Since standard troubleshooting has already been exhausted, the next targeted path is to focus on the display driver and hardware path rather than repeating basic display-setting checks.
- Verify Windows is attempting to use an external display
- Press Windows key + P and confirm Extend is selected.
- Then go to Start > Settings > System > Display > Multiple displays > Detect.
- If nothing is detected, continue with driver-focused steps.
- Isolate the physical HDMI path
- Disconnect all accessories, including docks, dongles, and adapters.
- Reseat the HDMI cable on both ends.
- Test with a different HDMI cable.
- Test the monitor with another system.
- If the laptop has another video output path, test that port as well.
- If using USB-C for display on any test path, ensure the PC, cable, and display support the required Alternate Mode, and connect directly to the correct USB-C port rather than through a hub or dock.
- Roll back the display driver if the issue started after an update
- Open Device Manager.
- Expand Display adapters.
- Right-click the display adapter > Properties > Driver tab > Roll Back Driver.
- This is the most direct Microsoft-supported step when display issues begin after an update.
- Reinstall the display driver if rollback is unavailable or ineffective
- Open Device Manager.
- Expand Display adapters.
- Right-click the display adapter > Uninstall device.
- Select Attempt to remove the driver for this device > Uninstall.
- Restart if prompted.
- Reopen Device Manager > Display adapters.
- Right-click the adapter > Update driver > Search automatically for updated driver software.
- This can correct a broken display detection path.
- Warning: uninstalling the display driver can temporarily affect display resolution or multi-monitor behavior until the driver is reinstalled.
- Check whether the graphics driver is the likely root cause
- A Microsoft Q&A case with both external display failure and brightness malfunction identified the graphics driver as the likely cause and recommended manually installing the graphics driver from the laptop manufacturer’s support page rather than relying only on update checks.
- That is especially relevant for an HP laptop with AMD Radeon graphics.
- If brightness control is also abnormal, that further strengthens the display-driver diagnosis.
- If the screen goes blank during testing, use Safe Mode for recovery work
- Force shutdown by holding the power button for 10 seconds.
- Repeat 2–3 times until Recovery Mode appears.
- Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart.
- Press F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.
- From there, update or roll back the graphics driver in Device Manager.
- If Windows still does not detect the monitor after driver reinstall
- Determine the exact display adapter shown in Device Manager > Display adapters.
- Then install the graphics driver package provided by HP for that exact model series.
- Based on the accepted Microsoft Q&A guidance, a manual install from the device manufacturer is preferred over a simple in-place update when external display output stops working after Windows changes.
- If no supported step restores detection
- Use Windows Feedback Hub to file a bug report.
- Include the exact steps, what happens when HDMI is connected, and that Display > Detect does not find the monitor.
- This is the documented escalation path when the published steps do not resolve the issue.
Supported conclusions from the available guidance:
- A display driver problem is a primary suspect, especially after Windows updates.
- Rollback or reinstall of the display driver is the main advanced Windows-side diagnostic path.
- If Windows remains unable to detect the monitor after that, the next likely area is the laptop manufacturer’s graphics driver package and hardware-specific support path.
The provided material does not include supported steps for generating HDMI/EDID diagnostic logs or confirming build 26300.9711 as a known cause, so the strongest documented next action is display-driver rollback/reinstall followed by manual installation of the HP-provided graphics driver package and, if still unresolved, filing through Feedback Hub.