Share via

Laptop cannot detect HDMI connection

Anonymous
2023-01-15T17:52:38+00:00

Hello,

I'm at my wits end here. I often connect my laptop to a TV or another monitor with an HDMI cable. I use an HDMI to USB-C connector. This has worked fine since I got this laptop last June.

My device details: Lenovo Yoga 9i, Windows 11.

A few days ago, however, the laptop would no longer detect a connected monitor or TV.

This is not an issue with the TV or monitor or the cable. I have tested all of them using a different device, different cables, and even a different HDMI to USB-C connector, etc. They all connect just fine. The ONLY issue is when this laptop attempts to connect to any other display with an HDMI cable.

Additionally, this is probably not an issue with the ports on my laptop, as my laptop still charges via those USB-C connectors, and detects other devices like flash drives when I plug those in.

I can wirelessly connect to other monitors or TVs, but my laptop just cannot detect anything connected with an HDMI cable.

Here's what I've done to try and fix this problem:

  • I checked that all my drivers were updated and enabled (they were).
  • I have uninstalled my display drivers and reinstalled them.
  • I made sure that my projection settings were set to extend or duplicate. Regardless, the connected monitor says that there is No Signal.
  • I have gone into Settings > Display > Multiple displays and clicked "Detect other display." Receive message that no other display is detected.
  • I tried various combinations of restarting the TV and another connected monitor, restarting my own laptop, plugging in and unplugging the cables.
  • I ran a full virus scan.
  • Lastly, as a final resort, I factory reset my laptop, in case there was an update recently or something that was installed that I couldn't find which was causing an issue. This did not work either.

I am unsure if this is a Windows 11 problem or if this is a Lenovo software problem. I am also asking Lenovo customer support.

What's odd is that this happened without a new update happening and without me installing new software. The only thing I can think of is that my USB-C ports are selectively trying to mess with me, and I've been cursed by some foul entity.

Any advice or any possible other steps that I can take would be much appreciated. Is there anything that I'm missing here?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Display and graphics

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

2 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2023-01-23T16:30:53+00:00

    Dear Emily,

    Thank you for your helpful reply, and my apologies for my long delay. I was waiting on getting an HDMI to USB-A adapter, with which I would try connecting that way.

    The Lenovo I have does indeed have a USB-A port, along with USB-C ports.

    Short news is my laptop does connect to an external monitor now, but now through any way of having figured things out. It's pointing towards a possible hardware failure in the port.

    The day before getting my HDMI to USB-A adapter, I decided to try the USB-C adapter again with the HDMI cable, just to see. Lo and behold, to my shock, the external monitor connected. I had done nothing since my futile attempts over a week ago. I had tried so many times for so long, and now it had decided to start working again. I have no idea how long it will keep working, but my immediate problem is solved -- albeit with the unfortunate fate of not knowing exactly what was the cause of the issue.

    I think your last point is on the money here. There probably was some nigh-invisible hardware issue with the port that eventually dislodged, or something. Lenovo does lenovo things.

    Thanks again. If or when it stops working again, I'll know just to switch to my other port to try and connect.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. EmilyS726 224.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2023-01-15T21:01:13+00:00

    Hello there, this is Emily.

    Based on the information you have provided, which is very helpful by the way, I think a few more things you can try:

    1. On this Lenovo, are there any other ports you can try? Display port, HDMI? Just want to see if there's a way to bypass the USB-C port and see if they ave the same fate.
    2. What display adapter do you have? When you go to Device manager, under Display adapter, what's all listed? Have you tried installing the driver from the display adapter's manufacture support site instead? If the latest version doesn't work, it is ok to try a slightly older version instead. Sometimes the latest version can be buggy.
    3. Any chance your Windows 11 is on Insider version? You can type winver in the search on the taskbar and hit enter, the version information should be shown to you then. Feel free to share the build/version number if you can't tell. I am happy to take a look. Insider version, basically is the beta version, it is completely normal for it to be unstable.
    4. Make sure you also have BIOS, chipset drivers updated from Lenovo's driver website.

    If none of these works, then yes, it is possible a hardware issue. USB-C port does a lot of things, just because it can charge and transmit data, it doesn't mean it has no problem transmitting video signal. But let's try the above first and hopefully one of them can shed some light on the possible culprit.

    0 comments