Why is Windows not recognizing a second monitor?

Question

I have a laptop with two monitors connected. This morning the system is not recognizing one of the monitors and has identified it as 1/2 and 3. The laptop display is being shown on the 1/2 display. How do I switch it back so that I have the three different displays?

Answer 1

Hello,

Here are some steps you can follow to resolve this issue:

Check Connections: Ensure all cables are securely connected to both the laptop and the monitors. Sometimes, a loose connection can cause recognition issues.

Detect Displays:

Right-click on your desktop and select Display settings.

In the Display settings window, click on the Detect button to see if Windows can recognize the missing monitor.

Identify Monitors:

In the Display settings window, click on Identify. This will display numbers on each screen to help you identify them.

Make sure each monitor is correctly identified.

Rearrange Displays:

In the Display settings window, you will see a diagram of your monitors. Drag and drop the monitor icons to match the physical arrangement of your monitors.

Ensure that each monitor is set to Extend desktop to this display.

Update Graphics Drivers:

Open Device Manager by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting it.

Expand the Display adapters section, right-click on your graphics card, and select Update driver.

Follow the prompts to search for and install any available updates.

Have a nice day.

Best Regards,

Hania Lian

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Answer 2

Hello,

See if this fix helps you:

https://www.kapilarya.com/fix-windows-11-not-detecting-second-monitor

Let us know if this helps!

Note: Included link in this reply refers to blog post by a trusted Microsoft MVP.