7P Drawing tablets
  • Welcome
  • About TheSevenPens
    • My tablet setups
    • Drawing Tablet discord server
    • My drawing tablets
  • Frequently asked questions
  • Basics
    • Beginner's guide to drawing tablets
    • Types of drawing tablets
    • Learning digital art
    • Learning to use a drawing tablet
    • Get started with a drawing tablet
    • Use cases
      • Gaming with a drawing tablet
      • Making educational videos with a drawing tablet
      • Taking notes with drawing tablets
      • Using a drawing tablet as a mouse replacement
    • Contacting support
    • Drawing tablets vs mice
    • The drawing experience
    • Uninstalling tablet drivers
  • Buying a drawing tablet
    • Buying used drawing tablets
    • Inspecting a drawing tablet
    • Pen tablets vs pen displays
    • The case against pen computers
    • Buying a drawing tablet for osu!
    • Buying tips
    • How many pressure levels do you really need?
    • Choosing the right size for a drawing tablet
    • Switching from a pen tablet to a pen display
    • Buying a drawing tablet as a gift
  • Recommendations
    • Recommended drawing tablets for beginners
    • Dedicated note taking devices
    • Pen tablet recommendations
      • Small pen tablet recommendations
      • Medium pen tablet recommendations
      • Large pen tablet recommendations
    • Pen display recommendations
      • Small pen display recommendations
      • Medium pen display recommendations
      • Large pen display recommendations
    • Standalone drawing tablet recommendations
      • Pen computer recommendations
      • Pen-enabled mobile computers
      • Pen-enabled laptop recommendations
    • Comparisons
      • 7P: Drawing tablet tier list (December 2024)
      • 7P: Large pen tablets compared
      • 7P: 13" pen displays compared (2023)
      • 7P: 22" pen displays compared (2024)
  • Brands
    • Huion and XP-Pen
    • Wacom
    • Xencelabs
    • Drawing tablet brands vs digitizers
    • Choosing a drawing tablet brand
  • Core features
    • Active area
    • Active area size
    • Active area aspect ratio
    • Active area mapping
    • Erasing
    • Bezel
    • Pen tilt
    • Disable pen tilt
    • Tilt impact on pressure readings
    • Pen pressure
    • Pen pressure range comparison
    • Pen pressure dead zone
    • Pen pressure instability at low pressure
    • Pen pressure response
    • Pen pressure curve
      • Misc pressure curve notes
      • Pressure curves that constrain output
      • Null pressure curve
      • Implementing pressure curves
      • Pressure curves that ignore input
      • Pressure curve shape support in applications
    • Disable pen pressure
    • Pen hover
    • Pen tracking
    • Pen tilt compensation
    • Pen barrel rotation
    • Pen nib travel
    • Pen nib material
    • Lag
    • Pointer lag
    • Brush lag
    • Diagonal wobble
    • Surface texture
    • Auxiliary inputs
    • Absolute versus relative positioning
    • Mouse mode
    • Powering a pen
    • Powering a drawing tablet
  • Guides
    • Caring for your drawing tablet
      • Dealing with water damage
      • Cleaning a drawing tablet
      • Removing a nib
      • Removing a broken nib
      • Storing your pen
      • Surface wear on pen tablets
      • Scratches on pen tablets
      • Texture erosion on pen tablets
      • Surface wear on pen displays
      • False scratches
      • Removing and replacing the surface film on a pen display
      • Nib wear
      • Replacing a pen
    • Customizing your experience
      • Match aspect ratios with Force Proportions
      • Shrinking the active area
      • Using large pen tablets
      • Using extra-large pen tablets
      • Matching pen tablet size to monitor size
      • Active Area Mapping for pen tablets and widescreen monitors
      • Mirroring or extending your desktop to a pen display
      • Using a pen display as a pen tablet
      • Using metal nibs
      • Clamping wide-gamut displays to sRGB
      • Calibrate pen position on a pen display
      • Using a pen display as a monitor
      • Controlling the pen tip behavior
    • Connections and cabling
      • Connecting a pen display with a 3-in-1 cable
      • Connecting a pen tablet to a computer
      • Wireless connection
      • Motherboard HDMI vs GPU HDMI ports
      • Connecting a pen display to a computer
      • Connecting a pen display to a mobile device
      • Connecting a pen display with a single USB-C cable
      • Using 3rd-party cables with your drawing tablet
        • Cables I use to connect pen tablets
      • Connecting a pen to a drawing tablet
      • Recessed USB-C ports
      • Connecting a pen display to a USB-C port on a GPU
    • Drawing
      • Drawing smooth strokes
      • How a brush engine uses pen data
      • Configure smoothing in applications
      • Enable tilt for brushes
    • Pen displays
      • Etched glass vs film
      • Etched glass
      • Anti-glare film
      • Anti-glare sparkle
      • Lamination
      • Display resolution
      • Choosing the right display resolution for a pen display
      • Brightness
      • Parallax
      • Display connector types
      • Using HDMI splitters with pen displays
      • Using HDMI adapters with pen displays
        • VGA to HDMI adapters
        • DVI to HDMI adapters
        • USB-C to HDMI adapters
        • DisplayPort to HDMI adapters
      • Color tint on edges of display
      • Pen display refresh rate
      • USB-C DisplayPort alt mode
      • Dead pixels
      • Using an iPad with your computer as a pen display
    • Pens
      • Pen buttons
      • Pen compatibility with drawing tablets
      • Pen weight
      • Pen weight comparison
      • Pen teardowns
    • Drivers
      • OpenTabletDriver
        • Install OpenTabletDriver on Windows
        • Install OpenTabletDriver on MacOS
        • OpenTabletDriver application data directory
        • Uninstalling OpenTabletDriver on Windows
        • OpenTabletDriver usage notes
        • Smoothing with OpenTabletDriver
        • Pressure curves in OpenTabletDriver
        • Slimy Scylla
      • Using a drawing tablet without installing drivers
      • Tablet Driver Cleanup tool
      • Using older tablet drivers
      • Importing and Exporting tablet driver configurations
    • Advanced
      • Firmware
      • Tablet reports
      • PenTracker by Patrick Lauke
    • Ergonomics
      • Body posture when using drawing tablets
      • Handedness of drawing tablets
      • Using a drawing tablet in portrait mode
      • Rotating a drawing tablet
      • Using a drawing tablet on your lap
      • Noise
      • Using a drawing tablet in bed
      • Heat
    • Touch support
      • Tablets that support touch
    • General
      • Total cost of ownership (TCO)
      • Model names vs model numbers
      • Finding the model number of a drawing tablet
      • Using older drawing tablets
      • Electromagnetic Interference
      • Connecting a drawing tablet to an iPad or iPhone
      • Connecting a drawing tablet to an Android device
      • Testing Drawing Tablet Compatibility with Android devices
      • Connecting a drawing tablet to a Chromebook
      • Chromebook testing results
      • Connecting multiple drawing tablets at the same time
    • Linux
    • Windows
      • Using a drawing tablet on Windows
      • Windows on ARM
      • Windows PNP support for drawing tablets
      • Windows PNP driver compatibility testing
      • Disable ripple effect rings in Windows
      • Disable the press-and-hold ring in Windows
      • Windows 7 Tablet PC features
        • Disable Tablet PC features on Windows 7
        • Disable Tablet PC features on Windows 7 using the FixMyPen tool
      • Windows Ink
        • The history of Windows Ink
        • Configure Windows Ink for apps
        • Configuring Photoshop to NOT use Windows Ink
        • Configure Windows Ink in the tablet driver
    • Mini-PCs for digital art
      • 7P: Minisforum Neptune HX99G
    • Laptops for digital art
  • Applications
    • Apps for beginners
    • Apps for Android
    • Apps for iPad
    • List of apps
    • App tips
      • Show document canvas on another display
    • 7P: Recommended apps
  • Developers
    • Pen APIs
    • WinTab versus Windows Ink
    • 7P Tablet Tester
    • WinTab API
    • Force proportions simulator
  • Troubleshooting
    • Common problems with drawing tablets
    • Common drawing troubleshooting steps
    • Testing pressure in the tablet driver
    • Check if pen display shows HDMI video signal from other devices
    • Check tablet driver diagnostics
    • Reset a drawing tablet
    • TSG: Low pressure drawing problems
    • TSG: Difficult to reach maximum pressure
    • Testing with Windows PNP drawing tablet drivers
    • TSG: pointer stuck in corner of screen
    • TSG: Drawing problems
    • TSG: Pen display shows NO SIGNAL message
    • TSG: Pen moving pointer on the wrong display
    • TSG: Pixel noise on display
    • TSG: No pressure while drawing
    • TSG: Random gaps in strokes
    • TSG: Dots at end of strokes
    • TSG: Dots at start of strokes
    • TSG: Pen draws while hovering
    • TSG: Hooks at start of strokes
    • TSG: shoelaces at end of strokes
    • TSG: Straight lines at start of stokes
    • TSG: Pen not drawing in vertical or horizontal bands
    • TSG: WiFi and Internet problems with drawing tablets
    • TSG: Tablet driver does not detect tablet
    • TSG: computer does not detect display
    • TSG: driver no longer supports a drawing tablet
    • TSG: no sound after plugging in drawing tablet
    • TSG: Pen display doesn't show anything
    • TSG: Not enough HDMI ports
    • TSG: Insects in a pen display
    • TSG: Pen acting like a mouse
    • TSG: Pen display turns on and off constantly
    • TSG: computer detects drawing tablet as a keyboard
  • Product links
    • Apple
      • Apple iPad
      • Apple Pencil
      • Connecting an iPad to a computer as a drawing tablet
      • 7P: Apple iPad
      • 7P: Apple iPad versus drawing tablets
      • 7P: Apple iPad versus Samsung Galaxy Tab S
      • 7P: How I use iPads
      • 7P: M3 MacBook Pro
    • Artisul
    • ASUS
      • ASUS Pro Art Pen Display
    • CalDigit
      • 7P: CalDigit USB-C to HDMI 2.1 adapter
      • 7P: CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt Dock
    • Dell
      • Dell Canvas 27
    • Gaomon
      • Gaomon Pen Tablet
      • Gaomon Pro Pen Tablet
      • Gaomon Pen Display
      • Gaomon Pro Pen Display
    • Huion
      • Huion Kamvas Pro
        • 7P: Huion Kamvas Pro 19 (GT1902)
        • 7P: Huion Kamvas Pro 16 Plus 4K (GT1562)
        • 7P: Huion Kamvas Pro 24 4K (GT2401)
      • Huion Kamvas Studio
      • Huion Kamvas Slate
      • Huion Kamvas
        • 7P: Huion Kamvas 13 GEN3 (GS1333)
        • 7P: Huion Kamvas 16 2021 (GS1562)
        • 7P: Huion Kamvas 13 (GS1331)
        • 7P: Huion Kamvas 22 Plus (GS2202)
        • 7P: Huion Kamvas 16 GEN3 (GS1563)
      • Huion Inspiroy R-series
        • 7P: Huion Inspiroy RTP-700
      • Inspiroy Dial
        • 7P: Huion Inspiroy Dial 2 (Q630M)
      • Huion Inspiroy Frego
        • 7P: Huion Inspiroy Frego M (L610)
      • Huion Inspiroy
        • 7P: Huion Inspiroy Giano (G930L)
        • 7P: Huion Inspiroy HS611
        • 7P: Huion Inspiroy WH1409V2
      • Huion KeyDial
      • Huion pens
        • Huion PenTech
        • 7P: Huion PW500 pen
        • 7P: Huion PW517 pen
        • 7P: Huion PW550 series pens
        • 7P: Huion PW600 series pens
        • 7P: Huion PW507 pen
      • Huion Inspiroy 2
        • 7P: Huion Inspiroy 2 L (H1061P)
    • Microsoft
      • Microsoft Surface Pro
        • 7P: Microsoft Surface Pro 8
    • OnePlus
      • OnePlus Pad
    • Samsung
      • Samsung Galaxy Tab S series
      • 7P: Samsung Galaxy Tab S series
      • 7P: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
      • 7P: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
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      • Samsung Galaxy Tab A
      • Samsung Galaxy Book 360
      • Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
      • Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
      • Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
      • Samsung Galaxy Tab S9
      • Samsung S Pen
        • 7P: Samsung S Pen
    • Wacom
      • 7P: Comparison of Wacom pen tablets
      • Wacom model number format
      • Wacom One vs One by Wacom
      • Wacom tablet list
      • One by Wacom
        • 7P: One by Wacom (CTL-x72)
      • Wacom Intuos Pro 2025
        • 7P: Wacom Intuos Pro 2025 (PTK-x70)
      • Wacom Intuos Pro 2017
        • 7P: Wacom Intuos Pro 2017 Medium (PTH-660)
        • 7P: Wacom Intuos Pro 2017 (PTH-x60)
      • Wacom Intuos Pro 2013
      • Wacom Intuos5
      • Wacom Intuos4
        • 7P: Wacom Intuos 4 XL (PTK-1240)
      • Wacom Intuos3
      • Wacom Intuos2
      • Wacom Intuos1
      • Wacom Intuos
      • Wacom UD tablets
      • Wacom SD tablets
      • Wacom Cintiq
        • 7P: Wacom Cintiq 22 (DTK-2260)
      • Wacom Cintiq Pro
        • 7P: Wacom Cintiq Pro 16 (DTH-167)
        • 7P: Cintiq Pro 24 (DTx-2420)
        • 7P: Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 (DTH-271)
        • 7P: Wacom Cintiq Pro 22 (DTH-227)
      • Wacom Movink
        • 7P: Wacom Movink 13 (DTH-135)
      • Wacom One 2019 GEN1
        • 7P: Wacom One 2019 GEN1 (DTC-133)
      • Wacom One 2023 GEN2
        • 7P: Wacom One 2023 GEN2 pen displays
        • 7P: Wacom One 2023 pen tablets
      • Wacom accessories
        • 7P: Wacom Converter (ACK45219Z)
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          • 7P: Pro Pen 2 (KP-504E)
          • 7P: Wacom 2K Pen (LP-190K)
          • 7P: Wacom One 2019 GEN1 Pen (CP-913)
          • 7P: Wacom One 2023 Pen (CP-923)
          • 7P: Wacom Pro Pen 3 (ACP-500)
          • 7P: Wacom Intuos 2 Airbrush pen (XP-400E)
        • Wacom pen compatibility
    • Xencelabs
      • Xencelabs Quick Keys
      • 7P: Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium (BPH1212W-A)
      • 7P: Xencelabs Pen Display 16 (LPH1612U-A)
      • 7P: Xencelabs V2 pens
      • 7P: Xencelabs Mobile Easel
      • 7P: Xencelabs Pen Display 24 (LPH2412U-A)
    • XP-Pen
      • XP-Pen Magic Note Pad (MNP1095)
      • XP-Pen Magic Drawing Pad
      • XP-Pen Artist
        • 7P: XP-Pen Artist 22 Plus (MD220FH)
      • XP-Pen Artist GEN2
        • 7P: XP-Pen Artist 12 Gen2 (CD120FH)
        • 7P: XP-Pen Artist 13 GEN2 (CD130FH)
        • 7P: XP-Pen Artist 16 GEN2 (CD160FH)
      • XP-Pen Artist Pro
      • XP-Pen Artist Pro GEN2
        • 7P: XP-Pen Artist Pro 22 GEN2 (MD220QH)
        • 7P: XP-Pen Artist Pro 19 GEN2 (MD180UH)
        • 7P : XP-Pen Artist Pro 16 GEN2 (MD160QH)
      • XP-Pen Shortcut Remote
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        • 7P: XP-Pen Deco LW (IT1060B)
      • XP-Pen Deco Pro GEN2
        • 7P: XP-Pen Deco Pro XLW GEN2 (MT1592B)
      • XP-Pen Innovator
      • XP-Pen protective sheets
      • XP-Pen pens
        • 7P: XP-Pen X3 Pro pens
        • 7P: XP-Pen X3 Elite pen
      • XP-Pen ACS15 Ergo Stand
    • Ugee
  • Application links
    • MyPaint
    • Adobe Photoshop
      • 7P: Adobe Photoshop
    • ArtRage
    • Affinity Photo
      • 7P: Affinity Photo
    • Autodesk Maya
    • Blender
    • Clip Studio Paint
      • 7P: Clip Studio Paint
    • Concepts app
    • FireAlpaca
    • Freeform
    • Fresco
    • HEAVYPAINT
    • HiPaint
    • Ibis Paint
    • Infinite Painter
    • Inkscape
    • Kleki
    • Krita
      • 7P: Krita
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    • Medibang Pro
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      • 7P: Procreate
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    • ZoomIt
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  • Accessories
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      • 7P: Ergotron monitor arms
    • Cables
      • 7P: CableMatters Thunderbolt 3 cable
    • Cable adapters
    • Drawing gloves
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    • Keyboards
    • Auxiliary input devices
      • TourBox
        • 7P: TourBox
      • 8bitdo controller
      • Clip Studio Tabmate
    • Pen grips
    • Protective cases
    • Surface protectors
      • Foxbox covers
      • Photodon screen protectors
      • ePlastic polycarbonate sheets (velvet lexan)
      • Paperlike for iPad
    • Stands
      • 7P: VIVO Pneumatic Arm Monitor Desk Stand (STAND-V100R)
      • Parblo PR-100 stand
        • 7P: Parblo PR-100 Stand
      • XP-Pen AC41/AC42 stands
      • XOOT Stand
      • iPad stands
  • Resources
    • Drawing tablet community
    • Kuuube
      • Kuuube's Wacom tablet mastersheet
      • Kuuube's tablet buying guide
      • Kuuube's Wacom pen compatibility mastersheet
    • YouTube channels
    • Subreddits for drawing tablets
    • Koneko_w
    • Project Patchouli
  • Process
    • Pressure range data
    • Measuring hover height
    • Measuring pressure
    • Measuring display sharpness
    • Measuring report rate
    • Measuring diagonal wobble
    • Diagonal wobble samples
    • Perfect pressure sensitive lines
    • Tablet evaluation
    • Microscope
  • Reference
    • Resolution info
    • Aspect ratio math
    • Standard paper sizes
  • Technology
    • Display panel technology
    • VESA
    • Wacom patents
    • AES
    • Apple Pencil tech
    • EMR
      • EMR technical resources
      • EMR position detection
      • EMR pressure detection
      • Active EMR vs Passive EMR
      • EMR tilt detection
      • The realities of building your own EMR pen
    • MPP
    • Digital pen tech
    • Wacom UD EMR
      • Pens that support UD EMR 2nd gen
      • Tablets that support UD EMR 2nd gen
    • USI
  • Misc
    • Circuit simulations
    • History of drawing tablets
      • Preface
      • Chapter 1: Antiquity
      • Chapter 2: Terms
      • Appendix: Timeline
      • Appendix: Other histories
      • Appendix: References
    • Mobile computer recommendations
Powered by GitBook
On this page
  • Overview
  • NO SIGNAL but the pen still works
  • Important background information
  • Setting expectations
  • What you can tell from the NO SIGNAL message
  • What POWER SAVING means
  • Tablet drivers
  • Things to verify
  • Verify that the computer sees the tablet's display
  • Verify that you operating system is trying to use the display.
  • Verify that the pen display can receive an HDMI signal
  • Verify that your computer can send an HDMI signal
  • Verify cable connections
  • Physically disconnect your pen display from power
  • HDMI connect options
  • Use a different HDMI ports
  • GPU HDMI vs motherboard HDMI
  • USB-C connection options
  • USB-C to USB-C
  • USB-C to HDMI
  • Converting other ports to HDMI
  • Issues with HDMI Adapter
  • HDMI Splitters
  • Try using your pen display as your only display
  • Check if there is any difference when using mirror vs extend for your desktop
  • Maximum number of display outputs on your graphics card
  • Video signal properties
  • Video refresh rates
  • Video resolution
  • Get the tablet to work with another computer then reattach to your computer
  • Wacom One 2019 GEN1 cable orientation
  • Tablet firmware updates
  • Possible triggers
  • Other resources
  • Reddit threads
  • Misc
  • Manufacturer guidance
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  1. Troubleshooting

TSG: Pen display shows NO SIGNAL message

Last updated 3 months ago

Overview

The "NO SIGNAL" message is a VERY COMMON experience for people who have a pen display. Most often you can fix this issue. But it can be challenging to diagnose because so many possible factors involved.

Your pen display is connected to your to your computer for two reasons :

  • to send to data the computer - this allows the pen to work

  • to receive a video signal from the computer

NO SIGNAL means that the pen display is NOT RECEIVNG the video signal from the computer.

NO SIGNAL but the pen still works

This is very normal because the data connection and the video signal are separate.

Important background information

Especially if you are new to drawing tablets I suggest you watch this video

And look through this guide: https://docs.thesevenpens.com/drawtab/guides/connections-and-cabling/connecting-a-pen-display

Setting expectations

This guide lists every tactic I am aware of that might help. However, it may be that even this guide is not enough to help. Ultimately you should be prepared to contact your tablet manufacturer's customer support team.

What you can tell from the NO SIGNAL message

The fact that you are seeing a NO SIGNAL message tells you that:

  • The pen display is getting enough power. If it wasn't getting enough power, you wouldn't see this message.

  • The backlight inside the display panel is working. If the backlight wasn't working, this message would not be visible or incredibly difficult to read.

  • There is nothing wrong with the display panel itself. The fact that it is showing you anything at all tells you the display panel is working.

What POWER SAVING means

For some tablets, the NO SIGNAL message is accompanied by a POWER SAVING message. POWER SAVING means "The pen display is not receiving a display signal from the computer. So rather than wasting energy by keeping the display powered up but not showing anything, the pen display is going to shut down." So, ultimately this message is telling you the tablet is trying to save you money - NOT that there is a power problem.

Tablet drivers

In general, messing around the tablet drivers WILL NOT HELP. Don't bother reinstalling, upgrading, changing tablet drivers. While I do recommend having the latest drivers generally, it is very, very unlikely to help the NO SIGNAL problem.

Things to verify

Verify that the computer sees the tablet's display

Presumably, your computer already has one screen, so when you plug in your tablet it should at least recognize that there are two screens (one coming from the pen display).

In your operating system's Display Settings, you should see two displays. And one of them should be your tablet's display

Windows 11
MacOS (Ventura)

If your computer doesn't see the display from the tablet , it will not send a video signal to it. Follow these troubleshooting steps: Troubleshoot display detection

Verify that you operating system is trying to use the display.

Sometimes you operating system knows the display is there, but it is deliberately not sending a display signal to it.

For example, in Windows for the display in your tablet, Windows might be configured to "show desktop only on Display <X>" - change it to one of the other options that will use the tablet display.

Verify that the pen display can receive an HDMI signal

Try connecting your pen display to another source of HDMI input. This can be anything: another PC, a laptop, a XBOX, a camera, anything that sends a signal via an HDMI port.

Verify that your computer can send an HDMI signal

Try connecting a monitor the the same HDMI port you want to use with your pen display.

Verify cable connections

Verify that your cables are fully connected.

  • Sometimes cables can sit in a port without fully "locking" in.

  • Check for lint or any other foreign objects in the port. They can prevent the connection from working

Physically disconnect your pen display from power

  • Turn off your pen display and DISCONNECT ALL THE CABLES, then plug it back in.

  • DO NOT just press the ON/OFF button while the pen display is connected. Actually DISCONNECT ALL THE CABLES

  • Some variations to try

    • Some people recommend to disconnect, then hold the tablet power button down for long time (30 seconds), and then reconnect.

    • Some people recommend that you try leaving the tablet disconnected for an extended period of time - like 30 minutes before you reconnect.

HDMI connect options

Use a different HDMI ports

Your computer may have multiple HDMI ports, try different ones.

GPU HDMI vs motherboard HDMI

In general connect via the GPU HDMI ports instead of motherboard HDMI ports

more here: Motherboard HDMI ports vs GPU HDMI ports.

USB-C connection options

IF your computer has a USB-C port that supports a display signal there are a couple of options for you.

More here: USB-C support for display signal

USB-C to USB-C

If your tablet has a USB-C port and your computer has a USB-C port that supports a display signal, then you might be able to use a USB-C to USB-C cable.

USB-C to HDMI

You can try a USB-C to HDMI adapter. More here: Using HDMI adapters with pen displays.

Converting other ports to HDMI

if your PC has a DisplayPort or DVI output, try an adapter. More here: Using HDMI adapters with pen displays.

Issues with HDMI Adapter

Sometimes adapters themselves can be the source of the NO SIGNAL problem.

  • Try a different HDMI adapter .

  • Try NOT using an HDMI adapter.

HDMI Splitters

HDMI Splitters are are also sometimes a bit "flaky" and can cause a NO SIGNAL problem. more here: Using HDMI splitters with pen displays

  • Try connecting WIHOUT an HDMI splitter

Try using your pen display as your only display

  • If you have a computer, disconnect all other displays and then only connect your pen display. Sometimes computers get tripped up when multiple displays are being used, so by trying this procedure you help force it to use the pen display.

  • If that works, start reconnecting the other displays until they are all plugged back in and working.

Check if there is any difference when using mirror vs extend for your desktop

  • Typically you PC will already have one monitor attached to it. So the pen display will be the second screen.

  • You have two options in your operating system:

    • Mirror the contents of your desktop across both screens. This means they will show the same thing.

    • Extend the contents of your desktop across both screens. This means that the screens will show different things.

  • If you are getting no signal in extended mode, then try mirrored mode. And vice versa.

Maximum number of display outputs on your graphics card

Graphics cards usually have multiple ports for sending a display signal. However, sometimes not all of them can be used at the same time.

Suppose your graphics card has 4 physical HDMI outputs. It's possible your card only supports using 3 of them at the same time. And so if you plug in the to the 4th port, you may get a no signal issue.

Read the documentation for your graphics card to verify how many it supports.

Video signal properties

Video refresh rates

If your computer recognizes that a display is attached but you are still getting no signal, try changing the Refresh Rate the computer is using for the display.

Sometimes a misconfigured refresh rate causes the computer to not send a signal. For example, I have seen this happen with a Windows Update, my pen display worked, but then after the update I saw the NO SIGNAL error. Somehow the refresh rate had been set to some unsupported value, once I changed it back to 60Hz it all worked again.

So always verify the refresh rate.

Start with a lower refresh rate, and build up to higher ones.

Typically pen displays only go up to 60Hz.

Video resolution

If your computer recognizes that a display is attached but you are still getting no signal, try changing the Resolution the computer is using for the display.

First try a very low resolution first and then build up to higher resolutions.

Get the tablet to work with another computer then reattach to your computer

Some users report that if they are getting NO SIGNAL with their pen display, they have been able to connect the pen display to another computer where it does work. And then once it worked, they reattached it back to the first computer where it then began working.

See this reddit comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/huion/comments/109wjgx/comment/j41ekyk/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

The reason this process might work is not clear. It could be because depowering the pen display was the reason. It could be because the connection to the other computer altered something in the pen display. In any case, it is worth a try if you continue to have problems.

Wacom One 2019 GEN1 cable orientation

The Wacom One 2019 GEN1 is very sensitive to the orientation of the how the 3-in-1 cable is plugged into its USB-C port. Usually the orientation that works, is when the cable sticks out to left side of the Wacom one.

Tablet firmware updates

It sometimes happens that monitors require firmware updates to make getting a display signal work. For example: This ASUS monitor required a firmware update to get video to work over USB C.

IMPORTANT: Don't install firmware updates on the general hope they will improve things. Please consult your manufacturer and support team to verify whether they recommend a firmware update to solve the problem.

Possible triggers

This is one of the most surprising things about the NO SIGNAL problem is that it can occur to an existing working system. It's happened to me.

Here's what can trigger it

  • A GPU driver update

  • An Operating System update

Other resources

Reddit threads

  • https://www.reddit.com/r/XPpen/comments/z2h51j/tips_when_there_is_no_signal_andor_tablet_is/

Misc

  • https://www.windowscentral.com/how-fix-your-second-monitor-not-being-detected-windows-10

  • https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/troubleshoot-external-monitor-connections-in-windows-10-5b46f4a4-9634-06bb-7622-f960facdfd49

  • TheHowToGuy123 - How To Enable Motherboard HDMI Port for Multiple Monitors - Use Graphics Card & Integrated Graphics Jul 3, 2020

Manufacturer guidance

Huion

  • General: https://support.huion.com/en/support/solutions/articles/44001154156-what-to-do-if-your-huion-pen-display-shows-a-black-screen-or-no-signal

  • Huion support for Kamvas 13: https://support.huion.com/en/support/solutions/articles/44001949665-how-to-fix-my-kamvas-13-no-signal-black-screen-problem-

A typical no signal message. In this case the message indicates that the USB-C port is where the pen display is looking for the signal.