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(VGA Not Working) How to Connect VGA to an HDMI Monitor/TV

How to Fix VGA not working

 

Why VGA is Not Working on your Monitor

If the VGA connection to your monitor is not working, then make sure that the PC or system is turned on.

  1. Ensure that all the cables are correctly in place. When connecting a cable to your monitor make sure that you hear the click sound. Some sort of loose connection can prevent the display from working properly.
  2. In your PC, check whether the input mode is selected correctly. If you are using a VGA connection but the settings have been selected for HDMI, then again it may not display correctly.
  3. If all the cables are properly in place then the issue could be due to the bad hardware in the monitor or the video card. For this, you will need to get it serviced by a technician to resolve the issue.
  4. Try connecting your monitor to another PC. If your monitor works correctly then the issue could be due to the video card. If the monitor does not work then replacing the hardware inside your monitor will resolve the issue. 

 

Why Your TV Won’t Recognize VGA

A TV will not recognize a VGA cable if the “PC connections” setting is disabled on the TV.

This could also happen if the settings are changed on your PC or laptop. If you find that you’re able to connect to your TV from some models of your laptop using a VGA cable but not in others then the issue might be with the settings.

What can you do to make it work? Follow the below-mentioned tips to connect the VGA cable.

  1. In your TV settings navigate to the AV settings menu. This will have an option for enabling PC connections. This particular option needs to be enabled for the VGA cable to work.
  2. It is better to keep the PC connections settings in Always mode if you frequently connect your PC to your TV. This will help you save a lot of time in the long run as you won’t have to enable it every time you wish to connect.
  3. If your VGA connection doesn’t work for any of the PCs, then there is a possibility that the cable is faulty. Replacing the cable will help resolve this issue.

 

Is VGA Better than HDMI?

HDMI is better than VGA as VGA is one of the oldest technologies connections for monitors and TVs.

They were designed during the times when analog signals were the norm and digital signals were not yet discovered. HDMI is one of the more recent technologies that is used in monitors and televisions. This allows both audio and video digital signals to be transmitted across devices.

  • In terms of signal quality, VGA cables can experience some crosstalk. This is due to the interference from other cables. HDMI cables do not experience this type of interference.
  • VGA cables suffer less input lag than HDMI cables. HDMI cables apply some sort of post-processing to ensure the signal quality and clarity due to which the input lag occurs.
  • HDMI ports and cables are more adaptable than the VGA ports. This means that if you have a VGA port and an HDMI cable you can connect it using an adaptor. However, the reverse will not work. You cannot connect a VGA cable to an HDMI port.
  • HDMI cables can carry high-resolution audio and video when compared to the VGA cables. So, it is better to use an HDMI cable for Bluray, game consoles and other such high definition activities.

 

How to Connect VGA to an HDMI TV

You can easily connect your HDMI TV using a VGA cable by using a VGA to HDMI converter. You will need to use a converter to connect the two ports.

  1. When you buy a VGA to HDMI adaptor cable, it is important to buy a good quality adaptor as low-quality ones may affect your video projection quality.
  2. Connect the VGA side of the cable to the VGA port present on your PC or laptop.
  3. Now connect the HDMI side of the cable to the port on your TV. This port will usually be present behind the screen. You may have to run the screen to access this port.
  4. Navigate to the Settings menu in your TV and select the visual input as HDMI settings.
  5. In your laptop or PC select the projection settings. You can choose whether you want to extend your laptop screen to the TV or project it.

 

How to Connect VGA to a Monitor

If you have a laptop or a PC which supports a VGA port then you can easily connect to a monitor. All you need is a VGA cable that is available in most of the electronic shops. Make sure that you invest in a good quality cable.

The quality of the cable will determine whether you experience some video input lag during transmission. Using the VGA cable, you can connect easily to not just another monitor but also a TV or even a projector.

Although VGA is relatively old technology, it is still being used extensively in many places. Some of the newer models of the laptops have by default adapted the HDMI port but the older models still have the VGA ports.

  1. Connect the VGA cable to the port on your laptop or PC. Make sure that the cable is attached firmly.
  2. Now connect the other end of the cable to the monitor. The port will be mostly present behind the screen.
  3. Now go to the control panel and navigate to the video display settings. Select the projection options that you need.
  4. If you want the monitor to duplicate your screen, then select the duplicate option. You can also extend your screen by selecting the extended option.

 

Do HDMI to VGA Adapters Work?

HDMI to VGA adaptors do not work as both have very different technologies inbuilt in them. HDMI technology is used to transmit digital audio and video signals while VGA is used to transmit audio signals.

Most of the VGA cables still work with analog signals. The difference in technology makes it almost impossible to directly convert the signals.

However, some adapters have the inbuilt chips to handle this conversion. Even though they may look thin, they may have the converter chip which can help you in transmitting the signals.

So, what are the pros and cons of using this adapter?

 

Pros:

  • Since the output is a VGA port, the analog signals will work without any hassles.
  • There won’t be much pre-processing of the signals and hence the signals will be transmitted easily.
  • The adapter is great for use when you have an older laptop having a VGA port and you wish to connect it to a latest monitor or TV has an HDMI port.

 

Cons:

  • HDMI is usually capable of handling higher resolutions as opposed to VGA. While using the HDMI to VGA adapter you are forcing it to reduce the resolution.
  • HDMI cables are known for consistent video processing and transmission but since there is a cross-connection with VGA, the video quality might be affected.

 

How to Troubleshoot VGA Signal Problems

One of the common issues faced while using a VGA cable is the No Signal problem. This could happen due to a multitude of reasons. This issue can be resolved quite easily.

Follow these steps to find out what is wrong with the cable and how to fix it.

  • If you get the message No Signal Found, then try to create the CMOS. This can be down by carefully removing the back cover. If you are not confident of doing this, you can take it to a service center.
  • Check whether the video card is connected. Make sure that this connection is proper.
  • Check whether all the wires are in working condition and do not have any sort of damage. Damaged wires cannot transmit the signals correctly.
  • Ensure that the monitor is turned on. Sometimes even if one of the monitors or PC is not turned on the No Signal Error will be the result.
  • Check the port and the cable to see if any of the pins are broken or damaged. Damaged ports can prevent transmission of the signals.

 

VGA not Working but HDMI Is Working

If you notice that the VGA adapter is not working but the HDMI adapter works, you may need to update your drivers or change BIOS settings.

Some laptops come with both a VGA as well as an HDMI adapter. This is especially true if you have a high-quality graphics card installed. Sometimes you will also get a notification in your laptop or PC stating that the VGA adapter is disabled or not functional.

  1. Ensure that all the updates for the drivers are installed correctly. Update these drivers regularly.
  2. If you have a plug-in card installed the default ports and adapters will be disabled. Go to the control panel and enable the onboard drivers.
  3. If you find that the onboard drivers are not installed correctly, you can download them from the operating system’s official website.
  4. If you are unable to disable the plugin card and use the onboard driver, you can navigate to the BIOS settings and disable the plugin of the card. BIOS settings menu has options to choose which plugin or adapter you want to use.

 

Monitor Says No Input Signal

Ensure all cables are connected to the correct ports when your monitor is displaying a no input signal error.

This problem could arise when you are using a VGA cable as well as an HDMI cable.

  • Check whether the correct cables are connected.
  • Ensure that the cables are connected to the right port. Sometimes if the wrong port is connected, the signal may not be transmitted.
  • In the Settings tab of your system, check whether the input source is selected correctly. If you are using a VGA cable and the input source is selected as HDMI, then again, the signal won’t be detected.
  • Verify that the graphics card is inserted correctly in the system. You can try removing it once and inserting it again.
  • Periodically check for updates to all the drivers. Every adapter has a driver associated with it. If your driver is an older version, it could no longer be supported. Update it to the latest version and check whether it is working correctly.
  • Finally, check whether the cables do not have any defects as defective cables cannot transmit signals.

 

Why VGA Port Is Not Working in Windows 10

If you have Windows 10 PC or laptop you may have noticed that the VGA port does not work at times. This issue is quite common with the Windows 10 users. If you have recently upgraded to Windows 10 operating system from another version, then again you may notice this problem.

If you have an HDMI port along with the VGA port and the HDMI adapter works fine, then the issue lies with the Windows operating system.

How to make the VGA port work in Windows 10

  1. Since the ports do not work after installing windows 10, the issue could be mainly due to the drivers. Update all your drivers and check whether the port is working. Do not just update the graphic drivers.
  2. Go to the control panel and check for updates about the windows version. Make sure that your OS is fully updated.
  3. There is an option in the Settings tab for troubleshooting the hardware issues. Run this check to identify and fix the problem.
  4. In case you notice that the VGA port is not working after you installed a new update but was working fine before, then you can roll back to the previous checkpoint of your system.
  5. Follow these steps to easily rectify the issue.

 

Why VGA is Not Working on your Motherboard

If you have a high-end motherboard but find that the VGA port is not working, it can be quite frustrating. The issue can arise due to a number of reasons. It is important to find out what is causing the issue before trying to fix it.

Follow these steps to identify the source of the problem.

  1. Check whether the VGA adapter is enabled in the settings. If it is not enabled you can navigate to the BIOS settings menu and enable the VGA option.
  2. Now you should be able to access the VGA display and port in the motherboard.
  3. If you have both an HDMI port as well as VGA by default the HDMI port will be enabled. You will need to disable the adapter before attempting to work on the VGA port.
  4. Check whether the wires are connected securely and the monitor is turned on.
  5. You can also go to the resolution tab of the settings and change the input device and output device options to VGA. Make these settings as your default option so that you don’t have to keep changing it every time you wish to connect to a VGA cable.

Ernie Lo

Ernie Lo is a qualified web designer and web developer. He works as an IT support technician and website manager at Benleigh Vending, and he also fixes vending machines.

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