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Dell Laptop HDMI Not Working

Connecting our laptop to other devices is a convenience we take advantage of often. If the HDMI is not working, it can make it difficult to do.

When your Dell laptop’s HDMI is not working, it might be due to a driver issue. To resolve this, update your laptop’s graphics drivers from the Dell website or through Windows Device Manager to ensure compatibility and proper functioning of the HDMI port.

Another common reason for Dell laptop HDMI not working is outdated or incompatible graphics drivers. To fix this, visit the Dell website, locate the drivers and downloads section for your laptop model, and download and install the latest graphics drivers. Alternatively, you can update the drivers through Windows Device Manager by right-clicking on the graphics card, selecting “Update driver,” and following the on-screen instructions.

Woman typing at her Dell Laptop

A loose or damaged HDMI cable can also cause HDMI connectivity issues. Ensure the HDMI cable is securely connected to both your laptop and the external display or TV. If you suspect a faulty cable, try using a different HDMI cable to see if that resolves the problem. Additionally, check the HDMI port on your laptop and the external display for any physical damage or debris that may be obstructing the connection. Cleaning the ports can sometimes solve the issue.

Fortunately, fixing an HDMI problem is one of the easier things you can do with the laptop. There are a few things to check, but you will likely find a solution is at your fingertips.

Dell Laptop HDMI not Working

Many of the options for fixing an HDMI not working will not require that you open the laptop and work inside. Many of the issues are external and some are software-related.

Here are a few things to check when your HDMI connection is not operating properly.

HDMI Cable – Most people are not aware of the fact that HDMI has been updated numerous times since it was first introduced in 2002. The updates allow for advanced data exchange between your laptop and a peripheral device.

If you are using an old HDMI cable, you should update it to a newer cable. You should also visually inspect the cable for any damage to the cable itself or to the connection at the end of the cable.

The easiest way to verify that the HDMI cable is working properly is to check it with another device. Take your laptop close to a printer or perhaps a television and plug it in. If it isn’t working, the HDMI cable needs replaced.

HDMI Ports – Although it is rare for an HDMI port to become damaged, it does happen from time to time. Visually inspect the port for any noticeable damage. If the HDMI cable is no longer plugging in or if it is extremely loose, the port may need to be fixed or replaced.

Try Restarting Your Computer

If your HDMI suddenly stops working, a computer restart may help to get it working again. You should fully restart the computer and not simply put it to sleep or into hibernation mode by closing the lid.

There is more to this style of restart than simply turning the computer off and on. You should disconnect all the cables and after the computer is shut down, remove the battery. You can then hold down the power button for 30 seconds to drain some of the additional, leftover power.

Wait a few minutes before putting the battery back in again. Plug all of the cables into their ports and restart the computer.

If you are having problems using HDMI with a secondary display, it may be fixed with a setting. Pressing the Windows key + P key will bring up the Windows display settings. These settings include:

1. PC Screen

2. Second Screen

3. Extend

4. Duplicate

Try the various settings to see if you can get things operating properly.

If you have recently installed new software or made changes to your laptop, you may need to back up to the last working setup. Windows has the option for backing up to a previous setting and you may find this to be beneficial. You might also try uninstalling recently installed software.

Finally, check for any new drivers on the dell website and install them. You can also check for a BIOS update and apply it.

Dell Laptop HDMI Audio Not Working

Laptop HDMI connector

One of the ways that we may connect our HDMI is to an external audio device. This could be a speaker or even a soundbar. Here are options to consider when it is not working.

Generally speaking, a missing or corrupted audio device driver will cause the HDMI audio to stop working. You can check your device drivers on the Dell website. It should identify your laptop’s make and model automatically. You can also search for your make and model and download the drivers to install manually.

At times, it may be necessary to set the device you are trying to use as the default device. This can be done in settings under the control panel.

The control panel has a search feature and it should point you in the general direction that you need to be. Search for things such as ‘sound settings’ or the name of the device you are having difficulty connecting to.

A hard reset will sometimes get the HDMI connection working again. Unplug everything from the laptop, shut it down completely and remove the battery.

After the battery is removed, make sure that the laptop is not plugged in and then hold down the power button for 30 seconds. This will help to drain any residual energy in the laptop.

Wait for five minutes and then restart the laptop. When it restarts, the setting should have refreshed and you can begin using your HDMI audio again.

If a hard reset doesn’t work, check the HDMI cable for damage. If it is the first time you’re trying to connect to the device, make sure that the HDMI cable is up-to-date. It may need to be replaced if it is old.

Finally, check the HDMI port in both the laptop and the device you are connecting to. If the HDMI cable does not fit properly or is loose in the connection, it may need to be repaired or replaced.

Dell Laptop HDMI Display Not Working

Frustrated woman looking at the laptop

One of the most common ways that we use an HDMI cable is to plug it into a secondary monitor. It’s a convenience we cannot easily live without so when your HDMI display is not working, it’s important to get it back up and running.

The HDMI connection settings must be enabled on whatever device you are connecting to. This could be a TV, monitor, or other display. Look under the settings menu at the HDMI connection and enable it if it is currently disabled. You can also check the HDMI settings on your Dell laptop.

If the graphics card in your Dell laptop is not working properly, you may need to consider using an external graphics card. You should also check the drivers to ensure they are up-to-date.

At times, an incompatible display may make it impossible to connect to a secondary monitor. This could include using an older display or perhaps using an older Dell laptop with a newer display.

Have you inspected the HDMI cable? If it shows any signs of visual damage, you should replace it. In addition, if the cable is older, it may not be fully compatible with newer devices.

The window display settings may sometimes need to be changed. When you plug in the monitor, hold down the Windows key and press the P key. You will see four options on the right-hand side of the screen, some of which deal with extending the screen or showing primarily on the secondary screen.

If all else fails, perform a hard reset of the laptop and that should refresh your settings. Unplug everything, including the power cable, and fully shut down the computer.

After the computer has shut down, open the compartment on the back and remove the battery. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds to drain residual energy.

Wait five minutes, reinstall the battery and plug everything back in. Start your computer and it may be working again.

Dell Laptop HDMI not Detected

Laptop HDMI connector

There are times when we may have a problem with our Dell laptop not detecting the HDMI. The fix to this is sometimes very easy.

A hardware failure is often to blame when your laptop is not connecting to the HDMI cable. It could be that you are using an older HDMI cable or it has become damaged. Check the connection with a new HDMI cable or test your older cable by plugging it into another device. The HDMI ports may also, at times, become damaged.

A simple restart of your Dell laptop will sometimes force it to see the HDMI connection once again. When we use our laptop, opening and closing programs, it may corrupt a setting temporarily and cause it to disappear from view.

A restart of the computer may help but you might also need to disconnect all cables and fully power down the computer for five minutes. Make sure to remove the battery and hold the power button for 30 seconds after you have shut down and removed all cables.

Updating the bios may sometimes help when the HDMI port is not easily refound. There may also be drivers that have been updated and can be downloaded from the Dell website to install on your computer.

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on October 17, 2021.

Dell Laptop HDMI stopped Working

Frustrated woman looking at the laptop

When your HDMI stops working, you want to get it started again as quickly as possible. Fortunately, there are options available.

Restarting your computer will fix a problem with an HDMI that stops working as a result of settings. When you restart your computer by shutting it down fully and waiting five minutes before starting it again, you refresh the settings and your HDMI will start working again.

If you’ve made any changes to the computer, such as installing new software, changing the settings, or adding devices, you may need to remove them one by one until the problem is fixed.

Running the system’s diagnostic may also help at times. You can find the settings to run a system diagnostic by searching in the Windows control panel.

Carefully inspect the cable and HDMI ports for any damage. Try another HDMI cable to see if it works.

Dell Laptop HDMI no signal

Frustrated woman looking at the laptop

When your HDMI is no longer sending out a signal, there may be a quick fix to get it working again.

Carefully inspect the HDMI cable that is connected to an external device to see if it is damaged. Exchange the existing cable for another cable that you know is working if one is available. Try connecting the HDMI cable that is not working to another device.

Sometimes, it is necessary to refresh the settings of the computer to get the HDMI working again. This can be accomplished with a hard reset.

Shut the computer down completely, remove the battery and unplug all cables. Hold down the power button on the computer for 30 seconds to drain any residual power.

Wait for five minutes and then reinstall the battery, plug everything back in and restart the computer. This should be enough to refresh the settings and fix the HDMI issue.

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on October 17, 2021.

If the HDMI port on your Dell laptop is not working, it is often due to hardware failure. Visually inspect the HDMI cable and if it is older, you may need to update it. Inspect the HDMI port on the laptop for any damage as well. If the HDMI cable is loose and easily pulls out of the port, try another HDMI cable.

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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on October 17, 2021.

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