I’m having a bit of a nightmare with my dual monitor setup on Ubuntu 24.04, and I could really use some help. I’ve set everything up the way I thought it should work, but my secondary screen is just not playing nice. It’s either flickering, showing just a black screen, or not being recognized at all, and I’m about to pull my hair out!
I’ve tried tweaking the display settings multiple times, and I even went through the xrandr command options, but no luck so far. I made sure my cables are connected correctly, so I don’t think it’s a hardware issue, but who knows? I’ve googled a ton of potential fixes and followed various threads, but nothing seems to click.
At first, the second monitor was detected, but then it started having those flickering issues. Now, it feels like it just has a mind of its own. I’ve read that sometimes it’s an issue with the graphics drivers, but I’m not sure how to check if mine are up to date or if I need to roll back to a previous version. I’m using an NVIDIA graphics card, and I did install the proprietary drivers thinking that would help. I’m beginning to think I made the wrong choice.
Has anyone dealt with something similar? I’m really stumped here, and I don’t want to end up just going back to a single monitor setup, which is so limiting for my workflow. Any tips or step-by-step guidance would be greatly appreciated! I’m also curious if anyone had luck with specific settings in the NVIDIA settings manager—maybe I missed something crucial there.
If you’ve managed to wrangle your dual monitors on Ubuntu 24.04 and can share some insights or solutions, that would be amazing! I’m sure many of us are struggling with this, so any help would go a long way. Let’s see if we can tackle this issue together!
Dual Monitor Setup Nightmare!
It sounds like you’re having a super frustrating time with your dual monitor setup on Ubuntu 24.04! I totally get it. Here are some things you can try that might help you out:
1. Check NVIDIA Driver Installation
Since you’re using an NVIDIA graphics card, you might want to check if you have the right drivers installed. Open a terminal and run this command:
This will show you your driver version and if your card is being recognized properly. If it doesn’t show up, you might need to reinstall the drivers.
2. Update Drivers
If you think your drivers are outdated, try updating them. You can do this through the Software & Updates application and going to the Additional Drivers tab. Choose the recommended proprietary driver and apply changes.
3. Using xrandr
Since you’ve already dabbled with
xrandr
, make sure you’re using the correct output port. You can runxrandr
in the terminal to see all the outputs and check their status. You might need to manually set the resolution and refresh rate like this:Just replace SECONDARY_MONITOR, RESOLUTION, and REFRESH_RATE with the correct values based on what you see from the
xrandr
command.4. NVIDIA Settings
Open the NVIDIA settings manager (you can find it by searching for “NVIDIA X Server Settings”). Look at the X Server Display Configuration. Make sure your secondary monitor is detected there. You can also try changing the settings like resolution and refresh rate. Don’t forget to click Apply and save the configuration!
5. Check Hardware
Even if you think it’s not a hardware issue, double-check your cables and try swapping them out if you can. Sometimes a loose or damaged cable can be the culprit!
6. Forums and Community Help
If none of this works, you might want to check forums like Ask Ubuntu or the NVIDIA forums. There might be others who’ve encountered similar issues and found solutions!
I really hope one of these fixes helps you get your dual monitor setup sorted out! It sounds like a lot to handle, but hang in there!
Troubleshooting a dual monitor setup in Ubuntu 24.04, especially with an NVIDIA graphics card, can be quite frustrating. To address issues like flickering or screens not being recognized, the first step is to verify that you’re using the correct NVIDIA drivers. You can do this by opening a terminal and running the command
nvidia-smi
. This will display the current driver version and GPU utilization. If you’re not using the latest driver, you can update it by using the Software & Updates application, selecting the “Additional Drivers” tab, and then choosing the latest proprietary driver. After making any changes, don’t forget to reboot your system for them to take effect.If you continue to experience problems even with the correct drivers, check your xrandr configuration. Open a terminal and run
xrandr
to see the connected displays. You may need to specify the display settings manually. For a flickering screen, try setting the refresh rate explicitly withxrandr --output --mode --rate
. Additionally, diving into the NVIDIA settings manager may uncover crucial options such as configuring X Server Display Configuration or adjusting the sync settings. If problems persist, consider checking online communities for specific configurations that users with similar hardware have found effective. Sharing your experience and the output of these commands in forums can also bring tailored advice from others who have faced similar difficulties.