It’s a fantastic feeling to have a multi-screen setup with more than two monitors. A Docking Station offers the luxury of turning your laptop into a desktop computer for a desktop-like experience. You can connect with multiple peripherals such as a monitor, printer, mouse, and speaker simultaneously.
However, when your Docking Station doesn’t work effectively and gives problems such as monitor-detection issues, it could be disheartening. If you’re presently encountering this situation with your Kensington Docking Station, don’t worry.
This article contains information and proven methods that will fix your “Kensington Docking Station not detecting monitor” problems. At the end of this guide, you’ll be able to enjoy the freedom that Docking Station gives.
Kensington Docking Station Not Detecting Monitor: Likely Causes
Your Kensington Docking Station won’t detect the monitor because of one or more of the following reasons:
- System glitches or malfunctions
- Wrong cable connections
- Faulty hardware components
- Incorrect display settings
- Outdated Docking Station driver
- Corrupt or obsolete PC driver
Kensington Docking Station Not Detecting Monitor: DIY Fixes
1. Restart Your Devices
Restarting your devices is the best way to start the troubleshooting process. Your Docking Station might not detect the monitor because of glitches or one-time malfunction, which a simple reboot can fix. Technical errors and bugs can also cause this problem. These errors can often be solved by restarting your devices.
Therefore, disconnect all the cables and connectors of the devices and reboot all. Follow the steps below to reboot or restart your devices correctly:
- Switch off all devices
- Unplug all the cables and connectors connected to the Docking Station, including the power cord.
- Remove all cables from the laptop and other devices connected
- Press the Power Button of your Docking Station for about 30 seconds to drain the remaining power.
- Let it rest for some minutes
- Switch on your laptop and other devices
- Reconnect the power adapter to the Docking Station and turn it on too.
- Reconnect the Docking Station to the devices and check if it can now detect the monitor. If it doesn’t, then move to the next fix.
2. Check All Connections
Your cables and connectors are essential tools and can affect the performance of your Docking Station depending on their condition. If the cables are bad, it can cause the Docking Station not to detect the monitors. Double-check the connections and ensure you have correctly connected all devices. If you’re sure the connections are ok, follow the steps below to inspect the cables and connections:
- Remove all cables and check for any curls, bends, or twists so you can straighten them accordingly.
- Check for any visible damages or faults. If you notice any, replace the part accordingly.
- Ensure there’s no loose connection by tightening the cables.
- If the problem persists, test the Docking Station with another monitor and laptop. If it works correctly, then maybe the original laptop ports are bad.
- If your computer has multiple ports, try and switch between the ports. Maybe one of them will work.
If the problem remains, try running a PC hardware troubleshooting. Your Docking Station may have developed hardware errors which you can troubleshoot with the steps below:
- Go to the Start Menu and click it
- Choose Control panel> Troubleshoot> View All
- Then, select Hardware & Devices and click on Next
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
If this method doesn’t solve the problem, then continue reading.
3. Check The Display Settings
An incomplete or incorrect configuration in the display settings can hinder the Docking Station performance, preventing it from detecting the monitor. Try to adjust the display settings as it can fix the problem and ensure your Docking Station functions efficiently. You can modify your PC display settings as follow:
- On the Desktop Screen, right-click anywhere on it
- From the options displayed, select Display settings
- Then select the Extend the multiple display tab
- Select Detect so your laptop can detect all the displays connected
- Click on either Duplicate or Extend, depending on what you want
- Your monitor will light up, and you should be able to press identify from the Display settings window.
4. Update Docking Station Drivers
If none of the above steps has fixed your Kensington Docking Station detection problem, perhaps you need to update the Docking Station drivers. The drivers will direct the Docking Station on how to interact with the devices and ensure smooth integration. To ensure responsiveness from your Kensington Docking Station, download the driver to your PC with the steps below:
- Disconnect your Docking Station from the devices
- Visit the Kensington Docking Station website
- Search for the model of your Docking Station
- Download the latest DisplayLink driver for your Docking Station
- After you’ve downloaded it, open the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to install it successfully
- Now reboot your laptop and reconnect the Docking Station as well.
- Plug the monitor and other devices
Your Docking Station should successfully detect the monitor with this method. If it doesn’t, continue reading as we attempt to solve this problem with more troubleshooting steps.
5. Update Your Graphics Drivers
It would help if you considered updating your PC graphics driver so your computer can effectively communicate with the Docking Station and other displays. Perhaps your PC drivers are outdated, thus causing communication and problems when trying to use a second screen. You can update your PC graphic drivers with the steps below:
- Go to the Start Menu and search for Device manager
- Select the topmost result from the options displayed
- Select the Display Adapters option and click on the arrow to display the Graphics device.
- Right Click on the Graphics driver and select the Update Drivers option
- Follow the on-screen instructions and let the process run automatically.
Your PC drivers should install successfully and fix the detection problem your Kensington Docking Station is having.
If your Docking Station still can’t detect the monitor, you can try to restart your graphics driver by pressing the Windows key + Ctrl+Shift+B. A beep sound signifies that your computer is responsive and the problem should be solved.
6. Install Pending Windows Updates
Updating windows updates fix system compatibility and incorporate security patches. At this point, it’s crucial to update any pending windows updates on your laptop as it could help resolve the detection problem your Kensington Docking Station is experiencing. Follow the steps below to install windows updates on your system:
- Press Windows key + I to enter the Settings menu
- Select Update & Security, then click on Check for Updates option
- Your windows will show a prompt if there are any available updates.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to update your PC’s Windows successfully.
Retry the connection and check if your Docking Station can now detect the monitor.
7. Contact Manufacturer Support
If none of the troubleshooting steps above solves your Kensington Docking Station detection problem, then you should contact your Manufacturer’s customer support for more information and diagnosis.