards like HDMI or DisplayPort.