I can say with full confidence that this might work for you. Definitely worked for me !
Windows 11 cannot detect second monitor.
I just purchased a new laptop that’s running Windows 11. I am trying to set up duel monitors. When I click ‘Detect’ I get ‘We didn’t find another display’. I am using an HDMI cable to connect the second monitor to my laptop. Both screens work, but they are a mirror image. There’s no way showing to change that setting because the second monitor was not detected. No good.
I set up the second monitor on my main workstation that’s running Windows 10. No problem. Monitor was detected and set as ‘Extended’. Worked fine.
I reviewed everything I could find about this issue. I tried all the suggested fixes. Nothing worked. All available drivers are up to date, etc., etc.
Another thing I tried was hitting the Windows Key + P. That procedure did identify both monitors. In the settings it did show an option to detect the monitors. When I clicked ‘Detect’ it still came back with ‘We didn’t find another display’ I was able to changed the setting to ‘Extended’. I thought I had it working. However, all I get on the second monitor is the background screen, nothing else. No programs show up. I do get the toolbar. But when I click a toolbar link on the main monitor it activates on the second monitor. It’s a mess.
Has anyone had this problem? Is there a fix?
Thank you for any assistance.
Glenn
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Display and graphics
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51 additional answers
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Anonymous
2025-02-22T07:19:02+00:00 Tried everything else - uninstalling/reinstalling, turning the laptop on/off... nothing worked. I disabled & re-enabled the Nvidia driver. Nope. Tried the same with the Intel driver. 2nd monitor came up immediately. Thank you!
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Anonymous
2025-02-27T23:22:15+00:00 I have the same problem on my desktop. I have one screen with HDMI and the other with VGA. W11 suddenly refused to detect my VGA screen if I had my HDMI also plugged in. If I unplug the HDMI screen then W11 detected and use my VGA as main screen no problem bu as soon as I would add the HDMI back, W11 would refuse to detect the VGA. Despite having tried extend on the desktop system display menu then detect to no avail.
Only Windows Key + P and selecting "extend" solved my issue.
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Anonymous
2025-03-02T17:39:02+00:00 i have the same issue and i can´t find a solution for this. the hard reset did not do anything here.
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Anonymous
2025-03-13T23:12:12+00:00 OMG. This has been driving my batty. Windows+P fixed my problem. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!