ADDITIONAL MONITOR NOT DETECTED

Leslie Ortiz 0 Reputation points
2026-07-22T18:51:02.1566667+00:00

IVE HAD A MONITOR CONNECTED TO LAPTOP FOR TWO YRS. FOR NO REASON MONITOR WENT BLACK AND IS NOW UNDETECTABLE. I TRIED OTHER MONITOR AND DIFFERENT HDMI CORDS. SAME.

Windows for home | Other | Devices and drivers
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  1. Lucus-V 10,435 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-07-23T18:01:59.23+00:00

    Hi Leslie Ortiz,

    Since you've already tested multiple monitors and different HDMI cables, the issue is likely related to the laptop rather than the monitor itself.

    Please try the following steps:

    1. Press Windows + P and select Extend or Duplicate to ensure the external display output is enabled.
    2. Go to Settings > System > Display and click Detect under Multiple Displays.
    3. Open Device Manager and check for any errors under Display adapters or Monitors.
    4. Update or reinstall your graphics driver from the laptop manufacturer's support website. It is recommended booting into Safe Mode and use DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) to completely remove old drivers from your system.

      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.

    5. If your laptop has another video output (such as USB-C with DisplayPort support), test with that connection if available.

    We should not rule out the possibility of a hardware-related issue, such as a problem with the laptop's HDMI port, display controller, or GPU. These components could also contribute to the behavior you are experiencing.

    These steps will help determine whether the problem is software-related or a hardware failure.

    If you have further information, please feel free to let me know.

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  2. Ferdinand Nanalig 32,290 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-07-22T20:09:37.9833333+00:00

    Hi! Let me help you.

    Please check Device Manager

    Right-click Start → Device Manager → expand "Display adapters."

    Is there a yellow warning triangle, or does it say anything like "Code 43"? If so, the graphics driver itself may have crashed or corrupted.

    If none, in the Device Manager go to Display adapters → right-click your GPU → Update driver.

    If that doesn't help, try "Uninstall device" (don't check "delete driver software"), then restart — Windows will reinstall a fresh driver.

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