Windows “Input signal out of range” error: How can you fix it?

However, you need a second monitor for your Microsoft Windows laptop/desktop. The only error that appears on your screen is the “Input signal out of range” error.

It is one of the most frequent errors and frequently reported to tech forums. This is especially true when you are using an old monitor.

You’ll find out what this error looks like and the quick fixes to it in this article.

What does Windows mean by the “Input signal out of range” error?

Computer monitors, which were primarily VGA in nature, weren’t flexible many years ago. It was important to choose a monitor with the right resolution and refresh rate that would support your video card.

The flexibility of video cards was a bit more open, as you could set them up to adjust for different refresh rates and resolutions. The monitor will display an “Input Signal out of range” message if the signal coming from the video card is not correct.

Sometimes, the monitor will also indicate what refresh rate and resolution you should set for your video card. This makes it easier to troubleshoot this problem.

Modern monitors, such as LCD screens, no longer suffer from this problem. These displays scan at all possible resolutions to detect the issue and fix it.

Note: Make sure you check your HDMI cable between the computer and the monitor before you begin troubleshooting. You may have no signal, or it could be a problem with the cable.

1. The Refresh Rate can be set to 60 Hz

A majority of desktop monitors have a standard refresh rate of 60 Hz. If you use higher refresh rates monitors, such as 75- to 240-Hz, then it is possible your existing video card refresh rate settings are incorrect.

You can get everything working properly by setting your graphics card to 60 Hz. You can use this monitor as your sole display if you have a desktop computer, restart your computer into safe mode You can then follow these steps (using the F8 key at startup). You will then set the lowest resolution setting and the lowest refresh rate to ensure that the display is clear enough for you to adjust the settings. After that, you will be redirected to normal mode.

Note: You can set your monitor to a higher refresh rate than 60 Hz, if the message is suggesting otherwise.

1. Click on Windows Start, then type in “Settings”, and you will be able to open Windows Settings. Select the desired settings from this app System Select from the menu to the left and click on “Select” Display Place the correct pane.

2. Scroll to the bottom of this page and select advanced options Advanced display.

3. Select the appropriate video card from the list (if there are more than one), to which the monitor was connected Display adapter properties for Display x Display number for this adapter output will be x.

4. Select the following option in the pop-up adapter properties window Monitor tab. then, you can use the Screen refresh rate To adjust the settings of your video card, use the dropdown box in Monitor Settings 60 Hertz.

Select OK Keep these settings. Next, restart Windows and make sure that it isn’t showing the “Input signal out of range” error.

This process works with Windows 10 and 11 OSs. If you are still running Windows 7 or an older version, this procedure will apply:

1. Open the Control Panel
2. Navigate to Appearance and personalization > Display > Screen Resolution
3. Select Advanced Settings, Monitor Change the refresh rate from 60 to 60 Hz by clicking on tab

2. Change the resolution settings for Graphics Driver

The next setting you can adjust to fix the out-of-range error is the graphics driver resolution. You may get the “Input signal out of range” error if your video card resolution exceeds the maximum resolution of your monitor.

Before you can change the resolution of your monitor, it is important to first determine its resolution. Visit the website of the manufacturer to find the model number for your monitor. This will allow you to determine if the monitor supports any resolutions. You should look for the “maximum resolution rating” on your monitor.

The next step is to make sure that your graphics card resolution does not exceed the maximum display resolution.

1. Click on Windows Start, then type in “Settings”, and you will be able to open Windows Settings. Select the desired settings from this app System Select from the menu to the left and click on “Select” Display Place the correct pane.

2. You can choose the one that is causing you problems if you have multiple monitors. Select the monitor that is causing you problems to identify it Identify button. A number appears on the screen that indicates whether or not your monitor is functioning correctly. The number is the one that’s not working properly.

3. Scroll to the bottom of the left pane, and you will find the Display Resolution section. You can use the dropdown to the right for the highest resolution setting you are able to determine based on your brand and monitor model.

Two monitors may flicker if they are connected. You might also see a message asking you if you would like to retain the current resolution. You can select the monitor that is working properly if it’s not Yes. No You can try different resolutions until you finally find the one that works.

When All Other Things Fail

If this happens and you are not getting an out of range error message, then you might need to resort to more extreme methods. You can try the next option You can restart, reset, uninstall, and reinstall your graphic drivers., You can rollback the driver to an older version.

It may be possible to get the same error message on all your monitors Purchase and Install a New Graphics Card and Driver.

You can also contact the retailer where it was purchased to request a replacement if the warranty has expired on the monitor you just purchased. It might be worth considering getting rid of the older model if it is still in good condition Purchase a brand new monitor You can replace it. On a modern monitor, it is much less common to notice the out of range error.