How To Troubleshoot and Fix “Input Signal Not Found” on Your HP Monitor

If your HP monitor keeps going black with that annoying “Input Signal Not Found” pop-up, it’s kind of a pain, right? It usually means the monitor isn’t getting any valid video input—even though your PC might be running fine in the background. Most of the time, it’s a cable hiccup, wrong input setting, or maybe some driver issues. But sometimes, the problem’s deeper—like a faulty graphics card, outdated firmware, or a BIOS glitch. The good news is there are several ways to troubleshoot this mess and hopefully get it sorted without replacing everything. Just keep in mind, it can be a little trial-and-error, because of course, Windows likes to make things harder than they need to be.

How to Fix “Input Signal Not Found” on HP Monitors

Use the Correct Input Source

This one’s kind of obvious but it trips up people more often than you’d think. Your HP monitor typically has multiple ports—VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort, maybe DVI. If you pick the wrong one, or if the monitor isn’t set to the right input, that “No Signal” message pops up. So, before heading into anything complex, double-check that you’re viewing the right input source. To do that:

1. Press the monitor’s button (usually on the front, bottom, or side) to open the On-Screen Display (OSD).
2. Navigate to the Input Source section.
3. Select the correct port—like HDMI 1, HDMI 2, DisplayPort, etc.—that you’ve plugged your cable into.
4. Give it a few seconds—sometimes it takes a bit for the monitor to recognize it.

On some models, you might need to toggle between HDMI and DisplayPort manually. On others, the monitor picks the right one automatically, but it’s always best to confirm.

I’ve seen this fix work when the monitor was set to the wrong input after a cable swap or an upgrade. Just keep in mind, after changing the input source, you might need to restart your PC or re-seat the cable if the issue persists.

Check for Damaged Cables and Ports

Now, if selecting the right input source didn’t do the trick, your cables or ports might be a dead end—literally. It’s common for HDMI or DisplayPort cables to get pinched, bent, or just plain worn out over time. Or, the port on either the monitor or PC could be damaged or dirty. Sometimes, it’s the simplest fix: switch the cable to a different port or try a fresh cable entirely.

Here’s what to do:

• Unplug everything and inspect the cables for visible damage.
• Try plugging the cable into a different port on both the PC and monitor, if available.
• Switch to a different cable—especially if you’re still using the old-school HDMI or VGA, consider trying a newer HDMI or DisplayPort cable if you can.

Pro tip: Don’t forget to check the physical ports for dust or debris—clean with compressed air if necessary. Sometimes a dirty port looks fine but causes connection issues. On one machine, I had to wiggle the cable slightly to get a proper connection; it’s weird but true.

Reseat Video Card and RAM

If you’ve made sure the cable and input source are correct, and the connection still fails, now it’s time to get hands-on inside the computer. Loose or poorly seated graphics cards or RAM sticks can cause weird display errors—including “Input Signal Not Found.”

This step involves opening your PC, which might seem scary, but it’s pretty straightforward:

1. Power down and unplug everything.
2. Remove the side panel of your PC case.
3. Wear an anti-static wrist strap—trust me, static is the enemy.
4. Disconnect and carefully remove the graphics card by unlocking the PCIe clip and pulling it out.
5. Use a brush or compressed air to clean the card and the PCIe slot.
6. Similarly, unlock and remove the RAM sticks, then clean the slots and sticks gently.
7. Re-seat the graphics card and RAM firmly back into their slots, making sure they click into place.
8. Reconnect everything, close the case, and turn it on.

This kind of fix is often a hit or miss—sometimes, just reseating the GPU and RAM can resolve weird signals, especially after hardware moves or after a bump. On some setups, it took a couple of tries to get it right, so don’t be frustrated if it doesn’t work immediately.

Update Display and Monitor Drivers

If everything with the hardware looks fine but the error persists, outdated drivers are a likely culprit. Sometimes, Windows doesn’t want to play nice with the latest monitor firmware or graphics drivers, causing communication failures.

Here’s the quick way:

1. Search for and open Device Manager.
2. Expand Display adapters.
3. Right-click your graphics card and choose Update driver.
4. Select Search automatically for updated driver software and let Windows do its thing.
5. Repeat the same process for your monitor driver, if it’s listed under Monitors.

Note: On some setups, especially if using custom driver software or OEM graphics, you might need to visit the GPU manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) to get the latest driver manually. Also, updating your monitor’s firmware—if available—can fix bugs, especially on newer models.

Update HP Monitor Firmware

Firmware updates are like software updates but for the monitor. Outdated firmware can mess with the signal communication, leading to errors. HP provides a handy software called HP Display Center—which often includes firmware updates and display calibration tools. Here’s what to do:

1. Download and install the HP Display Center from the link above.
2. Launch the app and navigate to the Advanced tab.
3. Look for Firmware Update and follow the prompts.
4. Once updated, restart your PC and see if the display error clears up.

This step is kind of overlooked, but outdated firmware can cause confusing behavior. It’s worth a shot if everything else checks out.

Adjust Screen Resolution and Refresh Rate

If the monitor is voicing complaints, it could be because the video signal settings are incompatible—maybe the resolution or refresh rate is too high or incompatible with the monitor. This can cause it to lose signal because it’s trying to display something it doesn’t support.

To fix this, if you can boot into Windows normally, do the following:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to System > Display.
3. Expand the Display resolution dropdown and pick the recommended resolution.
4. Click on Advanced display and set the refresh rate to the highest supported—usually 60Hz, but some monitors go higher.
5. If you’re using multiple monitors, set the HP one first to avoid confusion.

Sometimes reducing the resolution or refresh rate temporarily can help stabilize the connection, especially after hardware changes or driver updates.

Reset BIOS Settings or Update BIOS

If all else fails, the BIOS might be hiding some misconfiguration. Resetting BIOS to defaults often clears glitches that affect signal output—especially if you’ve been messing around with settings or updates.

1. Reboot your PC and press the BIOS access key (usually Esc, F2, or Del on HP machines) right after powering on.
2. Navigate to Restore Defaults and apply it.
3. Save and exit. The system will restart with factory BIOS settings.

For a more thorough fix, check your motherboard manufacturer’s website for BIOS update instructions. Updating BIOS can be risky if not done right, so only try this if you’re comfortable and sure about it. It could fix underlying compatibility issues between your hardware and the monitor.

Test with Different Hardware

If all these steps fail, it might really be a hardware problem. Plug your HP monitor into a different computer and see if it still reports the same error. If yes, the monitor itself might be dead or needing repair. Conversely, try connecting a different monitor to your current PC. If the same problem follows the PC, then the problem’s probably with the graphics card, motherboard, or other internal components.

In some cases, it’s easier to just swap the monitor or hardware components temporarily to identify what’s faulty. It’s kind of frustrating, but sometimes hardware just gives up, especially after a bump or age.