9 Fixes for Monitor Says No Signal Issue

The dreaded no signal screen on your monitor can be frustrating, especially when it displays when you have a deadline to beat on a project. While sometimes such an error message may necessitate you to call in a technician on your computer, it is not always the case.

In most cases, it could be a minor issue such as a loose cable or poorly configured display settings. Here are some tips to fix this issue without calling in a technician. But first;

Why is My Monitor Displaying No Signal Message?

There are many reasons why a monitor may be displaying the no signal message. The most common causes include:

1. Turn Off Your Monitor and Computer

If your computer and monitor are both on and still displaying no signal messages, try turning off both devices and then turning them back on again before troubleshooting any issues. You can do this by pressing the power button at the back of your computer or by unplugging the power cord from the wall socket if possible.

However, wait five seconds before turning on both devices again after unplugging them from their respective sockets.

It may resolve the issue with no problem at all but if not, proceed to the next step.

2. Check/Change Your Display Adaptor or Cable

If restarting your monitor and computer doesn't work, check the connection between your computer and monitor. The cables may have been lost due to accidental movements while working and are causing problems with your system's connectivity with the monitor.

You must ensure that the cable connecting your computer and monitor is properly connected and secure (fully pushed in). If the cables are correctly connected but not sending signals to the monitor, it could be damaged. Check out for worn-out bends and nicks.

A quick solution is to try using a different cable to see if it resolves the issue. If so, you should replace your earlier cord with the one you have tested successfully. Additionally, ensure that you are using a high-quality display cable as standard cables can degrade over time and cause this issue to re-occur.

3. Change Your Display Settings

If changing your display adapter and cable does not fix the problem, it's time to change your monitor settings.

Most monitors come with display settings that allow users to customize their display according to their preferences. These preferences include color depth and resolution, among others. To change your monitor display settings;

Go to the Start menu and select Settings > System > Display in Windows 10 or Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > Display in Windows 8/10.

Change your resolution and refresh rate to match those of your desktop. If you still receive no signal error messages, try changing other settings such as brightness, contrast, and color quality until you find the best ones.

4. Remove and Reattach the Video Card

The video card is responsible for displaying images on your monitor. If there is a problem with your PC's video card or it's not firm, you will be unable to see anything on your monitor. This is regardless of whether there are any signal issues or not! To check if this is the case;

Step 1: Open your PC and access the video card.

Step 2: Remove the video card.

Step 3: Clean any debris out of its slot using compressed air or rubbing alcohol. You can also clean the video card contacts with an eraser or rubbing alcohol (if necessary).

Step 4: Reattach it firmly back to its place or, if possible, insert it into any other available video card slot on the motherboard.

Step 5: Close the PC case and reboot your system.

Removing and reinstalling the video card should solve the no signal problem on your monitor. This is because Windows will automatically detect and reinstall the card's driver, thus restoring image display capabilities.

If that doesn't work, move on to other troubleshooting steps below.

5. Check Monitor Input Source

In today's market, many computer monitors are versatile; they come with multiple input sources. If you have set your monitor to the wrong input source, you will experience no signal issues on your monitor. Fortunately, you can check and change your monitor's input source from the display menu.

Step 1: Launch the Display Menu and search for Input Source Setting. Some models have a button on the side for cycling through the various menu options.

Step 2: Set the monitor to the correct input source. For instance, if you want to connect your device to the monitor using an HDMI cable, choose HDMI as the input source.

If you still get no signal after ensuring all connections are correctly made and secure, move on to the next step below.

6. Test Your Monitor on a Different Device

Are your cable, input source, and display settings correctly set but still no signal on your monitor? Then there is an issue with your monitor or the device.

Use another monitor or device to determine where the problem is;

7. Reset the CMOS Battery

Your computer CMOS battery is responsible for storing the settings of your PC. It also operates during startup to ensure that all components are working fine. When this battery fails, it causes issues with your display settings like resolution and refresh rate, which results in the no signal display error message on your monitor.

To fix this problem, all you need to do is resetting your CMOS battery by removing its power supply for about 5 minutes before putting it back in place again. After that, reconnect the power and start up your machine again. If it doesn't work, replace the old battery with a new one.

8. Update Your Graphics Drivers

Graphics drivers are software that allows your computer to communicate with your monitor correctly. When these drivers fail to update, they sometimes cause your monitor's no signal error message. To fix this issue, update your graphics drivers as they might have been affected by some recent software updates or security patches you applied to your system.

However, updating the drivers when there is no display on your monitor can be difficult. In this case, try booting up your computer in safe mode.

You can either update the driver manually or automatically;

Updating graphic driver manually: Visit the manufacturer's website and search for the latest version of your graphics drivers. Ensure you select a graphics driver that is compatible with your operating system. An incompatible driver will not solve the current problem.

Updating the driver automatically: If you don't have the patience, time, or skills to maneuver to the manufacturer's website to update your graphics driver manually, there are free updater tools. The drivers will make it easy for you by automatically searching for the compatible graphics driver saving you the trouble of searching for it manually.

9. Unstable Power Supply

A low power supply to the GPU (graphics processing unit) can result in the no signal issue on your monitor. It is because low power will not be able to support full GPU functionality. Besides, when the power supply is unstable, it will lead to inconsistent monitor display.

You may be able to fix this by using another power supply cable that has enough wattage to handle your graphics card. You can also try using another GPU or video card with lower wattage requirements than yours and see if that works better.

Conclusion

When your monitor says no signal, don't render your computer or monitor useless or start budgeting for another monitor. Sometimes it's a loose cable connection that you can quickly fix or change your display settings.

Use the tips above to troubleshoot and resolve the no signal message on your monitor. Remember, you don't have to try all methods; you are good to go when one works for you!