How to Troubleshoot Display or Video Issues on a Dell Monitor

Dell Technologies recommends ensuring that the device drivers and BIOS are up to date. Use the SupportAssist application for optimal video performance and to help resolve common video-related issues.

To run the SupportAssist application, perform the following steps.

1. Press and hold the Windows key (), and then press the q key.
2. Type SupportAssist in the search box.
3. Select the SupportAssist (App) in the list of results.
   NOTE: When SupportAssist does not show up in the search results, go to the SupportAssist for PCs and tablets page for information about downloading and installing SupportAssist.
4. Touch or click Start Now to run the tests.
   NOTE: You can touch or click the down arrow and then run the individual test. Dell Technologies recommends running a full computer test.
5. SupportAssist runs the tests one by one and provides the results and suggested actions.

To learn how to manually download and install a device driver such as Chipset, Video card (GPU), and Monitor driver on your Dell computer. (If required, most monitor drivers are delivered automatically through Windows Update.) See the Dell Knowledge Base article: How to Download and Install Dell Drivers.

Learn: How to access, navigate, and update the BIOS on a Dell computer.

If the issue persists, go to the next step.

It is essential to verify if the problem is inherent to the monitor, video card (GPU), or video settings on your computer. A straightforward way to identify this is to connect the computer to a known-good external monitor or TV. Ensure that the display cable is firmly connected to the video port on the computer and the monitor. (for example S-video, VGA, DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, or Thunderbolt 3)

To learn more about connecting your Dell computer to a monitor or TV, see the Dell Knowledge Base article: How to Connect a Monitor to a Computer.

If the issue persists on the other monitor, it may be due to the video card (GPU) or video settings and not the monitor. Go to: Verify the display or video issue in Windows Safe Mode, or go to the next step.

Performance issues may occur if there is any type of damage that is caused to the display cables or the LCD screen. LCD screens may show the following symptoms if there is damage to the display cables or to the LCD screen. (For example: The LCD screen stops working, it works intermittently, there is a color mismatch, it flickers, or it displays horizontal or vertical lines.)

Test Connections

• Use good-quality cables and adapters
• Try different ports in your monitor and in your system
• If you have to use any kind of adapter to connect your monitor try replacing it
• Try another monitor or try your monitor on a different computer, this is the quickest way to determine if your computer has an issue
• If the distortion is also present on a known working monitor, follow our article Resolve Hardware Issues With Integrated and Online Diagnostics (SupportAssist ePSA, ePSA, or PSA Error Codes) for further testing
• Set the screen resolution to the monitor's native resolution

If you do notice physical damage, contact Dell Technical Support to learn more about repair options that are available in your region. If there is no damage, go to the next step.

Dell monitors provide a self-test feature check (SFTC), an integrated self-test (BIST), or an integrated diagnostic (BID) tool. They identify if the screen abnormality you are experiencing is an inherent problem with the Dell monitor or with the video card (GPU) and computer settings.

It is a good practice to isolate the monitor by running a diagnostic test on the Dell monitor when you notice screen abnormalities. (For example Flickering, distortion, clarity issues, color fade, fuzzy or blurry images, or there are horizontal or vertical lines.)

To learn more about running a diagnostic test on your Dell monitor, see the Dell Knowledge Base article: How to Run a Diagnostic Test on a Dell Monitor.

1. In order to resolve video or display issues, gather information about the following symptoms:

   • What is the nature of the issue? (For example: No video, lines, color, and so on.)

   • Does the on-screen display (OSD) function as expected?

   • Have they moved the computer, cables, or the FPD?

2. Reseat Cables. For instructions on how to do this, consult the Online Owner's Manual - selecting your specific Dell product.

3. Run the Built-In Self-Test (BIST)

   The BIST is the only diagnostic test that can determine defects with the flat panel display. Here are instructions to run FPD BIST:

   1. Disconnect the video connection between the FPD and the platform.

   2. Turn on the FPD.

   3. Press and Hold the FPD menu buttons 1 and 4 simultaneously for 2 seconds.

4. Did the BIST pass?

   • Yes the BIST passes. Go to the following step.

   • No, the BIST fails. Make a note of the error message and Contact Technical Support.

5. Is there no power to the display?

   • Yes, there is no power to display. Remove, reinsert, or swap with a known good power cable to the display. Make a note of the results and Contact Technical Support.

   • No there is power to the display. Carry on to the next step.

6. Does the display exhibit Shaky, Fuzzy, Blurry, Jittery, Screen, Dim, or Color Issues?

   1. Carry out a Factory Reset and check the screen output.

   2. If any of the symptoms remain after a Factory Reset, then the graphic card or integrated graphic feature must be checked. Reset the settings for the Display to the Optimal Resolution. For instructions on how to do this, consult your Owner's Manual.

   3. After setting the Optimal Resolution in the OSD, and check the screen output.

   4. When operating in resolutions that are not optimal, the screen's output is expected to be blurry or show blocky text.

Dell monitors can be reset to factory default settings using the on-screen display (OSD) menu. This can be accessed using the buttons or joystick that is available on the Dell monitor. For step-by-step instructions to reset a Dell monitor to factory default settings, see the User Guide of your Dell monitor at the Dell Manuals website.

1. Browse to Dell Manuals website.
2. Identify your Dell monitor.
   1. Enter the model number or Service Tag of the monitor, and then click Search.
   2. Or, click Browse all products, select Electronics and Accessories, Monitors and Accessories, and select your Dell monitor from the catalog.
3. Under the Documentation tab, scroll to the Manuals and Documents section and click View PDF next to the monitor User Guide.
4. In the User Guide, under the Operating the Monitor section, see the Using the On-Screen Display (OSD) Menu.
5. Follow the menu computer to find and use the Factory Reset option in the On-Screen Display Menu.

Windows Safe Mode allows us to identify if the issue is related to the operating system, video settings, device drivers, or third-party software. To learn more about how to boot your Dell computer into Safe Mode, see the following Dell Knowledge Base articles: (They are based on the operating system that is installed on your computer.)

• Microsoft Windows 11 or Windows 10

If the issue persists in the safe mode of Microsoft Windows, go to the next step. Otherwise, go to Perform a Windows System Restore.

Windows updates can support your Windows operating system in many ways. Windows updates can solve specific problems, provide protection from malicious attacks, or even add new features to the operating system.

How to run Windows Updates on Microsoft Windows 11?

1. Right-click Start and click Settings.
2. In the Settings panel, click Windows Update.
3. On the right panel, click Check for updates.
4. Restart the computer after downloading and installing the updates.

How to run Windows Updates on Microsoft Windows 10?

1. Right-click Start and click Settings.
2. In the Settings panel, click Update & Security.
3. In the left panel, select Windows Update.
4. On the right panel, click Check for updates.
5. Restart the computer after downloading and installing the updates.

Display settings like brightness, refresh rate, resolution, and power management may affect the performance of your Dell monitor. Changing the display settings can help resolve several types of video issues.

To learn more about changing the brightness, refresh rate, and resolution on a Dell computer, see the Dell Knowledge Base article: How to Change the Video Settings or Improve Text in Windows 10.

Here are some common troubleshooting steps to help, if you find that the Dell touch-capable monitor is unresponsive to touch or touch works intermittently.

Learn: How to Troubleshoot Touch-Screen or Touch-Panel Issues.

Stress Test can thoroughly diagnose the video card (GPU) on your computer and report any potential hardware problem. Running a stress test on your computer can verify if the hardware components are stable and thus reliable.

To run a stress test on the video card:

1. Go to a video card stress test powered by SupportAssist.
2. If the SupportAssist app is not available on the Dell computer, you are prompted to install the SupportAssist app.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to install SupportAssist and complete the stress test.
4. If the test fails, contact: Dell Technical Support

System Restore is an integrated Windows tool that is designed to protect and repair the operating system. When something goes wrong with your computer, System Restore must be used before restoring the computer to factory defaults or reinstalling the operating system.

Select the operating system that is installed on your computer to find more information about how to perform System Restore:

• Microsoft Windows 11 or Windows 10
• Microsoft Windows 8 or 8.1

Where diagnostic tests on the Dell monitor and video card (GPU) pass, it is an issue with the software that is installed on your computer. If the above troubleshooting steps do not resolve the issue, you can restore your computer to factory defaults as a last resort.

Dell computers are built with a small amount of hard disk space that is reserved for reinstalling your operating system. This method is the easiest way to restore your computer to factory condition. The restoration process deletes all user data from the computer, backs up all your files before starting this process.

Select the operating system that is installed on your computer to find more information about how to restore your Dell computer to factory defaults:

• Microsoft Windows 11 or Windows 10