Projecting to another screen is a built-in feature of Windows 10 and Windows 11, allowing users to multitask. It is not a difficult thing to do, press Windows key+P, and you will see a list of options to manage another screen. The issue may be caused due to outdated graphics drivers, hardware failure, etc.

Key Takeaways
  • It happens due to an incorrect connection to the graphics card, PC, or other screen. Other reasons might be hardware failure or outdated display drivers.
  • You can fix this error by updating drivers or Windows, checking for cables and connections, or replacing your graphics card if nothing works.
  • Screen projection of a PC is a built-in feature of Windows 10 and 11, but many users cannot do so due to the error. 
Method Difficulty Rating

Reinstall Drivers
Rated: 4/10

Clean Boot
Rated: 5/10

Run SFC
Rated: 7/10

Prevent A.D.I
Rated: 7/10

your pc cannot project to another screen
your PC Cannot Project To Another Screen- Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)

When facing the issue you will get an error message saying: 

Error Message: Your PC can’t project to another screen. Try reinstalling the driver using a different video card.

Reinstall Video Drivers

An issue with the drivers prevents your PC from projecting to another screen. The drivers must be outdated if you recently updated to Windows 10 or upgraded to Windows 11.

As a result, you must install compatible updates for the new OS. Also, the best way to do this is to uninstall and reinstall the drivers to get the latest versions and avoid conflicts because sometimes old settings remain in the system if you update the driver. It’s necessary to do a clean installation of the drivers. Taking this step worked for us and also worked for many users online. Take the following steps:

  1. Uninstall Display Adapters: Access Device Manager > Display Adapters > Find your display driver and right-click on it, then choose Uninstall device.
    Display Adapter Uninstall
    Display Adapter Uninstall – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
  2. Check Changes: Click the Scan for Hardware Changes icon to finish.
    Scan Hardware
    Scan Hardware – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)

Remember, if you’re unaware of the manual downloading of drivers or don’t have enough time, go for a third-party application such as DriverFix or Driver Updater that can update all of your drivers automatically with just one click.

Tip: To ensure you get the right drivers, always download the drivers directly from the manufacturer’s website, which is compatible with Windows 10, because a wrong driver can harm your PC.

Clean Boot Computer

Some applications and programs may interfere with your projector, causing your PC to display an error message saying, “Your PC can’t project to another screen. We performed this method and it solved the error for us. Follow these steps:

  1. Go To Windows Services: Click on the search bar on the main screen and type msconfig >  System configuration > Services.
    System Services
    System Services – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
  2. Disable Services: Click the check box next to hide all Microsoft services > Disable all.
    Hide All Microsoft Services
    Hide All Microsoft Services – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
  3. Disable Start-Up Programs: Afterward, go to Startup > Open Task Manager > Right-click on every startup program > Choose Disable > Return to the services tab now, click apply, then OK.
Disable Startup Program
Disable Startup Program – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
Tip: Sometimes, Windows 10 doesn’t support or detect other screens through analog cables. To avoid this, always go for a DVI connection.

Run SFC

Corrupt system files may cause your PC’s inability to project to another screen. It would help if you run the SFC (System File Checker) scan to resolve this issue.

Opening an elevated command prompt and running the sfc/scannow command solved the issue for us. To perform SFC and DISM scans, take the following steps:

  1. Command Prompt as Administrator: Click on the search box and type cmd in it > Select the command prompt option in the search results > Run as administrator.
    CMD Run As Administrator
    CMD Run As Administrator – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
  2. Start SFC Scan: Type the command sfc/scannow > Enter the commands mentioned below > Restart the device.
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth 
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc/scannow 
Dism /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup 
Dism /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase
net start w32time
w32tm/resync
gpupdate/force
chkdsk /f /r
CMD SFC Scan
CMD SFC Scan – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)

Use a third-party repair tool for deep scanning of your system and advanced repairing of corrupted files, such as System Mechanic Ultimate Defense, or Outbyte PC Repair Tool. These tools will also boost your PC’s performance.

WARNING: Damaged display hardware can be a potential cause for this issue.

Prevent Windows From Installing Drivers Automatically

The system will automatically install the graphics driver after you uninstall it because it is important software for the computer’s display. However, you only sometimes get an updated version installed which creates a problem and interrupts a clean installation.

You need to disable this setting before starting a new installation. Taking this step helped us a great deal and also was useful to people online. Follow these steps: 

  1. Access System Properties: Open run dialogue box > Now type system properties hardware in it and press Enter.
  2. Change Settings: Select Device Installation Settings > Opt for No (your device might not work as expected) > Save Changes.
    Device Installation Settings
    Device Installation Settings – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
    Device Might Not Work
    Device Might Not Work – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)

Final Thoughts

“Your PC cannot project to another screen” error, can hinder multitasking for individuals who need it causing them great discomfort. On Reddit, I stumbled on a user thread mentioning that most of the fixes they performed did not work for them. We assure you that by following the methods mentioned above you can easily solve the issue.

How do I fix the error – your PC can’t project to another screen. Try reinstalling the driver or using a different video card?
byu/martinst111 inWindows10

Common Questions Answered

Why am I getting an error while projecting my PC to another screen?

The error message “Your PC can’t project to another screen” is a common issue, while trying to do screen projection. This error may occur due to outdated or broken graphics drivers, outdated Windows, or any interruption in the system settings due to corrupt system files.

How to fix the screen projection issue of a PC to another screen?

Start by checking the hardware, cables, and ports for any damage or lose connections, and make sure everything is in place properly. Secondly, try updating graphics drivers and Windows; look for any incompatible or broken files and repair them.

How to update a graphics driver?

Open Device Manager and select Display Adapters from the drop-down menu. Right-click on your graphics card, and you will have a context menu. Choose Properties from it. Now, jump to the Driver tab and opt for Update Driver.

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Syeda Laiba Alam
Syeda Laiba Alam
[How-To Guides Expert] Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city's aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity! Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com Google IT Certificate Shehryar Khan
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