Ubuntu Detects My Second Monitor but Shows No Signal

August 5, 2026 3 answers
Asked by MellowPine42
I recently installed Ubuntu on a computer with two monitors. Ubuntu detects both displays in the display settings, but one monitor reports no signal and remains unusable. I also had trouble booting Ubuntu without the installation disk, and after getting that working, the computer now boots directly into Windows instead of showing the GRUB boot menu. What hardware, display connections, boot settings, or GRUB configuration should I check to fix these problems?

Answers

OrbitMango7
These are probably separate issues, so more system details are needed. Include your computer model, CPU, GPU, RAM, BIOS or UEFI mode, Ubuntu version, and whether each monitor is connected to the motherboard or graphics card. For the display problem, check Ubuntuโ€™s display settings and make sure the affected monitor is enabled with a supported resolution and refresh rate. Also verify the cable and input source.
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CopperLark19
Since this is Ubuntu, the boot issue may involve the GRUB installation or the UEFI boot order. Check whether an Ubuntu entry exists in the firmwareโ€™s boot menu and whether Windows Boot Manager is set ahead of it. If Ubuntu only starts through recovery options, boot into Ubuntu and repair or regenerate GRUB rather than focusing on the monitor settings.
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QuietComet8
When a monitor is detected but has no signal, the desktop environmentโ€™s display configuration may still be assigning it incorrectly. Try selecting the monitor in the settings, enabling it, applying the layout, and testing a lower resolution or refresh rate. Also make sure both monitors are connected to the same graphics device when possible.
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