How to fix Windows 10 Not Detecting Second Display

Last Updated on October 31, 2022 by Jake

Windows 10 isn’t a perfect operating system and can sometimes cause some issues. Sometimes the issue is not the OS itself. Here we will discuss the fixes for Windows 10 not detecting the second display issue.

How To Fix Second Monitor Not Detected

Using a second display or monitor is one way to increase your display area. However, sometimes Windows 10 just refuses to detect the second display. Here is how to fix Windows 10 not detecting the second display.

Before we discuss fixes for Win 10 not detecting the second display issue, make sure to try the following as sometimes it’s not the software or settings but external issues causing the problem.

• Try restarting your PC.
• Check the cable connection.
• Disconnect the cable from both sides and wait a few seconds to plug back in.
• Use your monitor’s built-in controls to ensure the correct port is selected as modern displays and GPUs have multiple display ports.
• Use a different cable.
• Try connecting the display to another PC to check if the display is not faulty.

Wireless Display

If you are trying to connect a wireless display, chances are you are not doing it right. Open Settings > System > Bluetooth & other devices > click on “Add Bluetooth & other devices”. Select the “Wireless display or dock” option. Make sure the wireless display is on and discoverable. Select the monitor from the list and continue with the on-screen options to connect the wireless display.

If the above troubleshooting steps have not resolved the issues, then the following are the fixes that will help you resolve the Windows not detecting the second monitor.

Fix #1

The first fix Windows users can try is forcing the second display. Open Settings > System > Display. Click on the “Detect” button under the “Rearrange your displays”. After that, Windows 10 should detect the second monitor.

Fix #2

If forcing the second display hasn’t fixed the issue then your graphics driver might be the one causing the problem. You can manually download the latest GPU driver from the official site but, you can also do that using Device Manager.

Click on Start menu > search “Device Manager” and select it > double-click on “Display adapters”. Right-click on your current display adapter and select “Update driver”. Select the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option and Windows will automatically update your GPU drivers to the latest version. Restart your PC and the second display issue will be fixed.

However, if the issue still persists then uninstall the GPU driver and reinstall it. Also, do a clean installation of the driver and the issue should be fixed.

If the latest GPU driver isn’t working for you, then roll back to an older GPU driver. Click on Start menu > search “Device Manager” and select it > double-click on “Display adapters”. Right-click on your current display adapter > properties > Driver tab > click “Roll Back Driver”. Select an option and then press Yes. Once its done, restart your PC.

But in case the “Roll Back Driver” option isn’t available, you need to manually download an older GPU driver and install it. Follow these steps, and the second display will start working with Windows 10.

Note: if you are using a branded PC, you might need to download the GPU driver from the computer manufacturer’s site. Manufacturers often modify original drivers to optimize their devices.

That is all for our guide on how to fix Windows 10 not detecting the second display. If you are facing other errors and issues with your PC, then also see our hub for commonly occurring PC errors and their fixes.