Monitor flashes and doesn't display the screen picture

First isolate the monitor and cable by testing another video cable and another computer; if the monitor still flashes and clicks without displaying a picture, stop Windows troubleshooting and have the monitor or its power supply serviced.

1. Isolate the hardware problem

1. Turn off the HP computer and monitor.
2. Disconnect any dock, hub, dongle, or adapter.
3. Reconnect the video cable firmly at both ends and select the matching input on the monitor, such as HDMI or DisplayPort.
4. Replace the video cable with a known-working cable.
5. If available, connect the cable to another video-output port on the HP computer.
6. Test the monitor on another computer—or test the HP computer with another monitor.

Microsoft recommends these checks to determine whether the fault follows the monitor/cable or remains with the computer.^1^

Interpret the result:

• The monitor flashes and clicks on another computer: This points away from Windows. Disconnect it from power and contact the monitor manufacturer or a repair service, particularly if it repeatedly power-cycles.
• Another monitor works on the HP computer: The original monitor, its power source, or its video cable is the affected component.
• The original monitor works on another computer: Continue with the Windows checks below.

If the connection uses USB-C, connect the display directly to a USB-C port that supports the required DisplayPort, HDMI, or MHL Alternate Mode—not through a hub or unsupported port.^2^

2. If Windows starts but the external monitor stays blank

1. Press Windows key + P.
2. Select Duplicate or Extend.
3. Open Start > Settings > System > Display > Multiple displays > Detect.

Windows can manually detect a connected display from that location.^3^

Next, press Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B once. The screen may blink or beep while Windows resets the graphics driver.^1^

3. If the picture appears but continues flickering

Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc:

• Task Manager flickers too: Repair the display driver.
• Task Manager remains stable while everything else flickers: Update or uninstall a recently installed or updated application. Microsoft identifies these as the main Windows 11 branches for screen flickering.^4^

For a driver problem:

1. Search for and open Device Manager.
2. Expand Display adapters.
3. Right-click the graphics adapter and select Properties > Driver.
4. If the problem began immediately after Windows Update, select Roll Back Driver > Yes, then restart.
5. If rollback is unavailable, select Update driver.
6. If updating does not help, return to Properties > Driver > Uninstall Device, select Attempt to remove the driver for this device, and restart. Windows will attempt to reinstall the driver.

Rollback and removal require administrator privileges; an unavailable rollback button means Windows has no previous driver stored.^4^

If neither the HP startup logo nor Windows appears and the monitor keeps clicking, the hardware-isolation results—not display-driver changes—determine whether the monitor, cable, video port, or HP computer needs service.

References

1. Troubleshoot external monitor connections in Windows | Microsoft Support
2. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/hardware/usb/fix-usb-c-problems-in-windows)
3. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/hardware/display-graphics/how-to-use-multiple-monitors-in-windows)
4. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/hardware/display-graphics/troubleshoot-screen-flickering-in-windows#fix-your-display-driver)