Linux Mint Second Monitor Not Working? Here's How to Fix It
Z
Zack Saadioui
8/11/2025
So, you've decided to dive into the wonderful world of Linux Mint, but you've hit a snag. Your second monitor is giving you the silent treatment, just sitting there dark & uncooperative. It's a SUPER common issue, honestly, so don't feel like you're alone in this. I've been there, staring at a blank screen, wondering what I did to deserve this.
Turns out, there are a bunch of reasons why this might be happening. The good news is that most of them are pretty easy to fix. We're going to walk through everything, from the "did you plug it in?" basics to some more advanced command-line magic.
Let's get that dual-monitor setup humming.
First Things First: The Obvious Stuff (Don't Skip It!)
I know, I know, you've probably already checked this. But for the sake of being thorough, let's just quickly run through the physical checks. Humor me.
Cable Check: Is the cable connecting your second monitor to your computer plugged in securely at both ends? Try unplugging it & plugging it back in. Sometimes a loose connection is all it takes.
The Other Port: Does your graphics card or motherboard have more than one type of output (like HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI)? If you're using HDMI & it's not working, try a DisplayPort, or vice-versa. Sometimes, Linux can be a bit picky about which port it wants to use first. I've seen cases where a computer with both HDMI & DisplayPort will only recognize one until the drivers are sorted out.
Bad Cable? Cables can and do fail. If you have a spare cable, give it a try. It’s a simple step that can save you hours of troubleshooting.
Power On? Is the monitor actually turned on? Is the little power light on? Don't laugh, it happens to the best of us.
Input Source: Most monitors have a button to cycle through input sources (HDMI 1, HDMI 2, DisplayPort, etc.). Make sure the monitor is set to the correct input source for the cable you're using.
Okay, physical checks are done. If you're still staring at one screen, it's time to dive into the software side of things.
The Easiest Fix: The "Displays" Tool
Linux Mint has a built-in graphical tool for managing monitors, & it's the first place you should look. It's usually pretty good at detecting things automatically.
Click on your Menu (the little Linux Mint icon in the bottom-left corner).
Type "Displays" into the search bar.
Click on the "Displays" application that appears.
This will open up a window that shows you a visual representation of your detected monitors. If your second monitor is detected, you'll see two rectangles, probably labeled "1" & "2". If you only see one, don't panic. Click the "Detect Displays" button if you see one.
If you do see both monitors, but one is black, it might just be disabled.
Click on the rectangle for your second monitor.
Make sure the "Active" switch is turned on.
You can also drag the rectangles around to match the physical layout of your desk. This makes your mouse move between screens naturally.
Make sure the "Primary" display is set to the one you want your main panel & icons on.
You can also adjust the resolution & refresh rate for each monitor here. Sometimes, a monitor might not display anything if it's being sent a resolution it can't handle. Try selecting a lower, more standard resolution (like 1920x1080) to see if it springs to life.
Once you've made your changes, click "Apply". It'll ask you to confirm the new configuration. If it works, great! If not, the changes will revert after a few seconds.
For many people, just fiddling with these settings is enough to get things working. But if your second monitor isn't even showing up here, it's time to go a level deeper.
The Most Common Culprit: Graphics Drivers
Here's the thing about Linux: for the most part, it has amazing hardware support out of the box. But when it comes to graphics cards, especially NVIDIA cards, things can get a little tricky. The default, open-source drivers are fantastic for basic desktop use, but they can sometimes struggle with things like multiple monitors or gaming.
Your problem is VERY likely a driver issue.
How to Check & Install the Right Drivers
Linux Mint makes this process surprisingly easy with a tool called Driver Manager.
Go back to your Menu.
Type "Driver Manager" & open it up.
It will ask for your password. Type it in.
The Driver Manager will now scan your system for any hardware that has alternative, proprietary drivers available.
You'll likely see a list of NVIDIA drivers if you have an NVIDIA card. There will be one selected, probably the
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xserver-xorg-video-nouveau
driver, which is the open-source one. Below that, you should see a list of proprietary NVIDIA drivers, usually with version numbers (e.g.,
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nvidia-driver-535
).
ALWAYS choose the highest-numbered, "recommended" driver in the list. This is usually the most stable & feature-complete version for your card.
Click on the recommended driver, then click "Apply Changes". The system will download & install the new driver. This might take a few minutes. Once it's done, it's CRUCIAL that you reboot your computer.
After rebooting, go back to the "Displays" tool. With the proper drivers installed, there's a very high chance your second monitor will now be detected & you can configure it as needed.
What about AMD & Intel?
If you have an AMD or Intel graphics card, you're usually in luck. The best drivers for these are typically built right into the Linux kernel itself & are loaded automatically. You generally don't need to go hunting for drivers. If you have an AMD or Intel card & are still having issues, the problem is more likely related to the kernel or a specific configuration issue, which we'll get to next.
For businesses that rely on smooth operation & can't afford downtime wrestling with display issues, having reliable support is key. It's the same principle for customer interactions. When a customer has a question, they need an answer now, not after a support agent has spent an hour troubleshooting. That's where tools like Arsturn are becoming so valuable. Businesses can use Arsturn to build custom AI chatbots trained on their own data. These chatbots can provide instant customer support 24/7, answering questions & resolving issues without making the customer wait, which is pretty cool if you ask me.
The Power User's Tool:
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xrandr
If the graphical tools have failed you, it's time to roll up your sleeves & open the terminal.
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xrandr
(short for X Resize and Rotate) is the command-line tool that actually controls all the display settings under the hood. The "Displays" application is really just a friendly face for