As an owner of a computer monitor, I was recently frustrated to discover that my screen had developed green lines that were disrupting my viewing experience. After doing some research and testing, I discovered that this is a common issue caused by several different factors. I’m here to share what I learned and the solutions I found to this problem, in hopes of helping others who may be experiencing the same issue.
Green lines don’t necessarily mean that your monitor is defective or nearing its end. Most of the time, they’re due to a software glitch or cable connection issues. They can be fixed by replacing the cable or by updating your display and monitor drivers.
To save you from worry, we listed here the causes and solutions on how to get rid of green lines on monitors, so stick around.
| Causes of Green Lines on Monitor | Possible Solutions |
|---|---|
| Outdated display drivers | Update the display driver: 1. Press “Windows + P.” 2. Open “Device Manager.” 3. Double-click “Display adapter.” 4. Right-click on the listed driver and choose “Update Driver.” 5. Click “Search automatically for software drivers.” 6. Follow the instructions to complete the update. |
| Incompatible apps | Reset the monitor settings: 1. Press the “Menu” button on your monitor. 2. Use the up and down arrow beside the menu and select the “Reset” icon. 3. Highlight “Yes” then the “OK” button. 4. Check if the green lines are gone. |
| Incorrect monitor resolution | Adjust the monitor’s resolution: 1. Right-click on the “Start” menu. 2. Open “Settings.” 3. Select “System” and then “Display.” 4. Click on the drop-down arrow for the “Display resolution” then select the recommended value. 5. Check if the green lines are gone. |
| Residual power on monitor | Drain residual power: 1. Shut down your monitor. 2. Disconnect the power cables and other accessories from your monitor. 3. Hold the power button for at least 20 seconds to get rid of all residual power. 4. Reconnect the cables and turn on the monitor. 5. Check if the green lines are gone. |
| Loose or defective cable connection | Check for loose or faulty cable connections: 1. Turn off your computer and unplug the cable connections on both ends. 2. Assess for possible faulty cables or visible rust and clean it. 3. Plug the cables again using the screws to lock the connectors. 4. Try using other ports to test if it clears the green lines. 5. If the issue persists, it means the monitor is the problem and not the cable. |
| Damaged LCD | Assess for hardware defect: 1. Connect your system to another working computer. 2. Switch the display by pressing “Windows + P” and check if the same issue appears on the secondary display. 3. If not, then the cause is either the LCD or hardware failure. 4. Send your monitor to a technician, or consider purchasing a new one if repairs are costly. |
Table of Contents
Reasons Why Monitors Have Green Lines
The pattern and intensity of green lines on your monitor vary depending on what triggers them to come out.
While the main cause is yet unknown, you’ll have to look into these common culprits:
- Outdated display drivers
- Incompatible apps
- Incorrect monitor resolution
- Residual power on monitor
- Loose or defective cable connection
- Damaged LCD
How to Get Rid of Green Lines on Monitor
Now that you know the possible causes, let’s get down to the troubleshooting steps to solve this once and for all.
1. Check for Loose or Faulty Cable Connections
Sometimes, we just plug the cables in hastily, resulting in loose cable connection and preventing colors from fully transmitting into the monitor. At other times, the cables become rusty or faulty, causing green lines on your monitor.
To solve this, turn off your computer, unplug the cable connections on both ends, and assess for possible faulty cables. If there’s no visible damage, check for visible rust and clean it before plugging the cables again. This time, use the screws to lock the connectors.
If this doesn’t make any difference, you may try using other ports to test if it clears the green lines. If the issue persists, it means the monitor is the problem and not the cable.
2. Drain Residual Power in Your Monitor
Residual power in your monitor can cause various problems, such as image distortion and the occurrence of green lines. Draining the residual power can help you fix the issue.
To do it, follow this guide:
- Shut down your monitor.
- Disconnect the power cables and other accessories from your monitor.
- Hold the power button for at least 20 seconds to get rid of all residual power.
- Reconnect the cables and turn on the monitor.
- Check if the green lines are gone.
3. Update Display Driver
One of the main culprits behind green lines on monitors is outdated display drivers. When the driver is outdated, the devices malfunction, the system becomes unstable, and green lines appear on the monitor.
To fix this, you’ll have to update the display driver. Here’s how to do it:
- Press “Windows + P.”
- Tap on “Device Manager.”
- Double-click “Display adapter.“
- Right-click on the listed driver and choose “Update Driver.“
- Click “Search automatically for software drivers.”
- Follow the instructions to complete the steps.
- If a new driver doesn’t appear, you’ll have to look for the latest driver on the manufacturer’s website and install it from there.
4. Adjust the Monitor’s Resolution
There’s actually an ideal value of resolution for each brand and size of the monitor. You can find it online, in your user manual, and on the monitor itself. Now, if you’re not using the right resolution for your monitor, this causes green lines to show up on its screen.
To adjust your monitor’s resolution, follow this guide:
- Right-click on the “Start” menu.
- Open “Settings.“
- Select “System” and then “Display.“
- Click on the drop-down arrow for the “Display resolution” then select the recommended value.
- Check if it has made a difference.
5. Reset Monitor Settings
Green lines may mean that there’s a problem with the monitor. You may reset the monitor’s settings to solve this issue. This action will remove the drivers and apps you’ve installed and the changes you’ve made to the settings.
Do this when you’ve exhausted all the other troubleshooting steps and yet the issue still persists. Here’s how to reset your monitor.
- Press the “Menu” button found on the side, front, or just below your monitor.
- Use the up and down arrow beside the menu and select the “Reset” icon.
- Highlight “Yes” then the “OK” button.
- Check if the green lines are gone.
6. Assess for Hardware Defect
If all the troubleshooting steps above have failed, it means a hardware defect is the reason behind this issue.
To confirm, you may connect your system to another working computer. Switch the display by pressing “Windows + P” and check if the same issue appears on the secondary display. If not, then the cause is either the LCD or hardware failure.
The best way to address this is to send your monitor to a technician, or better yet, purchase a new one, since repairs can also be costly.
Conclusion
Outdated display drivers, faulty cables, and residual power can all affect the display performance of monitors. Understanding which one has caused the green lines to occur will help you identify the best solution.
It’s also important to note that regular maintenance and proper care will reduce the odds of dealing with the same issue in the future. That being said, we hope this guide has helped you clear the green lines on your monitor.
