HP Monitors - Display quality issues

A small dot is too bright or black

Due to the nature of LCD technology, a certain number of dots (pixels) might not be displayed correctly.

If the screen has too many pixel defects within a certain area, it might distract from the image quality. For more information about pixel defects, see HP and Compaq LCD monitors, HP TouchSmart PCs, and HP All-in-One PCs - HP Pixel Policy.

Black or blank screen

Sometimes the screen remains black or blank, and there are no error messages on the screen.

To troubleshoot this problem, check the power to the monitor, test the video connection between the computer and the monitor to make sure that it is connected correctly, and connect the monitor to a different computer to see whether the computer is causing the issue. For specific steps, see HP Monitors - Monitor is blank.

Fuzzy text, blurry or stretched images

When text or images are distorted, the display resolution on the computer might be set to something other than the native display resolution of the display. When the display hardware scales the image, the edges of the displayed objects can become slightly blurred as the entire image is enlarged or reduced to fit to the edges of the screen.

Blurry display

Correct display

Resolution too low - stretched image

Correct resolution

Note:

If blurriness occurs only when using a software program such as a game, make sure that the resolution set in the game matches the display resolution.

To fix resolution problems, complete the following steps:

Restart the computer.

If restarting the computer does not resolve the issue, continue to the next step.
Press the Auto button on the monitor to run Auto Adjustment.
Use the buttons on the monitor to open the on-screen menu, and then select either Factory Reset or Default. If the screen is still distorted, continue to the next step.
Find the native resolution of the monitor. You can find the native resolution in the following places:
- In the specifications on the box.
- In the printed material that came with the monitor.
- In the product specifications on the HP website.
Note:
Some common native resolutions are 800 x 600, 1024 x 768, 1440 x 900, 1920 x 1200, and 1680 x 1050.
To change the display resolution to match the native resolution, search for and open Change the resolution of the display. Select the recommended resolution.

If you cannot select the native resolution, continue to the next step to update the drivers for the graphics adapter on the computer.
If you have an HP computer, update your video drivers from the HP website.
- Check for NVIDIA video driver updates at NVIDIA (in English).
- Check for AMD video driver updates at AMD (in English).
- Check for Intel video support and downloads at Intel Downloads (in English).
After updating the video drivers, go back to Step 5 and try to change the display resolution again.

Note:
If you cannot select the native resolution after updating the video drivers, the graphics adapter in the computer might not support that resolution and might need to be upgraded.

If you updated the video drivers, set the correct display resolution, and the problem still occurs, continue to the next step.
Enter Safe Mode. For instructions, see HP PCs - Windows Safe Mode (Windows 10).
1. While the computer is in Safe Mode, press the Auto button on the monitor to run Auto Adjustment again.
2. If the screen image is sharper in Safe Mode, while still in Safe Mode, reinstall the display drivers from the optical disc that came with the monitor.
If the screen is still blurry, it might need servicing. Contact HP Customer Service.

Screen flickers, unstable image

If the screen flickers, make sure that the display settings in Windows match the native resolution and refresh rate for the monitor. Find the native resolution of the monitor on the box, in the specifications, or in the printed material that came with the monitor.

Some common native resolutions are 800 x 600, 1024 x 768, 1920 x 1200, and 1680 x 1050. The most common refresh rate for LCD screens is 60 Hz. The refresh rate normally cannot be changed for flat-panel monitors. However, if you are using special video software to increase or decrease the refresh rate, change the refresh rate to match the default refresh rate specification of the monitor.

Note:

If your screen flickers in Windows, incompatible apps or display drivers might be the cause. To discover whether an app or driver is causing the problem, check to see if Task Manager flickers. Then, based on that information, you need to either uninstall the app or update the display driver.

To change the screen resolution and refresh rate settings, do the following:
1. Right-click the desktop, and then select Display settings.
2. Select the recommended resolution.
3. In Windows 11, select Advanced display. In Windows 10, select Advanced display settings.
4. Select Display adapter properties.
5. Select the Monitor tab.
6. Under Screen refresh rate, select another refresh rate if available.
7. Click OK to save the changes.
If you cannot select the native resolution, continue to the next step to update the drivers for the graphics adapter on the computer.
If you have an HP computer, update your video drivers from the HP website.

Otherwise, you can get the latest updated video drivers from the video hardware manufacturer's website. The following list shows some of the video hardware websites:
1. Check for NVIDIA video driver updates at NVIDIA (in English).
2. Check for ATI video driver updates at AMD (in English).
3. Check for Intel video support and downloads at Intel Downloads (in English).
After updating the video drivers, go back to Step 1 and try to change the screen resolution again.

Note:
If you cannot select the native resolution after updating the video drivers, the graphics adapter in the computer might not support that resolution and might need to be upgraded.

If the screen continues to flicker after setting the native display resolution and refresh rate, continue to the next step.
Check the video cable connections. Unplug the cable and inspect the cable for damage. If the cable is damaged, replace it with a new cable. Try to use cables less than 3 meters (10 feet) long.
Check the environment around the monitor. Monitors are sensitive to magnetic fields. Speakers, florescent lights, fans, cell phones, radios, and any other electrical device can cause flickering. Temporarily move electrical items away from the monitor to see whether they are producing a field that causes the flicker.
If the monitor has more than one type of connection available, such as USB Type-C, DisplayPort, or HDMI, try a different type of connection.
To see if the video coming from the computer is causing the problem, temporarily connect the monitor to another computer, such as a notebook computer.

If the flicker is gone when the monitor is connected to another computer, the graphics adapter hardware on the first computer might need to be upgraded to use the display.

Several colored horizontal or vertical lines on the screen

Several vertical lines are shown on the screen.

Use the buttons on the monitor to open the on-screen menu, and then select Factory Reset or Default.

If you need help to use the on-screen menu, see the user guide for your monitor.
Unplug the video cable between the computer and the monitor and check the ends for bent or broken pins. If any pins are damaged, replace the cable. Otherwise, securely connect the cable between the computer and the monitor.
If the monitor has more than one type of connection available, such as USB Type-C, DisplayPort, or HDMI, try a different type of connection.
If possible, connect the monitor to another computer. If the lines appear when the monitor is connected to the second computer, the monitor might be damaged or defective.

If the lines disappear when the monitor is connected to another computer, connect the monitor to the original computer and continue to the next step to update the video drivers.
If you have an HP computer, update your video drivers from the HP website.

Otherwise, you can get the latest updated video drivers from the video hardware manufacturer's website. The following list shows some of the video hardware websites:
- Check for NVIDIA video driver updates at NVIDIA (in English).
- Check for AMD video driver updates at AMD (in English).
- Check for Intel video support and downloads at Intel Downloads (in English).
If updating the drivers does not correct the problem, the graphics adapter might be damaged.

Typically, video card damage is caused by too much heat caused by an accumulation of dust around fan areas. Cleaning the components inside the computer, especially the graphics card, might correct this problem.

Screen is discolored

The entire screen is discolored.

Incorrect colors

Correct colors

To fix incorrect colors, complete the following steps:

Check the video cable connections and make sure that the connection is not loose. Tighten the connector, if necessary.
Press the Auto or Autoselect button on the monitor.
Press Menu, and then select Factory Reset. If the screen is still discolored, continue to the next step.
If the monitor has more than one type of connection available, such as USB Type-C, DisplayPort, or HDMI, try a different type of connection.
If possible, connect the monitor to another computer. If the colors are incorrect when the monitor is connected to the second computer, the monitor might be damaged or defective.
Contact HP Customer Service.

A message is displayed about no signal or signal out of range

Whenever these types of messages are displayed on the screen, the monitor cannot detect or set up the video signal.

To prevent these errors from occurring, make sure that a compatible video signal is being sent from the computer (or other video player). Make sure that the computer is not in Sleep mode, check the cable connections, restart the monitor, and make sure that the computer is using a compatible display mode.

A message is displayed about Power Save or Sleep

These messages indicate that the computer has sent a signal to the monitor to enter a low-power mode. Power-saving modes can also occur if the monitor has not received a video signal for a long time.

To wake the computer, move the mouse or press the spacebar. If the computer does not wake, press the power button on the computer for one second and release.

General troubleshooting tips for display quality issues

The following are some general troubleshooting steps for poor display quality.

Black borders next to the edge of the picture, blurry pictures, shadows, stretched images, video playback problems, and many other symptoms can often be resolved by completing the following steps:

Press the Auto or Autoselect button on the monitor.
Press Menu, and then select Factory Reset.
If the monitor has more than one type of connection available, such as USB Type-C, DisplayPort, or HDMI, try a different type of connection.
Set the video resolution on the computer to match the native resolution of the monitor. Find the native for your monitor on the box, in the specifications, or in the printed material that came with the monitor.
Make sure that the computer is using the latest video display drivers. Download and install the latest video drivers for the graphics adapter installed in the computer. Updating the video drivers can resolve many types of picture quality issues, especially in games. Updating video drivers can provide more display resolutions that might be a better match for your display.

If you have an HP computer, update your video drivers from the HP website. Otherwise, you can get the latest updated video drivers from the video hardware manufacturer's website. The following list shows some of the video hardware websites:
- Check for NVIDIA video driver updates at NVIDIA (in English).
- Check for AMD video driver updates at AMD (in English).
- Check for Intel video support and downloads at Intel Downloads (in English).
Fine-tune the brightness, colors, image position, and contrast using the on-screen menu on the monitor. You can find image adjustment information in the user guide for the monitor.
If you cannot adjust the image to fix the problem, swap the video cable for a shorter video cable to see whether the problem is related to the video signal strength. If the picture is better when the cable is replaced, use the shorter cable.
If the image quality problem persists, the monitor might be defective. Some display quality symptoms that indicate hardware failure are as follows:
- Permanent solid red, green, or blue lines that run across the screen. These lines indicate that a ground trace has broken. Replace the display.
- The monitor cannot display red, green, or blue, even from the monitor's on-screen menu. This indicates a main board failure. Replace the display or graphics adapter.
- Permanent gray swaths or bands across the screen. This defect is more visible when an all white background is displayed. This symptom indicates that the polarizing filter is damaged or not aligned correctly.