Connecting laptop to a monitor via cable

PierremontQuaker03

Hi,
I work from home occasionally. I would like to connect my laptop to a large monitor - so I bought a DisplayPort to HDMI 1.8M Cable, Benfei DP Display Port to HDMI HDTV 1080P Adapter Male to Male Converter.
I was expecting this to work, but the monitor does not see the connection. I take it I need a converter - but I am concerned about buying the right one - one that will take a display port connection - any ideas? What are the options?
Many thanks

[Deleted User]

It seems to depend on whether your laptop has a passive or active Displayport output:- https://www.exhibitedge.com/how-to-connect-a-displayport-device-to-a-hdmi-monitor/

Have you checked that the laptop is outputting to the Displayport BTW?

PierremontQuaker03

It works thru a docking station but when I plug the HDMI Display Port wire in directly to the monitor then is doesn't work.

lammy82

If you've plugged it in at both ends then there should be no further converter required. If it was the wrong cable it would not go in.

Does the laptop recognise that there is an external monitor connected when you go to Display Properties? Have you got it set to 'Extend my desktop' or 'Mirror'? Sometimes when I connect an external display it is recognised but defaults to 'Disconnect this display', which isn't very helpful.

Does the monitor have an input selection button? is it set to HDMI? Have you tried another device plugged into the monitor's HDMI input port (like a DVD player or Sky box etc) to verify that it is working?

Have you tried using the cable to plug the laptop into another HDMI display like your TV, to see if you get a different result?

System

Some laptops, most in fact, also require you to press a function key or other to switch the display from the laptop to external or both.

On the keyboard below for example you would need to press the Fn key and F8

rmg1

On our machines (Windows 7 Pro), we use Windows+P to bring up the extend/duplicate/etc. options.

DoaM

I was also going to suggest Windows+P ... I think it still does the same in Windows 10 as it does in Windows 7.

(I'm presuming the OP is using Windows and not Linux).