Acer Monitor No Signal? (SOLVED!)

A common problem users have when connecting their Acer monitor to the computer is the “No Signal” error.

But don’t worry; 9 out of 10, it’s a small minor issue causing the problem and can be solved quickly.

This article covers a 10-step troubleshooting process that covers almost all the possible problems users have declared.

 

 

 

 

Acer Monitor No Signal

If your Acer monitor displays a No Signal error, unplug and reboot the monitor and the pc after a few minutes.  Ensure the cables are correctly connected and try disabling DDC/CI, resetting CMOS/BIOS, adjusting refresh rate and resolution settings, and lastly, checking RAM slots.

 

Now, let’s get into more details about each step:

 

Step 1: Check Input/Source

This is common sense, but to ensure we don’t skip anything, make sure you have chosen the correct input/source in your monitor settings.

If you’re not sure which type of input cable you are using, compare yours to the models below:

(Hint: Older monitors tend to use VGA and DVI, but new monitors connect with HDMI cables and display ports.

 

 

To select the correct input/source signal, follow the steps below:

1. Ensure your monitor input cable is connected on both ends.
2. Press the menu button on the lower bezel of the monitor
3. Use the arrow buttons to navigate to input options or Icon and press the MENU button to enter the submenu.
4. Now, make sure you select the correct input signal. (for example, one of VGA, DVI, HDMI, DP, or USB-C).
5. Use the arrow buttons to navigate to the EXIT icon, and then press the MENU button to save and exit.

 

 

Now that you are sure that the proper input/source signal is set, let’s move on to step 2:

 

Step 2: Reboot

Many users have reported that one weird/easy way to fix the problem is simply rebooting the Acer monitor and the pc. Follow the steps below to do so:

1. Turn off the monitor and PC
2. Unplug the power, input, and any other cables connected to the monitor.
3. Hold the ON/OFF button on your monitor for 5 seconds.
4. Wait for one minute and then connect the power and input cables only.
5. Now, turn on the monitor first and then the PC.

 

I know, this doesn’t seem to do anything special. But again, it has solved many other people’s monitors, and it can fix yours, too, DO NOT skip it.

So the problem still persists? No problem, let’s go to step 3:

 

Step 3: Disable DDC/CI

DDC/CI, short for Display Data Channel/Command Interface, which Allows the monitor settings to be set through the software on the PC.

Although DDC-CI helps the computer adjust monitor parameters, in some cases, it interrupts the connection between the monitor and the PC.
To disable DDC-CI, follow the instructions below:

1. Press the menu button on the lower bezel of the monitor
2. Use the arrow buttons to navigate settings and press the MENU button to enter the submenu.
3. Now, you can find DDC/CI in the settings submenu.
4. Make sure DDC-CI is set to OFF.

 

Still “No Signal”? No worries, time to inspect the cables:

 

Step 4: Check/Change Connection Cables

The other common issue causing the “no signal” sign on your monitor can be having a loose or damaged input cable. Try the following steps to see if the problem resolves (first make sure the correct input is set: step 1):

1. Make sure both sides of the cable and the ports are clean and dust free. You can use a toothbrush or a paintbrush to clean them.
2. Make sure the cable is perfectly connected on both sides, especially if you’re connecting it to a laptop.
   Sometimes input cables don’t fit perfectly on laptop video ports, so make sure you press it enough that there is no extra gap (not too hard to break it!).
3. If the cable is old or loose, try pressing and keeping it in place with your hands.
   If the monitor connects even for a moment, it shows that the cable is broken and should be changed.
4. And lastly, if there wasn’t any change and the error remained, try using another cable.
   If the new cable solves the issue, the previous cable was causing the problem.
   -NOTE:  When switching to a different input cable, make sure you select the correct input settings (explained in step 1).

 

If none of the steps above solves the problem, then the problem is most probably caused by your computer (NOT your monitor).

But before troubleshooting the computer (steps 6 to 10), let’s make sure the monitor works fine by connecting and testing it with another device.

 

Step 5: Test The Monitor With Another Computer

The goal here is to test if the monitor is broken or not. To do so, try connecting the monitor to another computer to check if it works(make sure the connection and settings are okay, as explained earlier).

At the same time, you can also try different input cables; for example, if you’ve been using HDMI, try connecting the monitor using Display Port or VGA.

Turn the computer and the monitor ON and make sure the settings are correct. Now there are two possible results:

• Still “No Signal”: Now, if the monitor still shows a blank screen with “No Signal,” then most probably, there is something wrong with the monitor itself, and it’s best to contact Acer Customer Support (more details at the end).
• Works fine: On the other hand, if the monitor works fine with another computer, it shows that the monitor is okay, and the problem is probably caused by your computer, which we are going to troubleshoot in the next five steps:

 

 

Step 6: Connect The Monitor to Graphics Card

Desktop computers usually have video output ports on both the graphics card and the motherboard.

Each pixel on your monitor is drawn by your graphics card, and your display cable should also be plugged into the graphics card (NOT into the motherboard).

-Why?

-Because the motherboard video ports get disabled (or at least have poor performance) when a dedicated graphics card is installed.

So, check out the back of your computer case and make sure the cable is plugged into the Graphics Card Port.

 

 

I hope this solves the problem; if not, let check your ram slots:

 

Step 7: Clean RAM Cards/Slots

RAM: Random-Access Memory.

Sometimes, the problems with the RAM connection lead to a blank or a flickering screen. In most cases, you can quickly solve the problem by cleaning and reinstalling the RAMs correctly.

Follow the steps below to clean the RAM/slots:

1. Turn off and unplug the computer.
2. Remove the RAM cards by snapping side clips carefully.
3. Now, use an eraser to clean the metal part of the RAMs that connect to the slots (You can also use alcohol with a soft cloth to clean them).
4. Use a hairdryer (set to cold air) to remove the dust and dirt from the RAMs and slots.
5. make sure the RAMs are dry and reinstall them accordingly.
6. Put the cover back on, plug and turn the computer on.

 

Check out the video tutorial below on cleaning the RAM:

 

 

Didn’t fix? no problem, next step: resting CMOS/BIOS:

 

Step 8: Reset CMOS/BIOS (Battery Replacement)

–CMOS: Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor
–BIOS: Basic Input/Output System

Basically, CMOS is a small memory on the motherboard that stores the BIOS settings. BIOS is responsible for identifying hardwares, and sometimes it causes No Signal issues for the monitor.

Resetting CMOS/BIOS to the default configuration by removing the CMOS battery can solve all the problems it’s causing.

Follow the steps below to reset CMOS/BIOS:

1. Turn off and unplug the computer.
2. Remove the computer cover and find the battery:
   The battery can be directly connected to the board by a holder, or it can be connected with a wire (check out the video below).
3. Remove the battery from the holder (or remove the header if a wire connects the battery).
4. Wait 5 minutes and reconnect the battery.
5. Put the cover back on, plug it in, and turn the computer on.

 

Check out the video tutorial below on removing CMOS battery:

 

 

I hope one of the solutions discussed above fixes your problem,
however, if you’re still getting the No Signal sign, there are 2 other software solutions that require a screen.

So the next two steps only work on laptops (since they have a monitor) and also computers that can work with another external monitor.

 

Step 9: Update or Reinstall Graphic Drivers

The most common reason (on the PC side) that leads to a “No Signal” error on Acer monitors is having an incompatible graphic driver.

To solve this problem, you can simply update the drivers or reinstall the new versions manually.

To upgrade the drivers automatically, you just need to update your operating system to the latest version: (doing so, any graphic drivers that are found will be installed automatically).

Follow the paths below to update your Operating System:

• Windows 10: Settings > Windows Update & Security > Windows Update
• Windows 11: Start > Settings > Windows Update
• Mac OS: System Preferences > Software Update > Update Now.

 

Also, if you want to reinstall or upgrade the drivers on Windows manually, you can follow the full instructions below:

Update: Right-click Start and select Device Manager. Then, right-click the adapter and choose Update Driver > Search Automatically for Driver Software.

Reinstall: Download software, open Device Manager, right-click driver, select Update Driver > Browse My Computer for Driver Software.

 

Updating graphic drivers, also helps fixing audio issues if your Acer monitor has speakers!

Still “No Signal”? Let’s try the final trick:

 

Step 10: Adjust Refresh Rate & Resolution

Refresh Rate:  the number of times per second that the image refreshes on the screen (usually 60Hz).
Resolution:  the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed (Usually 1920 x 1080).

If your computer display settings are set to a higher refresh rate or resolution than what your monitor can support, then it can be causing the problem.

To solve this problem, follow the instructions below:

1. Check your monitor’s resolution & refresh rate numbers (you can easily search the model on Google).
2. Reset your monitor settings to default (Menu > Settings > Reset).
3. Now go to your computer display settings, and make sure the Resolution and refresh rate match the ones from your monitor.
4. If the numbers already matched, try lowering the resolution and refresh rate on the computer display settings to see if it changes anything.
   (If nothing happens, set them back to match the monitor numbers. So it doesn’t interfere with the next steps).

 

Check out the video below on changing resolution and refresh rate:

 

 

Well, if you’re still getting the No Signal sign, let’s contact the company for help:

 

Contact Customer Support

All Acer monitors are sold with a Three-year limited warranty. But even if your contract is expired, Acer still provides support options that you can benefit from.

You can create a repair order for your monitor at Acer support.
Additionally,  you can check the status of your repair orders online without ever having to pick up a phone.

 

Conclusion

There are several reasons that each alone can cause your Acer monitor to show a blank screen with a “No Signal” sign.

Here we discussed the 10 most effective troubleshooting steps to fix an Acer monitor “No Signal”:

1. Check Input/Source
2. Reboot
3. Disable DDC/CI
4. Check/Change Connection Cables
5. Test The Monitor With Another Computer
6. Connect The Monitor to Graphics Card
7. Clean RAM Cards/Slots
8. Reset CMOS/BIOS
9. Update or Reinstall Graphic Drivers
10. Adjust Refresh Rate & Resolution

 

I hope this article can help you solve your problem, and if not, make sure to check with Acer Customer Support.

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