How to Fix VGA No Signal Problems in Windows 11 and 10

A "VGA No Signal" (or "No Signal", "No Cable") message means the monitor has power but isn't receiving a picture from your PC. The cause is usually the cable, the input setting on the monitor, the port you're using, or the graphics driver. Work through the checks below in order and stop when the picture comes back.

1. Check the Cable and the Power

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A loose or damaged cable is the easiest thing to rule out.

1. Make sure the monitor and the PC are both plugged in and switched on.
2. Turn off the PC. Unplug the VGA cable from the monitor and the PC, check the pins for damage, then plug it back in firmly and tighten the thumbscrews.
3. Disconnect any docks, dongles or adapters and connect the monitor straight to the PC. Microsoft notes that these accessories can cause conflicts.
4. If you have another cable, try that one instead.
5. Turn the PC back on.

Expected result: the monitor shows the Windows startup screen instead of "No Signal".

2. Select the Right Input on the Monitor

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Many monitors have several inputs (VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort). If the monitor is looking at the wrong one, it reports no signal even though the PC is sending a picture.

1. Press the menu or input button on the monitor to open its on-screen menu.
2. Choose Input Source and select the port your PC is plugged into, such as VGA.

Dell notes that if Auto Select is on and more than one source is connected, the monitor may switch inputs on its own, so choose the input yourself. Button names vary by monitor, so check your monitor's manual if you can't find the menu.

Expected result: the monitor stops showing "No Signal" a few seconds after you pick the right input.

3. Use the Right Port on Your PC

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• Desktop with a graphics card: plug the monitor into the ports on the graphics card, which are usually lower on the back panel. Dell lists using the motherboard's built-in port instead as a common cause of a "no signal" screen.
• More than one video port: try a different output on the PC (VGA, HDMI, DVI or DisplayPort), with a matching cable.

Expected result: the picture appears when the monitor is connected to the port that's actually in use.

4. Find Out Whether the Monitor or the PC Is at Fault

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1. Unplug every video cable from the monitor, leaving only the power cable, and turn the monitor on. Dell says that if you then see a message such as "No Signal" or "No Cable", the monitor itself is working.
2. Look at the power light. On Dell monitors, white or green means the monitor has power and is receiving a signal, amber or blinking means it has power but no signal from the computer, and off means no power. Other brands may use different colors.
3. Connect the monitor to a different computer that you know works. If it works there, the problem is likely your PC's settings, graphics card, connections or drivers. If it doesn't, the monitor is the likely problem.

Expected result: you know whether to keep troubleshooting the PC (sections 5 and 6) or contact the monitor's maker.

5. Reset the Display Connection in Windows

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These shortcuts work even when you can't see anything on the screen.

1. Press Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + B. This resets the graphics driver. A beep or a flicker means it worked.
2. On a laptop or a PC with more than one screen, press Windows logo key + P. Then press P and Enter to move through the display modes (such as PC screen only, Duplicate and Extend), pausing after each one.
3. If the screen is still blank, restart: Start > Power > Restart. If that doesn't help, choose Shut down and turn the PC back on.

Expected result: the monitor picks up the picture after the reset, the mode change or the restart.

6. Roll Back or Reinstall the Graphics Driver

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If the problem started after a driver update, going back to the previous driver may solve it. You'll need to be signed in as an administrator. If no screen shows anything at all, use a working screen (such as the laptop's own display) or start in safe mode first, as described in How to Fix a Black Screen in Windows 11.

1. Search for Device Manager on the taskbar and open it.
2. Expand Display adapters.
3. Right-click your graphics adapter and select Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver.
4. If there's no roll back option, reinstall the driver instead: right-click the adapter, select Uninstall device, tick Attempt to remove the driver for this device, select Uninstall, and restart when asked.
5. After the restart, open Device Manager again, right-click the adapter, select Update driver and then Search automatically for updated driver software.

Microsoft recommends Windows Update as the way to get driver updates. For more on graphics drivers, see how to update your graphics driver.

Expected result: Device Manager lists your graphics adapter without a warning sign, and the monitor shows a picture after the restart.

Still No Signal? What to Try Next

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• Reset the monitor: on Dell monitors, open the on-screen menu and choose Others > Factory Reset. This also clears your custom color and brightness settings. Check your monitor's manual for its own reset option.
• Get the driver from the maker: if Windows can't find a driver, download one from your PC or graphics card maker's website.
• Contact the maker: if the monitor doesn't work on any computer, contact its maker about a repair or warranty. If you can't update the PC's driver, Microsoft suggests contacting the device's manufacturer.