5 Quick Fixes for Windows not Detecting HDMI Monitor

Are you one of the many frustrated users who can’t get your HDMI monitor to work on your Windows computer? Fear not, my friend! In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most effective ways to fix Windows not detecting HDMI monitor issues. So even if you don’t know your way around a computer, this guide will help you get your monitor up and running quickly!

Let’s dive into the different fixes that you can try.

Fixes for Windows not Detecting HDMI Monitor

Fix 1: Initial Checks

Let’s start with some quick solutions and confirm there are no signal issues with HDMI.

Check HDMI Cable Connection

It might be a straightforward hardware issue if you’re experiencing problems with your HDMI connection. But first, ensure your HDMI cable is in good working condition and correctly connected to both your Windows and HDMI devices.

Try a Different HDMI Input

Do you know what can mess up your HDMI device’s performance on your Windows system? Damaged HDMI ports! If you’re having issues, try swapping out the port and see if that does the trick. Who knows, maybe you’ll get lucky, and it’ll solve the problem. 

Restart and Reconnect your Devices

This problem can happen because of improper bootup errors with the devices. For example, suppose your system or HDMI device doesn’t boot correctly, resulting in an error. In that case, you may face video or audio output issues. But don’t worry; you can solve this issue by rebooting your laptop or PC and re-plugging your devices with HDMI. I will give you some steps to do so. Follow them carefully to reboot and reconnect the devices:

1. First, ensure your HDMI device, such as your TV or speakers, is turned on. Then, turn on your PC or laptop.
2. Next, try turning off your HDMI devices while keeping your Windows system on. 
3. After that, unplug all the HDMI connections and plug them back in with your HDMI device and your system. 

This should refresh the HDMI connection and could fix the issue.

Fix 2: Manually Detect Display

Of course, Windows is not going to detect your ancient tech automatically. Just kidding, it can happen with any device, even the latest one. But don’t worry; you can still manually make Windows recognize that crappy monitor or TV! The Windows 10 OS has a ‘Detect switch’ that you can use to instruct your PC to check for secondary/multiple displays manually. Just follow the steps below to initiate that.

1. Open up the Settings Menu and select the System option. 
2. Then, click Display in the left-hand pane and go to the Multiple Display section. 
3. From there, click the Detect button, and voila! Your multiple displays should be detected.

It’s almost too easy. 

Fix 3: Switch Projection Options

You can project visuals to a second monitor on Windows 10. One way is to use the Windows key + P keyboard shortcut, which opens the “Project to a second screen” menu. From there, you can choose how to display your screen on the second monitor.

Another option is to type “project” in the Windows Search box and select “Project to a second screen” from the search results. This will also take you to the same menu where you can choose how you want to project your screen.

Let us give you an honest rundown of all the options:

• PC screen only: This option ignores any connected monitors or TVs and displays output only on your computer screen.    
• Duplicate: This option will display the same content on your PC and any connected monitors or TVs.    
• Extend: With this option selected, a portion of the content is displayed on your computer screen while the remaining section is projected onto other connected displays.    
• Second screen only: This option will display content exclusively on any connected monitors or TVs, ignoring your computer screen entirely.

Quick note: the projection options apply to all video connectors on your Windows device, including HDMI, VGA, DVI, and Mini DisplayPort. 

Suppose your computer isn’t detecting your HDMI TV/monitor or projecting correctly to your additional monitor(s). In that case, you may need to check if the projection settings are set to the ‘PC screen only’ option. If that doesn’t work, let’s move on to the next fix.

Fix 4: Update Display/Graphics Driver

If your Windows 10 computer isn’t detecting monitors over HDMI, it might be outdated graphic drivers. Ain’t that a bummer? Don’t worry, though; we’re here to help you out. You have to update your PC’s graphics driver and reboot your computer. Don’t forget to follow the steps below:

1. First, press the Windows key + X on your keyboard. This will launch the Windows Quick Access Menu. 
2. Next, select Device Manager from the options. 
3. Find Display adapters and double-click them or click the drop-down icon to find your device’s display/graphics driver.
4. Right-tap on the graphics driver and select Update driver. 
5. Remember to update the driver for your dedicated graphics card, too, if you have one! 
6. Finally, choose “Search automatically for updated driver software” and let the Windows Device Manager do the rest!”

Fix 5: Change Multiple Display Operating Mode

If none of the above resolutions work, it’s time to get your hands dirty and manually change your PC’s ‘Multiple Displays Operating Mode.’ Sounds scary. But fear not, our dear user, because, with the Intel Graphics Control Panel, it’s as easy as pie! Follow the steps, and you’ll be ready to fix that pesky issue.

To check if your HDMI monitor is detected by the Intel Graphics Control Panel on your Windows 10 PC, follow these steps:

1. Right-tap on any empty space on your desktop and pick Graphics Settings from the context menu. This will launch the Intel Graphics and Media Control Panel.
2. Choose Display.
3. Then select Multiple Displays.
4. Click the Operating Mode drop-down button to check if the Intel Graphics Control Panel detects your HDMI monitor. You should see some options to duplicate or extend your screen. 

If you want your system to work smoothly and without glitches, install the latest graphics card driver, especially if you’re using NVIDIA or AMD. And if you want to take things up a notch, update your graphics card control panel, too, from either the Microsoft Store or the graphics card manufacturer’s website. As for you, NVIDIA peeps out there, just hit up the Microsoft Store and install (or update) the NVIDIA Control Panel. Then you can manually force-detect your HDMI monitor or TV.

For users of AMD, you can use the AMD Radeon Settings to force-detect an HDMI monitor on your PC. But before that, ensure you’ve updated your AMD graphics card driver.

Pro-tip: Always double-check that you’re using the right HDMI cables that are compatible with the HDMI dock versions on your system and monitor/TV. It’s crucial to avoid any unexpected compatibility issues.

Conclusion

There are a bunch of steps you can take to try and fix this annoying issue. We’ve covered you in this blog post with solutions, from checking your hardware to updating the graphics driver and adjusting display settings. Some of these fixes may be tricky, but you’ll figure it out. Try each solution individually and test your HDMI connection after each step to see which works best for you. With these tips, you’ll be able to quickly troubleshoot your Windows not detecting HDMI monitor issue and get back to enjoying your computer and multimedia experience.

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