Windows 10 won’t detect third monitor: 6 working fixes
- If you can't connect the 3rd monitor in Windows, you're not alone because sometimes it could be triggered by a monitor compatibility problem. Especially if the monitors are not identical or not even from the same generation.
- The first solution is to disconnect all the monitors and reconnect them back one by one. Sometimes it is so easy as that.
- Windows 10 is giving you a hard time? You will find plenty of solutions in the Windows 10 fix hub.
- If you have any problems with your computer, check out our Laptop & PC hub.
Along with the continuous growth of the gaming industry, many users started using a 3 monitor display setup for a better gaming experience.
There is a common problem with using this type of display setup though. Users reported that they couldn’t connect their 3rd monitor in the Windows OS.
This is a frequent issue in Windows, and sometimes it could be triggered by a monitor compatibility problem.
In the guide below, we’ll focus on solving the monitors‘ connectivity issues in Windows 10.
- Try to reconnect the monitors
- Change the display settings in the Control Panel
- Check for updates
- Get the ISO version of Windows
- Try to enable Set up Multiple Displays for Nvidia graphic cards
- Disable Integrated Intel card
How do I get 3 monitors to work on Windows 10?
1. Try to reconnect the monitors one by one
Although you might think that you have everything in order, sometimes it is better to reinstall your monitor setup.
Various technical issues may sometimes occur when you use more than one DVI to Display Ports.
Try unplugging the monitors in the order displayed in the Advanced Display Settings window. Plug them back in afterwards.
After a few attempts, the auto-detect could find the 3rd monitor.
2. Change the display settings in the Control Panel
Many users reported having one monitor disconnected. To change the monitor‘s status you need to follow these steps:
- Press the Start button and open the Control Panel
- Select Display > click Change Display Settings
- Click on the Disconnected screen > select Extend desktop to this display
3. Check for updates
Making sure that you have the latest updates guarantees that your display is working properly.
You can automatically install the latest Windows 10 updates by going to Settings and hitting the Check for updates button. 
Alternatively, you can download specific updates from the Microsoft Update Catalog website. If particular updates bring display bug fixes and improvements, we strongly recommend installing them.
4. Update your graphics card drivers
GeForce graphics cards are known to have issues on three monitor setups.
Automatically checking for Windows 10 updates doesn’t necessarily mean you computer will also get the latest GeForce driver updates.
Go to NVIDIA’s official website and install the latest updates manually to make sure your system is fully updated.
5. Try to enable Set up Multiple Displays for Nvidia graphic cards
Set up your display manually to make sure you’re using the correct settings. To do so, follow these steps:
- Right click on a random free spot on your desktop and open the NVIDIA Control Panel
- In the NVIDIA Control Panel, click Set up multiple displays
- Check all the boxes for the monitors that you want to use
- Save the changes and restart your computer
- Check if all the selected monitors are working
6. Disable Integrated Intel card
Trying to disable the Integrated graphics card is another adequate solution.
Hardware conflicts may sometimes occur between the integrated graphics card and your primary graphics card.
To disable the integrated graphic card driver you need to follow these steps:
- Press R + Windows buttons on your keyboard to open the Run box > type devmgmt.msc and press Enter
- In the Device Manager Window, click the arrow next to Display adapters
- Right click on the Intel graphics card and select Disable device
- Try to reconnect the 3rd monitor and see if it works
These are the solutions that we found to be most efficient. If you have any other working solutions, feel free to leave them in the comment section below.
FAQ: Read more about monitor issues
If it doesn’t display anything after you press the power button that means that the monitor doesn’t receive power. Unplug the monitor from the outlet and then unplug the cord from the back of the monitor. Contact the manufacturer.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in May 2019 and has been since revamped and updated in March 2020 for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in May 2019 and was revamped and updated in July 2020 for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.