Windows does not detect second and third display after windows update.

Question

All drivers are freshly installed and up to date. Graphics card is Intel(R) Iris(R) xe Graphics and all cables also checked. Both monitors that are not detecting on this laptop work on my other laptop fine as of today. Everything worked until about 6-9 months ago when windows updated and now windows does not detect the second or third display, I tried everything I knew how to do and then I gave up and starting searching again and found this so I figured I'd give this a try. My computer is a Lenovo Ideal pad slim 7 pro 14IHU5. The monitors are hooked up to a omars dongle via HDMI and then the dongle hooks up to my laptop via USB-C. I'm super frustrated as this is a major hinderance on work trying to use the laptop screen only. Any help would be divinely appreciated!

Answer 1

All drivers are freshly installed and up to date. Graphics card is Intel(R) Iris(R) xe Graphics and all cables also checked. Both monitors that are not detecting on this laptop work on my other laptop fine as of today. Everything worked until about 6-9 months ago when windows updated and now windows does not detect the second or third display, I tried everything I knew how to do and then I gave up and starting searching again and found this so I figured I'd give this a try. My computer is a Lenovo Ideal pad slim 7 pro 14IHU5. The monitors are hooked up to a omars dongle via HDMI and then the dongle hooks up to my laptop via USB-C. I'm super frustrated as this is a major hinderance on work trying to use the laptop screen only. Any help would be divinely appreciated!

I had the exact same problem. What worked for me after jumping through all those hoops, and still no luck, I took a look at my graphics card software. AMD was installed already, I launched it, read all the system menu options, chose display, and a very obscure option was at the bottom of the page....a single box to click, " Combine These Displays Into a Single Display.". Unchecked it, and instant success. I must have read that screen 100 times and didn't see it. Walked away frustrated, came back after a gin and tonic, sat back down, and saw it. It fixed all the problems and headaches. unfortunately, it reoccurs if I restart the machine, Im sure there is an additional checked box to fix that one too. But I will take the win for now, and only use sleep mode to shut down for the day

Answer 2

Hi Welcome to Microsoft community.This issue is often caused by Windows Update conflicts with drivers, settings, or hardware compatibility. Let’s troubleshoot systematically:

1. Check the USB-C Dongle and Port

• Test the dongle on another device (even if it worked before) to confirm it’s functional.
• Try a different USB-C port on your laptop. Some Lenovo models have one "dumb" USB-C port (charging only) and one "smart" port (supports DisplayPort Alt Mode). Ensure you’re using the correct port for video output (likely labeled with a "DP" or monitor icon).
• Update the dongle’s firmware (if available). Check Omars’ website for firmware/drivers specific to your model.

2. Roll Back or Reinstall Graphics Drivers Even if drivers are "up to date," Windows Update might have installed a problematic version:
3. Uninstall the current Intel Iris Xe driver:
   • Go to Device Manager > Display adapters > Right-click Intel Iris Xe > Uninstall device > Check "Attempt to remove the driver software".
4. Install the driver directly from Intel:
   • Download the latest Intel Iris Xe driver from Intel’s Download Center (avoid Lenovo’s site for now).
   • After installing, restart your laptop.
   • Disclaimer: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate and safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.
5. Force Windows to Detect Displays

• Keyboard shortcut: Press Win + Ctrl + Shift + B to reset the graphics driver.
• Manual detection:
  1. Right-click desktop > Display settings.
  2. Click Detect under "Multiple displays."
  3. If nothing happens, press Win + P and cycle through projection modes (e.g., Extend).

4. Check Windows Display Settings and Features

• Disable "HDR" or "Variable Refresh Rate" in Settings > System > Display (these features can conflict with multi-monitor setups).
• Disable "Auto Brightness" in Settings > System > Display.
• Disable "Tablet Mode" in Settings > System > Tablet.

5. Adjust Power Management Settings

• Disable USB selective suspend:
  1. Go to Control Panel > Power Options > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings.
  2. Expand USB settings > Disable USB selective suspend setting.
• Prevent PCI Express power savings:
  1. In the same menu, expand PCI Express > Set Link State Power Management to Off.

6. Update UEFI/BIOS Outdated firmware can break USB-C/DisplayPort functionality after a Windows Update:
7. Visit Lenovo Support and search for your IdeaPad Slim 7 Pro 14IHU5.
8. Download the latest UEFI/BIOS update and install it carefully (follow Lenovo’s instructions).
9. Disclaimer: Microsoft provides no assurances and/or warranties, implied or otherwise, and is not responsible for the information you receive from the third-party linked sites or any support related to technology.   If you are going to modify BIOS Settings, please back up all your personal files first to ensure you do not lose data.
10. Test with a Different Dongle or Direct HDMI

• Borrow/use a different USB-C hub/dongle. Some budget dongles lack proper DisplayPort Alt Mode support.
• Connect a monitor directly via HDMI (if your laptop has an HDMI port) to isolate whether the issue is with the dongle or the laptop’s USB-C port.

8. Reset Display Settings or Create a New User Profile

• Reset display settings:
  1. Go to Settings > System > Display > Advanced display settings.
  2. Click Display adapter properties > List All Modes > Select a compatible resolution/refresh rate.
• Create a new user profile:
  • Corrupted user profiles can cause display issues. Create a new local admin account in Settings > Accounts and test there.

9. Use System Restore or Clean Install If all else fails:

• Roll back with System Restore:
  • Choose a restore point from before the issue began.
• Clean install Windows 11:
  • Backup data and perform a clean install using the Media Creation Tool. This often resolves deep-seated driver conflicts.

Likely Culprits

• Faulty dongle firmware (common with budget hubs).
• Intel driver conflicts after a Windows Update.
• Power management settings throttling the USB-C port.
• UEFI/BIOS incompatibility with newer Windows builds.

Start with the dongle/port tests and driver reinstallation. If the issue persists, reply with updates, and I’ll help you further!Best regardsDerrick Qian | Microsoft Community Support Specialist