How to Fix External Display Not Working on Windows 11

Many people utilize several monitors nowadays to improve their overall computing experience and productivity. But occasionally, you could run into the annoying problem of the external display not working on Windows 11.

Numerous factors, including software bugs and hardware problems, can be the cause of this error. This post however will offer a thorough walkthrough for investigating and fixing the Windows 11’s external display not working issue. We’ll take you step-by-step through the procedure, starting with the simplest checks and working our way up to more complex fixes.

Before going for our more comprehensive solutions, we recommend carrying out a few simple troubleshooting steps.

• The first step to take when trying to fix this problem is to verify if the monitor is plugged into a power source and check if the display is turned on.
• Next, restart your computer to allow it to come up in a fresh state. This can sometimes help fix this error.
• Lastly, disconnect the video cables, wait a while, then reconnect it. If this does not work, you could try using a different video cable.

If the steps above do not work, try out our more detailed solutions below.

1. Connect your device to a wireless external display

To avoid any hardware problems with physical cables and connectors, you can resolve the external display not working on Windows 11 by connecting your device to a wireless external display. Wireless external screens do not require malfunctioning cables or incompatible ports because they connect to your computer wirelessly using technologies like WiDi and Miracast.

You can easily pinpoint the issue with the physical connection and possibly fix the display problem by moving to a wireless connection. Follow the steps below to do this.

1. Press Windows + I simultaneously to open the Settings application.
2. Select Bluetooth & devices on the left tab.
3. Turn on the Bluetooth toggle on the right side, then click on the Add device option at the top.
   
4. Next, choose the Wireless display or dock option.
   
5. Ensure that the wireless display is on and discoverable.
6. Pick the required display from the list.
7. Lastly, follow any other on-screen instructions and check if the external display is now working on Windows 11.

2. Use the Detect button to look for an external display

By asking Windows to rescan and detect the connected external display, the Detect button in the display settings of Windows 11 can assist in resolving the external display not working issue. This is especially helpful in cases where Windows does not identify an external display that is physically connected.

Windows will look for and try to identify any connected displays when you click the Detect button. Windows will then add the external display to the list of available displays and apply the necessary settings once it is detected. The steps below will guide you on how to use this option.

1. Hold Windows + I simultaneously to open the Settings app.
2. Click on System on the left tab, then hit Display on the right-hand side.
   
3. Select the Multiple displays setting, then click on the Detect button.
   
4. Once you do this, Windows should detect the external display and resolve this problem.

3. Update your graphics driver

The external display not working on Windows 11 error may be resolved by updating your graphics driver. doing this will help keep your computer up to date with the latest drivers needed to connect to your graphics card and operate multiple displays.

Graphics drivers that are out-of-date or corrupted can cause a variety of display errors, including improper operation of the external display, compatibility problems, and inaccurate display settings. Keep your graphics driver up to date by following the instructions below.

1. Open your Settings application.
2. On the left tab, select Windows Update, then click on Advanced options on the right.
   
3. Next, choose Optional updates.
   
4. On the next menu, select the latest graphics driver, then click the Download & install button.
   
5. Allow Windows to download and install the updated driver, then check if the error has been fixed.

4. Roll back your graphics driver

Another fix you could try is to revert your graphics driver to an older version. Sometimes, the updated version of your graphics driver is not always the best, and it might be unstable or incompatible with your PC. In this case, you should roll it back to a previous state. If you notice that the error started after updating your graphics driver, then this option is your best bet.

1. Right-click on the Windows icon on your screen, and choose Device Manager.
   
2. Navigate to the Display adapters section, double-click on it to expand, right-click on the required driver, then choose Properties.
   
3. Navigate to the Driver tab, then click on the Roll Back Driver button.
   
4. On the next pop-up menu, choose Previous version of the driver performed better, then select Yes.
   
5. Finally, reboot your PC and check if the error has been resolved.

5. Reinstall the graphics driver

Another way this error can be resolved is by reinstalling the graphics driver. Doing this will help to replace any damaged or out-of-date drivers with new, functional ones. This option can be very useful if your graphics card driver is the cause of the error. To do this, follow the steps below.

1. Right-click on the Windows icon on your screen, and choose Device Manager.
   
2. Navigate to the Display adapters section, double-click on it to expand, right-click on the required driver, then choose Uninstall device.
   
3. After doing this, reboot your PC, and go back to Device Manager.
4. Right-click on your computer’s name, and choose Scan for hardware changes.
   
5. Once this is done, Windows will automatically reinstall the driver.
6. Finally, check to see if your external display now works.

6. Modify the display frequency

Since an incompatible refresh rate can cause the external display to flicker or not display an image at all, modifying the display frequency can help fix the external display not working on Windows 11 by adjusting the refresh rate of the external display to match the capabilities of your graphics card and the refresh rate of your primary display. Follow the steps below to make this adjustment.

1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings application.
2. Click on System on the left tab, then hit Display on the right-hand side.
   
3. Go down and click on the Advanced display option.
   
4. From the Select a display to view or change its settings tab, use the drop-down menu to select the display for which you want to change the frequency.
   
5. Lastly, from the Choose a refresh rate section, pick a refresh rate that is compatible with both displays.
   
6. After doing this, check to see if the error persists.

Final Thoughts

In this article, we have been able to outline 6 effective troubleshooting steps to take when your external display is not working on Windows 11. Ensure to follow these steps carefully to get a positive result. If you also discover that your WiFi is disabled by the external monitor, check out the linked guide for solutions.