HP Monitor Input Signal Not Found Error – How to Fix?

Last Updated: March 21, 2023 / By

The process of troubleshooting monitor-related issues has always been a tricky subject, as the monitor itself, the computer that it’s connected to, or the cables that link the two can all be behind the occurrence of the problem at hand.

That being said, the good news is that these issues can usually be resolved at home with some time and effort spent, as it’s pretty rare for a monitor to have a hardware error that would require it to be sent in for replacement or repair.

In today’s article, our topic will be a particular issue you can face as the owner of an HP monitor, where an error message with the text “input signal not found, check the video cable and video source” shows up instead of your computer’s screen, practically making it impossible to use your computer unless you have another monitor at hand.

So, how can you fix the “input signal not found” error that you can come across on your HP monitor?

Below, you can find the solutions we recommend applying to resolve the “input signal not found, check the video cable and video source” error on your HP monitor:

  • Correctly adjust the monitor input source.
  • Power cycle your HP monitor.
  • Restart the computer that the monitor is connected to.
  • Unplug and reconnect the monitor cable.
  • Connect the monitor to the computer by using different ports on both ends.
  • Switch the display resolution on your computer.
  • Factory reset your HP monitor.
  • Replace the monitor cable.
  • Test your HP monitor on another computer (or your computer with another monitor).

In the upcoming section, we will be diving deeper into each of the solutions that we have listed above.

How to Fix the HP Monitor Input Signal Not Found Error?

While the error message sheds some light on what is causing the problem, this information is far from being capable of helping you solve the issue and get your monitor back in working condition on its own, which, without a doubt, can create some frustration.

Below, you can find sub-sections that correspond to all the solutions we recommend applying if you see the “input signal not found, check the video cable and video source” text on your HP monitor, where we will have detailed instructions on how to apply each solution, and clarify how the solution can contribute to fixing the problem.

Correctly Adjust the Monitor Input Source

The most common factor that can cause the issue you’re facing is an incorrectly set monitor input source, which is the setting that allows you to specify the source of the video signal that will be displayed on the screen.

To correctly adjust the input source of your HP monitor, you can follow the steps below:

  1. Find out the port the monitor cable is connected to by looking at the back side of the monitor. While some models will include labels that specify the port’s name, you may have to figure it out by looking at the shape on others.
  2. Press the Menu button on your HP monitor.
  3. Find the Input Control section and navigate to it.
  4. Choose the input source that matches the port you have found in step 1.

While the exact process of setting the input source can vary across different models of HP monitors, the main idea remains the same, which is to ensure that the input source setting matches the port that the cable is connected.

Power Cycle Your HP Monitor

A power cycle is a universal solution that can resolve minor issues for many electronic devices, which is definitely worth a try considering that it’s a straightforward process you can go through in a few minutes.

To power cycle your HP monitor, you can follow the steps we have outlined below:

  1. Power off your HP monitor by pressing the Power button.
  2. Unplug your HP monitor from power.
  3. Unplug the display cable that is coming in from the computer.
  4. Wait a minute or two while the monitor is still unplugged from power.
  5. Plug your HP monitor back into power.
  6. Power on your HP monitor.
  7. Plug the display cable back into the monitor.

Once you’re done with the power cycling process, ensure that the input source is correctly set once again, as this setting can reset to the wrong option in some cases.

Restart the Computer That the Monitor Is Connected To

As the computer that is supplying the video signal is also as much a culprit as the monitor itself in the occurrence of this problem, restarting it is often a good idea to resolve any minor issues that can arise from factors such as misbehaving graphics drivers.

To restart your computer without seeing the screen, you can press the power button to initiate the shutdown process, wait for the computer to shut down, and then press it again to power it back on.

On the other hand, if pressing the power button does not cause your computer to shutdown, you can press and hold the power button instead to force a shutdown or utilize the reset button for an immediate restart.

Unplug and Reconnect the Monitor Cable

Unplugging and reconnecting the monitor cable can help resolve connectivity issues in many cases, as the cable not being correctly seated in either of the ports is a common culprit that can prevent the data from being correctly transmitted between the two devices.

When unplugging and reconnecting the cable, we highly recommend inspecting the connectors of the cable and the cable itself for any signs of damage and ensuring that the connectors are correctly seated in the ports on both ends.

It’s worth noting that seating problems can especially arise if you’re using a DVI or a VGA cable, as DVI and VGA connectors have screws that you will need to tighten to ensure that the cable is connected to the port in a stable way.

In some cases, it can also be helpful to clean the connectors of any dust and dirt by using some compressed air, which is something to keep in mind if you have been using the cable for a while.

Connect the Monitor to the Computer by Using Different Ports on Both Ends

As it’s entirely possible for some of the ports on the monitor or the graphics card to malfunction, interfacing the two devices by using different ports can sometimes be helpful in resolving the problem at hand.

Since almost all monitors and graphics cards feature multiple ports, with some monitors and graphics cards even featuring two of the same port as an extra to the rest (such as 2x HDMI), you can practically pick any that you haven’t tried before for the connection.

That being said, if your monitor or your graphics card does not feature multiple identical ports, you will need to change the cable you’ve been using as well since the cable won’t be compatible in this case, such as switching to DisplayPort or VGA port from an HDMI port.

Switch the Display Resolution on Your Computer

While this is more of an issue with legacy monitors, it’s worth mentioning that display resolution incompatibilities can be the problem that’s causing your HP monitor from operating as intended, with the computer trying to render a resolution that the monitor does not support.

Below, you can find a quick step-by-step guide that will allow you to switch the display resolution on Windows 11:

  1. Right-click on an empty space on the desktop.
  2. Click “Show more options” from the dropdown menu.
  3. Click “Display settings” from the dropdown menu.
  4. Click your HP monitor from the pane that shows you the arrangement of the monitors.
  5. Click the “Display resolution” dropdown menu, and choose a low resolution that almost all monitors would support, such as 800×600.

Please note that you will need another monitor that is operating as intended to apply this solution, as you will need to see the screen to switch the display resolution successfully.

Factory Reset Your HP Monitor

When all else fails, a factory reset can be the magic fix that brings your HP monitor back to working order, as it will reset the firmware of your monitor, erase any custom configuration, and get it back to the same state as you first purchased it and turned it on.

Below, you can find the steps we recommend following to factory reset your HP monitor:

  1. Bring up the OSD by pressing the Menu button on the monitor.
  2. Navigate to the Management section on the OSD.
  3. Locate the Factory Defaults or Factory Reset option, and press it.
  4. Select the Yes option to confirm the factory reset.

Please note that the exact process of factory resetting an HP monitor can vary across different models due to differences in wording and how the menus are structured, but the main idea of locating the “factory reset” option by using the OSD should remain the same in all cases.

Replace the Monitor Cable

Even though the monitor cable is usually the last thing that comes to mind, it’s perfectly capable of being the culprit that’s causing your HP monitor not to function as intended, as the monitor won’t be able to display anything if the data isn’t coming from the computer.

While our primary recommendation for this solution would be to pick up a new cable and try to connect your HP monitor to your computer with it, you could also try testing the existing cable on different devices (such as your TV and your laptop) to find out whether it’s causing the problem.

Test Your HP Monitor on Another Computer (Or Your Computer With Another Monitor)

If nothing on the list has worked for you, it’s time to confirm the source of the problem with the process of elimination, which will require you to have access to either another computer or another monitor for the purposes of testing.

If you have access to another monitor, you should connect your computer to the spare monitor with the same cable you have been using and see if the problem persists.

In the case that the problem still occurs, start by swapping out the cable, and if that doesn’t work either, we can confirm that the issue most likely lies with the computer rather than the monitor.

On the flip side, if the problem is resolved, we can conclude that the monitor is the problematic component in this case.

If you don’t have access to another monitor but have access to another computer, you should connect the second computer to your HP monitor, once again, with the same cable you’ve been using and observe the results.

In the case that the problem still occurs, start by replacing the cable, and if that doesn’t work either, we can say that the signs point towards the monitor being the problem.

On the other hand, if the issue is resolved as a result of switching the computer out, we can say that the computer is the problematic component rather than the monitor.

Conclusion

While it’s definitely an inconvenience, the “input signal not found” problem is something that you should be able to solve in most cases once you follow the appropriate solution steps and get your monitor back in working order.

Here is a quick summary of the solutions we recommend applying when you encounter the “input signal not found, check the video cable and video source” error on your HP monitor:

  • Switch your monitor’s input source to match the port that the monitor cable is connected to.
  • Power cycle the monitor to resolve any monitor-related minor issues that can be resolved with a reset.
  • Restart the computer to resolve any minor problems on the software side.
  • Disconnect and reconnect the monitor cable from both sides to ensure it’s correctly seated and plugged into the correct port.
  • Connect the monitor cable to different ports on both sides to rule out any issues related to the specific ports.
  • Switch to display resolution to rule out the possibility of the monitor not supporting the particular resolution you’re using.
  • Factory reset the monitor to resolve the more major monitor-related problems.
  • Replace the monitor cable to ensure that the monitor and the computer are successfully connected to each other.
  • Test the monitor with another computer or the computer with another monitor to find out the culprit behind the problem.

On the other hand, if you haven’t been able to fix the problem at hand by following the steps above and have confirmed that the problem is related to the monitor, our recommendation would be to get in contact with HP support, as you will most likely need to send your monitor in for a repair or replacement.