It can be frustrating when you keep getting the no-signal warning when connecting your DisplayPort monitor to your laptop.
It’s a common glitch but a fixable one. Nonetheless, you must know where to look to pinpoint the source of the error before looking for a solution.
And that’s what we’ll identify below: common no-signal causes and their solutions.
The first step towards fixing the no-signal bug on a DisplayPort device is identifying what is causing the error. And that can be anything from problems with the monitor, cables, ports, adapter, driver, or operating system. To fix the issue, analyze each potential cause, then apply the appropriate corrective measures to rectify the error.
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Why Does My DisplayPort Say No Signal?
The most common causes of no-signal bugs on DisplayPort devices are:
Loose cables
Something as simple as a loose cable can disrupt signal transmission. You’ll get this error when you don’t firmly fix the DP cables into their respective ports.
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Faulty cables
A faulty DP cable may be the cause of the no-signal misery.
Test whether your cable is broken by connecting it to another device. If the cable works, you’ll know it isn’t the problem. But if it doesn’t work, it’s probably damaged and needs replacing.
Faulty adapter
If you’re connecting two devices using an adapter, it could be that the adapter is defective. That would mean that the adapter cannot pass the signal to the output port. It may also mean that the adapter cannot receive the signal from the source port.
Or the adapter may not fully process the data, and so it has nothing to output.
Faulty DP port
Your DisplayPort cables may be working fine, but if any of the DP ports you’re connecting them to are not operational, you’ll not receive a signal.
To tell whether your DisplayPort ports are defective, test them using a different DP cable.
The cable you choose has to be in good, working order. So, try it on another device first and confirm that it is indeed functional. This would mean the screen you’re connecting it to is also working.
Next, connect the cable to the DP port and see if it transmits a signal to the display screen. If it doesn’t, the DP port is damaged.
Driver error
You may get a no-signal error if your graphics card drivers are out of sync.
Changes in software or operating system components due to a software or OS update can cause driver incompatibility issues. And, as a result, the graphics card doesn’t send video data to the screen as it should.
Incorrect settings
If you have the wrong monitor settings or wrongly configured resolution, you’re likely to get a no-signal DisplayPort error.
Brightness
Some monitors are extra sensitive and will record an error when you alter some settings.
If you turn the monitor’s brightness down to the lowest setting, the screen will appear blank, even though the video is playing.
Resolution
If the resolution configuration is incorrect, you may get a blank screen. This mostly happens when the video playback resolution is higher than the graphics card or monitor resolution.
The computer/monitor is asleep
If the computer or monitor is asleep, you won’t get a signal. Maybe the computer or monitor is set to sleep at a particular time. Or perhaps you’ve set it to go off after a specified period of dormancy.
Operating System error
The no-signal bug may be due to an OS error.
How can you tell?
Move the mouse about and check whether you can detect the moving cursor on the screen.
If you can spot cursor movements, it shows that the monitor is working and parts of the computer system are working, but something in the system is wrong.
How Do I Fix My DisplayPort No Signal?
Here is how to fix DisplayPort no-signal errors:
Reconnect all your cables
Disconnect the DP cable or cables if using an adapter, and reconnect them.
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Unlike cables like USB, where you merely push them into the port, and they stay in, DisplayPort cables have tiny hooks that hold the cable in place inside the port.
Some have clamps that you push to lock the cable in place. So push the cable the whole way in, and if there are clamps on the sides or at the top, press to lock it in. When correctly inserted, the DP cable won’t come out when you gently wiggle it.
Replace DP cable
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Make sure that the quality of the new DP cable is uncompromised by choosing a VESA-certified DP cable.
Replace the adapter
Are you using the wrong type of adapter for your DisplayPort connection? Put it aside and get yourself the suitable adapter type.
And if you have the correct type of adapter, but it is defective, invest in a new one, too.
Some adapter connectors are replaceable. If you have one like that and the connector is the only faulty part, you can replace it instead of buying a brand-new unit.
Replace faulty ports
If you have a malfunctioned DP port, replace it.
Removing and replacing ports is a bit technical, so you will require some tech know-how to do this.
Open your device and find where the DisplayPort port is. Loosen it and remove it, then fix a new port in its place.
The average user may find this challenging to do. Therefore, it’s advisable to engage a tech specialist to help you.
Update your drivers
Update your graphics card drivers to get rid of incompatibility problems.
Go to Settings. Find Display and Display Adapters. Then click under Drivers. Click to update drivers.
If you can’t see the Update Driver button, you can do a manual driver update. But for this, you have to go to the official graphics card website.
Have your video card model number at hand. That’s what you’ll use to search for the drivers.
Once you identify the correct drivers, download them, then install them on the computer.
If the no-signal issue was due to missing drivers, updating the drivers will solve it. Here is a great video tutorial on how to update a graphics card driver you can use.
Adjust your settings
Check that you did not accidentally turn brightness to the minimal level. If turned low, press the plus button to increase brightness.
Adjust the resolution so that it mirrors the resolution that your video card and monitor support. Changing the video resolution to the default settings usually solves the problem.
Restart your computer
If your cables, ports, and devices are working as expected, and you can’t pinpoint the problem causing a no-signal error, try restarting the computer.
Turn the machine off, give it a few minutes of rest, and then turn it back on.
You might be surprised that the no-signal error is no longer there.
Disconnect your devices
Switch off your source and sink devices and disconnect them from power.
Let them rest a while, and then reconnect them back to power.
Connect the DisplayPort cables, then turn the source and display devices back on once again. The no-signal glitch will probably be gone.
That’s because when you turn on the device anew, the internal system clears the temporary memory from the previous operating session and, with it, the recorded errors.
Conclusion
The DisplayPort no-signal error is fixable. But to fix it, you must first identify what’s causing the error.
The no-display alert can go off due to defects on the DisplayPort port, cable, monitor, operating system, or drivers.
To correct the glitch, repair or replace the affected hardware or software. Depending on the cause, you could:
- Replace the DisplayPort cable(s), port, or monitor.
- Update drivers and change your display settings.
- Or, reinstall your operating system.
And that should eliminate the no-signal bug.
Vance is a dad, former software engineer, and tech lover. Knowing how a computer works becomes handy when he builds Pointer Clicker. His quest is to make tech more accessible for non-techie users. When not working with his team, you can find him caring for his son and gaming.