Duplicate display doesn't work

Question

Hello,

Windows: 11

Laptop: Lenovo Legion 5 16ARX8

Monitor: LG UltraGear 27GS75QX-B

I left my laptop for 30m, and then the duplicate display doesn't work anymore, only the extended display.

The resolution also changed.

The FPS in games is lower with almost 50%.

I updated the drivers and Windows, but it doesn't work life before.

Any solutions?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Thanks for the follow-up and the screenshot Florin. It helps a lot.

Please note that this is a public forum. I’m a fellow user doing my best to provide helpful insights, and I apologize for any delay in my response. I’ll get back to you as soon as possible after receiving any updates from you. I’m in the UTC+8 time zone by the way.

Based on the screenshot, your NVIDIA Control Panel shows only one display (LG UltraGear) active, meaning the laptop's internal display is not being detected at all in the NVIDIA setup.

This confirms that the system isn't recognizing the internal laptop screen through the NVIDIA GPU (hence why you can’t duplicate).

It’s most likely using Hybrid GPU mode, and the internal display is running via the integrated AMD GPU, not the discrete NVIDIA GPU.

So here's what you can do.

Step 1: Check Windows Display Settings

Go to Settings > System > Display

See if both displays are listed (you should see “1” and “2”).

If yes,

Click Identify to confirm which is which.

Try selecting “Duplicate these displays” from the dropdown.

If only one display shows, proceed to the BIOS step below.

Step 2: Change GPU Mode in BIOS (CRITICAL STEP)

Some Lenovo Legion laptops ship with “Hybrid Mode” enabled (iGPU + dGPU). This mode can break duplication since each screen runs off a different GPU.

Reboot your PC and press F2 or DEL to enter BIOS.

Look for “Graphics Mode” or “Switchable Graphics”.

Set it to

Discrete Only (forces NVIDIA GPU)

Or disable Switchable Graphics

Save changes and reboot.

This will force both displays to use the NVIDIA GPU, making duplication possible.

Step 3: Recheck NVIDIA Control Panel

After BIOS change:

Go back to NVIDIA Control Panel > Set up multiple displays

You should now see both laptop and external screen

From there, select both > right-click > choose “Clone”

Let me know once you've done the BIOS switch or if you see both displays in Windows Settings. You're very close, we’re narrowing it down precisely.

Answer 2

Hello,

Step 1) Sometimes Windows Display Settings won't apply changes properly, but forcing it through GPU tools can help.

Doesn't work:

Set both screens to 60Hz

Doesn't work.

I will come back with feedback for the rest.

// LE: Nothing works.

Answer 3

Thanks for the update, Florin, and for confirming all the details.

We may be dealing with a driver conflict or display timing compatibility issue, especially with hybrid GPU setups (AMD + NVIDIA).

Let’s proceed with a few advanced checks.

Step 1) Sometimes Windows Display Settings won't apply changes properly, but forcing it through GPU tools can help.

For NVIDIA

Right-click on Desktop > Open NVIDIA Control Panel.

Go to Display > Set up multiple displays.

Try to clone displays from there instead of Extend.

If NVIDIA doesn’t allow duplication, it may be falling back to AMD (switchable graphics conflict).

Step 2) Some Legion laptops allow switching GPU modes in BIOS.

Reboot and enter BIOS (usually F2 or DEL key).

Look for something like

Switchable Graphics > Disable it

Or choose GPU mode: Discrete / Integrated / Hybrid

Set to Discrete (NVIDIA) if available

Save and reboot, try duplication again

Hybrid mode sometimes causes display duplication conflicts, especially after updates.

Step 3) Check display mode compatibility

Your external monitor (LG UltraGear 27GS75QX-B) may default to 165Hz. Some laptops can’t duplicate displays if

The external screen uses 165Hz

The laptop panel uses 60Hz

So do this

Go to Settings > Display > Advanced display settings

Set both screens to 60Hz

Then go back and retry duplicate mode (Win + P)

This resolves many duplication issues caused by refresh rate mismatches.

Step 4) Test in Safe Mode / Clean Boot

There could be background services interfering.

Boot into Safe Mode with Networking

Settings > Recovery > Advanced Startup > Restart Now

Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart > Press 5

Try duplicating the display here

If it works in Safe Mode, the issue is likely driver-related or third-party software (e.g., Lenovo Vantage, display tools, etc.)

Step 5) Optional. Use DDU to Clean Reinstall Display Drivers

If nothing works

Download DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller)

Boot into Safe Mode

Use DDU to remove both AMD and NVIDIA drivers

Reboot and reinstall

Latest NVIDIA drivers from NVIDIA.com

Latest AMD drivers (for iGPU) from AMD.com

Avoid Lenovo Vantage reinstall at this point to eliminate software conflict

Let me know what happens after BIOS GPU mode change or refreshing both displays to 60Hz. You’re very close, happy to stay with you until duplicate display works again.

Answer 4

Hello Florin,

Thank you for reaching out. Let’s go ahead and check a few things to get this sorted.

Before we proceed, I'd like to ask a few questions to better understand your setup.

1. Was the laptop running on battery or plugged in when this started?
2. What GPU is in your Legion 5? (Integrated AMD or discrete NVIDIA/AMD?)
3. In Display Settings, when you try to duplicate the display, what happens? Any error? Black screen?
4. Is the monitor connected via HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C?
5. Do both displays work individually if not duplicating?
6. What resolution is set on both displays when extending?

While waiting for your reply, here's what you can try for now.

Step 1) Even if updated, recent drivers can cause issues
Go to Device Manager > Display adapters
Right-click your GPU(s) > Properties > Driver > Try Roll Back Driver

If rollback isn’t available: uninstall the driver completely, then reboot. Windows will reinstall a base version.

For better performance:

Reinstall latest GPU driver from Lenovo Support or directly from NVIDIA/AMD (not Windows Update).

Step 2) Reset Display Configuration
Right-click on the desktop > Display Settings
Under Multiple Displays, try selecting "Duplicate these displays"
If it fails

Press Win + P > Select Duplicate
Disconnect external monitor > reboot > reconnect > try duplicating again.

Step 3) Go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Change default graphics settings
Toggle Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling OFF
Restart the system and check if duplication works

Step 4) Go to Advanced Display Settings for both screens.
Set both to the same refresh rate and resolution (e.g., 1080p @ 60Hz).
Sometimes duplication fails if there's a mismatch (e.g., 165Hz vs 60Hz).

If nothing resolves the duplication issue, try a different cable or port (if you're using HDMI, test with USB-C or DisplayPort if possible).

Try the monitor with another device to rule out a cable or monitor-specific problem.

Let me know the results of the steps above or answer the initial questions. I'll be happy to continue helping!

Hello,

Thank you for your reply.

1. Was the laptop running on battery or plugged in when this started?

The battery cable was plugged in.

2. What GPU is in your Legion 5? (Integrated AMD or discrete NVIDIA/AMD?)

Both nVidia and AMD.

3. In Display Settings, when you try to duplicate the display, what happens? Any error? Black screen?

Windows sets to "Extended" automatically.

4. Is the monitor connected via HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C?

HDMI.

5. Do both displays work individually if not duplicating?

Yes.

6. What resolution is set on both displays when extending?

1920 x 1080

---

I will come back with a feedback.

// LE: I tried everything you said, but nothing worked.

Answer 5

Hello Florin,

Thank you for reaching out. Let’s go ahead and check a few things to get this sorted.

Before we proceed, I'd like to ask a few questions to better understand your setup.

1. Was the laptop running on battery or plugged in when this started?
2. What GPU is in your Legion 5? (Integrated AMD or discrete NVIDIA/AMD?)
3. In Display Settings, when you try to duplicate the display, what happens? Any error? Black screen?
4. Is the monitor connected via HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C?
5. Do both displays work individually if not duplicating?
6. What resolution is set on both displays when extending?

While waiting for your reply, here's what you can try for now.

Step 1) Even if updated, recent drivers can cause issues
Go to Device Manager > Display adapters
Right-click your GPU(s) > Properties > Driver > Try Roll Back Driver

If rollback isn’t available: uninstall the driver completely, then reboot. Windows will reinstall a base version.

For better performance:

Reinstall latest GPU driver from Lenovo Support or directly from NVIDIA/AMD (not Windows Update).

Step 2) Reset Display Configuration
Right-click on the desktop > Display Settings
Under Multiple Displays, try selecting "Duplicate these displays"
If it fails

Press Win + P > Select Duplicate
Disconnect external monitor > reboot > reconnect > try duplicating again.

Step 3) Go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Change default graphics settings
Toggle Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling OFF
Restart the system and check if duplication works

Step 4) Go to Advanced Display Settings for both screens.
Set both to the same refresh rate and resolution (e.g., 1080p @ 60Hz).
Sometimes duplication fails if there's a mismatch (e.g., 165Hz vs 60Hz).

If nothing resolves the duplication issue, try a different cable or port (if you're using HDMI, test with USB-C or DisplayPort if possible).

Try the monitor with another device to rule out a cable or monitor-specific problem.

Let me know the results of the steps above or answer the initial questions. I'll be happy to continue helping!