An external display on Windows 11 may be useful for many things. Foremost is their ability to extend your desktop; you may also use it to mirror your desktop or as a second monitor as a TV. However, some users mentioned that the external display is not working on Windows 11.
If you are in this category, this guide will walk you through some of the most practical fixes. Note that any of the following may cause this problem:
- Cable malfunction or damage.
- The external display is not turned on.
- Outdated display driver.
- Other hardware issues.
Let us now explore solutions.
1. Restart the Computer
Your first call should be restarting the computer. This is a valid fix because, during a restart, Windows will force all running processes to stop. If some of these processes are affected by certain bugs, a restart will be powerful enough to fix them and solve the display issue.
2. Change Connection Cable
Your external display is not working on Windows 11 because you have a faulty connection cable. If this is the case, your only solution would be to replace the cable.
However, before replacing the cable, you may verify the connection is tight and not shaky, as a shacky connection may not offer appropriate contact and may be why the external display does not work.
3. Update the Display Driver
A display driver is an essential software that helps communication between your monitors and the Windows 11 operating system. You may expect malfunction with certain display functionality when the driver is outdated or corrupted. You may update the driver using the following steps.
Step 1: Right-click on the Start menu and select Device Manager.
Step 2: Expand the Display adapters category, right-click on your driver, and click the Update driver option.
Step 3: Click Search automatically for drivers.
4. Roll Back Driver
If you notice that your external display is not working on Windows 11 after updating your driver, it may be because of a bug in the update. In this case, you can roll back the update using the steps below.
Step 1: Right-click on the Start menu and select Device Manager.
Step 2: Expand the Display adapters category, right-click on your driver, and click on Properties.
Step 3: Click the Driver tab and the Roll Back Driver button if it is not greyed out.
5. Reinstall Graphics Driver
If an update of the driver does not work, you should try reinstalling it. A reinstallation may be effective since it entails first uninstalling the software before replacing it with a new one. Here are the steps to follow.
Step 1: Right-click on the Start menu and select Device Manager.
Step 2: Expand the Display adapters category, right-click on your driver, and click on Uninstall device.
Step 3: Confirm your choice.
Step 4: Restart the computer and relaunch the Device Manager.
Step 5: Click the Scan for hardware changes option, and a new driver should be installed.
6. Force Detection of Monitor on Your Computer
If you have updated or reinstalled your driver and the external display is still not working on Windows 11, you may use the display Detect feature to force your computer to detect the monitor.
Step 1: Open the Settings app by pressing Windows + I.
Step 2: On the left pane, click System and Display on the right.
Step 3: Scroll down and click Multiple displays.
Step 4: Click the Detect button.
FAQ
1. Why isn’t my second monitor working?
It could be because of several reasons, including incorrect connection, wrong input source, incompatible resolution, or outdated or faulty drivers.
2. Do you need a special USB-C for display?
Not every USB-C cable is compatible with displays. There are USB-C cables made specifically for data transfer and USB-C cables made specifically for video output. Make sure the USB-C cable supports DisplayPort Alt Mode before using it for a display.
Closing Thoughts
When the external display is not working on Windows 11, it is not usually a complicated issue. By following some of the solutions in this guide, the problem should be resolved. We recommend you start with any fixes that feel most practical to you.
Lastly, learn how to use dual monitors in a remote desktop session.