New laptop will not detect 2nd display. I recently got a TravelMate P216-51T-G2.

MORooster

I recently got a TravelMate P216-51T-G2. With my previous laptop I connected a portable external LED display using a USB-C cable for power and video. When I connected my new laptop the display powered on but it said no signal and turned off a few moments later. The laptop is plugged in using the first Thunderbolt port on the left side and the display is connected using the second Thunderbolt port on the left side.

To troubleshoot, I connected the display to my work Chromebook using the same cable and it worked fine.

I have tried opening the display settings and manually detecting the display and it says it is not found.

Any thoughts on why the laptop cannot detect the display or why the display isn't getting the signal?

[Edited the thread to add model number to the title]

Puraw

New laptop will not detect 2nd display.

MORooster

Apr 12, 2025

I recently got a TravelMate P216-51T-G2. With my previous laptop I connected a portable external LED display using a USB-C cable for power and video. When I connected my new laptop the display powered on but it said no signal and turned off a few moments later. The laptop is plugged in using the first Thunderbolt port on the left side and the display is connected using the second Thunderbolt port on the left side.

To troubleshoot, I connected the display to my work Chromebook using the same cable and it worked fine.

I have tried opening the display settings and manually detecting the display and it says it is not found.

Any thoughts on why the laptop cannot detect the display or why the display isn't getting the signal?

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Hi, AFAIK the TravelMate P216-51T-G2 does not support USB-C Video out/DisplayPort Alt-mode, use the HDMI port instead of the USB-C port.

Diya1811

@MORooster

The USB-C/Thunderbolt ports on the TravelMate P216-51T-G2 may not support DisplayPort over USB-C, as not all Thunderbolt ports are configured for video output. If these ports indeed lack video output capability, using the HDMI port is a reliable alternative. The HDMI port is specifically designed for video output and should work seamlessly with an external display that supports HDMI input.

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billsey

We don't yet have access to detailed specs on the P216-51T-G2 model, but the P216-51-G2, which should be very close to the same, does support DP over the TBT ports.

I see no reason why it shouldn't just work. Get in touch with Acer support and see what they say.

njsmith

It sounds like the USB-C port on your TravelMate P216-51T-G2 may not support video output (DisplayPort Alt Mode), even though it powers the display. Some USB-C ports only support data and power, not video. You might want to check the laptop’s spec sheet or user manual to confirm if the second Thunderbolt/USB-C port supports video output.

Also, try swapping ports—connect the display directly to the first Thunderbolt port (the one closest to the hinge) and plug power into the second one instead, just in case only one supports video out.