9 Solutions for a “No Signal” or “No HDMI Cable” Monitor/Device

There’s nothing worse than plugging in your monitor or television and seeing the message, “No Signal.”

If you’ve faced this annoying issue, you’re not alone. Many people have faced the exact same problem.

However, what does it mean when HDMI says, “No Signal?” This can be irritating and leave users confused.

Don’t worry. In this article, we will talk about what it means when HDMI says, “No Signal,” and the many ways you can resolve this issue. 

So, what does it mean when HDMI says, “No Signal”?

This simply means that the connected device isn’t getting input from the source you have selected. Read on to find out why this is happening.

Why Does My Monitor Say No Signal When HDMI Is Plugged In?

When you plug in your monitor, you expect to see the output. If none appears, it’s obviously confusing.

What does it mean when HDMI says “No Signal” or “No HDMI Cable” instead of showing you the output you expect?

This means that there’s no way for the input to travel from the source to the display.

HDMI uses an encryption method called High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) to transfer signals. 

This process is usually called a “handshake.” Most issues with HDMI saying “No Signal” are a result of this handshake not working, or something going wrong in the process. 

The following are some solutions you can try to fix this problem:

Possible Solutions

1. Change the Input Source

Sometimes, there are multiple HDMI ports on a device.

Selecting the right HDMI port is crucial. If you see “No Signal,” you should use a button on your remote to switch the input source. 

Do this by pressing either the “Source” or “Input” button on your remote. You’ll often see options like HDMI 1 and HDMI 2 to choose from. 

2. Unplugging and Replugging the Cable

Sometimes, the problem is as simple as unplugging and replugging the cable into the monitor or television screen.

Unplug the cable, leave it out for a few seconds, and insert it back in. 

This is the simplest solution available, and it doesn’t always work, but there’s a possibility that the cable simply wasn’t plugged in properly. 

3. Double-Check the Resolution Settings

If you have tried the solutions mentioned above, and you still see the “No Signal” issue, you should try checking the resolution settings.

This is a common mistake to make and can resolve the problem fairly quickly.

While most devices automatically adapt the resolution to fit their capabilities, this isn’t true for all devices. In these cases, you have to take care of it manually. 

Changing the resolution to match the output device may just solve your “No Signal” issue.

4. Fix Graphics Driver and Chipset Driver Issues

Sometimes, the “No Signal” problem can be the result of faulty drivers.

This includes both graphics drivers and chipset drivers. Updating both these drivers may solve the problem.

We know how frustrating it can be to update individual drivers manually. If you don’t have the time to do this manually or simply don’t want to, you can always choose an automatic option.

Driver Easy is one easy way to do this. You can use this or other automatic driver updaters to resolve this issue. 

Since these programs automatically download the right drivers for your system, they save you time and effort.

You also don’t have to worry about making mistakes and installing incorrect drivers that could potentially cause further problems. 

5. Changing the Order of the Boot Sequence

Sometimes, the handshake works when the devices you’re using are turned on in the right order. This is common when it comes to using HDMI to connect to home theater systems.

In this case, simply turn off and unplug the cable. Then, turn on the devices in a different order.

While this method doesn’t always work, it’s worth giving it a shot. 

6. Disconnect and Reconnect All Different HDMI Sources

The “No Signal” problem can be difficult to deal with when you have multiple HDMI sources plugged in. If this is the case, it’s wise to unplug all the HDMI cables from the ports. 

You should also unplug the power cable from the monitor or television for a while. After replugging this in, slowly plug in your other devices.

It’s important to do this one device at a time. Plug in a single device to a single port to avoid further complications. Slowly do this for the other devices as well. 

7. Turn On the “HDMI Connection” Setting

What does it mean when HDMI says “No Signal” when you connect a tablet or Android phone to a monitor, television, or screen?

This could be a lack of input because you haven’t enabled the right settings. The simple solution to this is to enable the correct setting on your device.

Take your phone or tablet and go to “Settings.” From here, you can go to “Display Entries” and enable “HDMI Connection” to solve the problem.

8. Check for Cable Damage and Dust in Ports 

While this probably isn’t the case, it’s good to check your cables to make sure they’re not damaged.

Frayed cables, or those with nicks and cuts, may not work properly and may cause problems like the “No Signal” issue. This may also mean having to replace your HDMI cable.

You can also check the ports while you’re at this since debris and dust can clog them and disrupt the connection. Simply cleaning out the ports should solve this issue.

9. Reset the Device

If all else fails and none of the other solutions work, it may be time to perform a power reset or factory reset. Reset your television or monitor as a last-ditch effort to resolve the HDMI “No Signal” issue. 

Conclusion

HDMI is a unique audio-video connection that is integral to our daily lives.

Because of this, the “No Signal” issue is a common and frustrating problem. 

If you were one of the people wondering, “What does it mean when HDMI says, ‘No Signal’?” we hope this helped solve your issue.

Be sure to let us know which of the steps worked for you and how you went about fixing your problem!