It is a very common occurrence that you want to use your projector to stream some movies at home, or you need it to run an important presentation back in the office, there pops out a message which shows “no signal, screensaver, etc.” when connecting your streaming device to the projector by an HDMI cable. In this article, we will show you how to troubleshoot this projection problem.
What is an HDMI Cable?
Let’s begin by understanding what the HDMI cable is. High-Definition Multimedia Interface, colloquially known as HDMI is a video and audio interface for streaming digital media through an HDMI equipped source. Modern projectors have adopted HDMI technology very quickly, and in many aspects, it has replaced analog interface cables entirely. HDMI streaming is usually done through the cable, connected to the appropriate video source device.
It is a very important component on any projector, and sometimes problems with the HDMI cable or HDMI ports can influence on your projector viewing experience. Let’s have a look at some of the most common issues.
Why the Projector Screen Shows “No Signal”?
The “no signal” message on your projector screen is telling you that the device isn’t able to find a digital source to project. There are some likely culprits that allow this error to manifest:
- The HDMI cable is damaged.
- The HDMI cable isn’t plugged in properly on either end.
- The HDMI projector port is damaged.
- The HDMI projector port on your streaming device is damaged.
- An incorrect input on the projector settings.
As you can see that most of these common issues tend to be more hardware than software related, with the only exception being that you incorrectly selected a video source on your projector settings. These problems are easily fixable with some thorough testing of the hardware involved.
What is the Screen Protection Image?
The screen protection image, also known as a screensaver, is an image that usually shows the projector’s logo, brand, or name. This is an added feature that tells you the projector is power on, yet it isn’t projecting anything. If you see a screensaver even after you have plugged in a streaming device via HDMI, it probably means something on your streaming device, projector, or cable isn’t working properly. This will require some testing to see where the actual source of the problem lies.
How to Fix the Projected Image Showing “No Signal”?
Let’s have a look at some of the most common fixes for the “no signal” problem. We will give you a few tips and recommendations so you can begin troubleshooting your own projector with ease.
1. Evaluate the Source of the Problem
The most important first step is to evaluate the source of the problem. If you can’t manage to pinpoint what is the exact source of the problem, because you seemed not to do anything out of the ordinary in the first place, you should proceed to thoroughly test your devices and cables to see what might be the source of the issue.
2. Test Your Equipment With Different Devices
To test your equipment, you will need to try a few different things, from which you can understand what the source of the problem is, which in turn allows you to proceed with a fix. Let’s have a look at some of the steps to take.
- Connect the HDMI cable to a different source device (i.e. another PC).
- Use another HDMI cable if you have one.
- Check the HDMI ports on your device and projector and see if the cable is plugged in all the way.
- Restart the projector’s power supply.
- Restart your source device.
- Change the Input settings on the source device.
- Test the HDMI with other devices (i.e. PC to TV).
It is important to be persistent with this initial testing phase of your troubleshooting. By testing your HDMI in as many configurations as possible you can see if the problem requires a cable change. If you see the signal comes and goes slightly when you push the HDMI cable into the port, see if there is something stuck inside the port or the cable.
Restarting your devices and projector might fix the issue. You can also change the Input settings of both of your devices to check if it was a simple mistake. Be sure to be thorough so that you are able to evaluate what your options are. In this way, you can be prepared to turn to professional help once you understand what is happening.
3. Look For Replacement Cables
If you are confident that the HDMI cable is damaged, you can easily find a replacement pretty much anywhere. Online electronic retailers usually run very good deals regarding HDMI cables, and you can select from different lengths and prices. Pick the appropriate one to fit your situation.
4. Test Your Results
Once the fixes are complete, you should test if your projector works or not. It is important you understand what the source of the problem was. For example, the projector does not work with an HDMI, but the cable works as you test it with your PC and TV. It seems like there’s something wrong with the projector. In this worst-case scenario, there are also a few things you can manage to do to troubleshoot your projector.
What to Do When the Projector Screen Continues Showing “No Signal”?
Do not be panic if the issue persists, there are a few simple tricks that may help you get your projector work again. You will be able to stream that movie or present your elaborate PowerPoint presentation to your colleagues.
1. Try Some Common Sense Fixes
The most common issue is sometimes the simplest one to deal with. It happens that many projector users don’t know how to use the projector properly. Most modern projectors have a button or setting that determines the video source. On most projectors, TVs, and computers this feature is called ‘Input’. Once pressed or selected, the Input button will cycle you through the different video sources to the projector. If your projector has analog and HDMI video streaming, the Input feature will cycle you through both. Most modern projectors all come with analog, PC, HDMI, and USB ports.
2. Think About Disassembling the Projector
If none of these fixes mentioned above works, maybe it is because of component damages inside the projector, which may require technical help. We strongly advise you against any form of disassembly if you want to keep your warranty. But if you just want to have a sneak peek inside the device you are definitely free to do so. Make sure you have the projector turned off and unplugged before trying any form of disassembly. Keep labeling trays and stable working surface with you to ease the disassembly and reassembly work. The following are some of the most common replacement to fix this problem:
- Replace the HDMI ports
- Have a professional look at the circuits
3. Contact Customer Support
If you feel like disassembly of the projector is a daunting task, you should always contact your seller or manufacturer. If you have your warranty, they will help you to resolve the issue, either by providing professional help themselves or by replacing your projector altogether.
How to Properly Maintain an HDMI Cable?
An important part of avoiding future errors with your projector is kept it under some proper maintenance. Try to keep the HDMI cables running smoothly from either end and try not to apply pressure or have them bent around furniture if possible. If not in use, simply put away the HDMI cable and store it in a place away from the sun. Avoid bending or stretching the cable too much when folding it neatly for storage. Also, consider to tie up each cable before storing them in place in order to avoid annoying cable entanglement.
Conclusion
We hope this article may help you understand your projector better. When it comes to how to solve the projector image showing “no signal” when connecting to HDMI, we learned that there are many easy fixes for this problem. Sometimes it all boils down to a simple button press or changing a cable, but when the problem is due to hardware malfunction, the possibilities become limited.
Apart from that, we mentioned what an HDMI cable is, how it influences our projecting experience. We have also looked at some best ways to maintain your cables work properly, and some furniture changes that might affect the transmission of video signals.
Don’t hesitate to contact your projector manufacturer or seller to evaluate your options if you really detect some issues. However, make sure you exhaust all the common fixes before contacting professional support. Modern HDMI projectors are great at streaming high-quality audio and video which help us create a cinematic experience within our homes. Therefore, proper maintenance is strongly recommended for your projector in the future use.