Docking Station Not Displaying From Laptop
Summary
The monitors that are attached to the docking station connect by DisplayPort (DP) cables or HDMI cables. In some circumstances, the docking station may use both, but most are set up to use both DP video cables. When your laptop is docked but no display is showing, there could be many reasons why. The most common cause is a loose connection somewhere or a change in settings. Sometimes a reboot fixes the issue. Below are some basic instructions taken from Dell's website on things to try.
Instructions
Instructional videos are found here.
The videos are divided up to help narrow down the issue. It also gives users visual references to look for.
The steps below are taken from Dell's website:
- Ensure that your laptop is connected to the docking station securely. Try to disconnect and reconnect the docking station to the laptop.
- Disconnect both ends of the video cable and check for damaged or bent pins. Securely reconnect the cable to the monitor and docking station.
- Ensure the video cable (HDMI, or DisplayPort) is connected properly to the monitor and the docking station. Ensure to select the correct video source on your monitor (see your monitor’s documentation for more information about changing the video source).
- Check the resolution settings on your laptop. Your monitor may support higher resolutions than what the docking station can support. Please see the Display Resolution Table for more information about maximum resolution capacity.
- If your monitor is connected to the docking station, the video output on your laptop may be disabled. You can enable the video output using the Intel Graphics Control Panel or see the User Guide of your laptop.
- If your monitor is connected to the docking station, the video output on your laptop may be disabled. You can enable the video output using the Intel Graphics Control Panel or see the User Guide of your laptop.
- If only one monitor is shown, while the other is not, go to Windows Display Properties, and under Multiple Displays, select the output for the second monitor.
- Using Intel graphics and using the laptop LCD, only two displays can be supported.
- For Nvidia or AMD discrete graphics, the dock supports three external displays plus the laptop LCD.
- Try with a different monitor and cable that is known to be good, if possible.
! If the instructional videos did not work, then it's possible the monitor disconnected itself through settings. Please check the settings below and make the necessary changes. If you need IT involved with this step, please let us know.
1. Right-click anywhere on the background of your desktop and go to "Display Settings."
2. In this example, we see three boxes. Box 1 is active and most likely the laptop. Boxes 2 and 3 are your external monitors and showing inactive because it's greyed out. Click on the boxes representing your monitor(s). In this scenario, monitors 2 and 3 are smaller and inactive. This means the computer sees it, but hasn't applied settings for it. Click on 2 or 3 in this example to make the change. You'll need to do this twice if you have a dual monitor setup. Do this for each inactive monitor.
3. Scroll down to find "Multiple displays" and click on the drop-down. Please note that if it shows "Disconnect this display", it is the reason why the monitor(s) aren't extended.
4. Choose "Extend desktop to this display." A window will prompt you to "Keep Changes". Go ahead and click on Keep Changes. You're done.
You may need to adjust the boxes on step two to orientate the view.
Link to Dell's website: https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000131784/how-to-use-and-troubleshoot-dell-docking-station-wd19