Summary

The most common reason a Plugable DisplayLink-based docking station or USB graphics adapter stops outputting video after a Mac is updated or restarted is that the DisplayLink Manager application is not running, did not reopen after login, or no longer has the required macOS screen recording permission.

DisplayLink Manager is the software component that allows DisplayLink-based video outputs to work in macOS. If the application is not running, or if macOS is blocking the required permission, the displays connected through the DisplayLink-based device may remain blank, not appear in macOS Display Settings, or stop working until the application and permissions are restored.

Applicable To

• Plugable DisplayLink-based docking stations used with macOS
• Plugable DisplayLink-based USB graphics adapters used with macOS
• Mac systems where DisplayLink-connected displays stopped working after a macOS update, restart, shutdown, or login
• Mac systems where the DisplayLink Manager icon is missing from the macOS menu bar

This article applies only to products that use DisplayLink technology. It does not apply to Plugable USB-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode adapters, Thunderbolt-only docks, or MST-based adapters that do not use DisplayLink Manager.

Answer

First, confirm whether DisplayLink Manager is running. When DisplayLink Manager is running, its icon should appear in the macOS menu bar at the top of the screen.

If the DisplayLink Manager icon is not present, the application is not currently running. Open DisplayLink Manager from the Applications folder, then enable the setting that allows DisplayLink Manager to start automatically after you log in.

How To Reopen DisplayLink Manager

1. Open Finder.
2. Select Applications in the left sidebar.
3. Locate DisplayLink Manager.
4. Double-click DisplayLink Manager to open it.
5. Confirm that the DisplayLink Manager icon appears in the macOS menu bar.

After DisplayLink Manager opens, the displays connected through the Plugable DisplayLink-based device should begin working again if the only issue was that the application was not running.

Enable DisplayLink Manager to Start Automatically

After a restart or macOS update, DisplayLink-connected displays may not work until DisplayLink Manager starts. We recommend enabling DisplayLink Manager to start automatically after login.

1. Click the DisplayLink Manager icon in the macOS menu bar.
2. Open the Settings tab.
3. Enable Automatic app startup.

Older versions of DisplayLink Manager may show this setting as Launch automatically after login instead.

Confirm macOS Screen Recording Permission

If DisplayLink Manager is running but the displays are still not working, confirm that macOS is allowing DisplayLink Manager to access the screen. macOS requires this permission in order for DisplayLink Manager to generate the image shown on DisplayLink-connected displays.

Important: DisplayLink Manager does not record, store, or send your screen content to DisplayLink or Synaptics. The macOS permission is required because DisplayLink technology needs access to the screen image in order to send display data over USB to the connected monitor.

1. Open the Apple menu and select System Settings.
2. Select Privacy & Security.
3. Select Screen & System Audio Recording.
4. Find DisplayLink Manager in the list and enable the toggle.
5. Enter your Mac password or use Touch ID if prompted.
6. When macOS asks, select Quit & Reopen so the permission change can take effect.

On some older macOS versions, this setting may be listed as Screen Recording instead of Screen & System Audio Recording.

Allow the Accessory to Connect When Prompted

On Mac laptops with Apple silicon, macOS may ask for permission before allowing a newly connected USB or Thunderbolt accessory to pass data. If this prompt appears when connecting your Plugable DisplayLink-based product, select Allow.

If Don’t Allow is selected, the device may receive power but data may not pass through correctly. This can prevent DisplayLink Manager from detecting the Plugable device and connected displays.

Why This Happens

Plugable DisplayLink-based products use a USB data connection to drive external displays. On macOS, this requires the DisplayLink Manager application to be installed, open, and granted the required macOS permissions.

After a macOS update, restart, shutdown, or login, one or more of the following may occur:

• DisplayLink Manager may not reopen automatically.
• The DisplayLink Manager icon may be missing from the macOS menu bar.
• macOS screen recording permission may need to be confirmed again.
• An Apple silicon Mac laptop may require the Plugable device to be allowed as a USB accessory.
• A DisplayLink software update or clean reinstall may be needed if the system was recently updated.

Important Notes

• DisplayLink Manager must be running for displays connected through DisplayLink technology to work in macOS.
• Enabling Automatic app startup starts DisplayLink Manager after you log in. It does not necessarily make DisplayLink-connected displays available before login.
• If you need DisplayLink-connected displays available at the macOS login screen, DisplayLink provides a separate Login Screen Extension. DisplayLink notes that DisplayLink screens will not display the login screen when FileVault is enabled, even when the Login Screen Extension is installed.
• macOS may show a menu bar notification indicating that DisplayLink Manager is capturing the screen while a DisplayLink display is active. This is expected behavior in current macOS versions.

Troubleshooting

1. The DisplayLink Manager icon is missing from the menu bar

Open DisplayLink Manager manually from the Applications folder. Then enable Automatic app startup in the DisplayLink Manager Settings tab so the application starts after you log in.

2. DisplayLink Manager is running, but the displays are still blank

Check the macOS screen recording permission under System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording. Make sure DisplayLink Manager is enabled, then select Quit & Reopen if macOS prompts for it.

3. The Mac asks whether to allow the accessory to connect

Select Allow. If the prompt was missed or Don’t Allow was selected, disconnect the Plugable device, reconnect it, and allow the accessory when prompted. You can also review the Allow accessories to connect setting under System Settings > Privacy & Security.

4. The displays stopped after a macOS update and these steps did not resolve the issue

Recommend perform a clean reinstall of DisplayLink Manager. Plugable's current DisplayLink Manager installation guide is available here: DisplayLink Manager App Installation Instructions for macOS 26 Tahoe, macOS 15 Sequoia, and macOS 14 Sonoma.

5. A message says the screens have been stopped by the system

On macOS 15 Sequoia and later, DisplayLink notes that macOS may stop DisplayLink screen streaming if available disk space falls below a required threshold. Free additional disk space, restart the Mac, and try the DisplayLink-connected displays again.

6. The Plugable device is not detected by DisplayLink Manager

Disconnect all cables from the Plugable device, reconnect power if the device uses an external power adapter, and then reconnect the USB cable to the Mac. If possible, test a different USB port, a different USB cable, and another computer. Also confirm that macOS has allowed the accessory to connect and that the DisplayLink Manager App is running.

Need Assistance?

If the displays still do not work after completing the steps above, Plugable Support will be happy to help.

Please contact us at support@plugable.com