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Fix: Screen Mirroring Issues
Screen mirroring is a convenient feature that allows you to display your Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC’s screen on another device, such as a TV or a monitor. Whether you want to share a presentation, watch a movie, or play games on a larger screen, screen mirroring can enhance your experience.
However, like any technology, screen mirroring can sometimes run into issues. In this article, we’ll explore five common screen mirroring problems and provide you with SEO-friendly solutions to troubleshoot them effectively.
Why Screen Mirroring Issues occur
Users encounter an error message that reads, “Unable to connect with screen share” when the screen mirroring capability, also known as screen mirroring, is not functioning on a Windows computer. This prevents them from mirroring their computer screens onto other screens.
There may be a number of causes, including interruptions caused by the firewall or Windows Defender, compatibility problems, networking issues, incorrectly configured settings, and hardware restrictions.
How to Fix “Screen Mirroring Issues”
It’s important to remember that each situation may have a unique cause, and the troubleshooting procedures may vary appropriately. Below, we’ve covered a variety of fixes that can assist you in finding the root of the issue and then permanently resolving it.
1. Check If Device Supports Miracast
Check to see if your device is Miracast compatible before attempting to project your screen on a wireless display.
- Press the Windows + I keys, and it will open the Settings app.
- Go to System > Display in the following window.
- Locate the Connect to a wireless display option by expanding the Multiple Displays section. Your device must support Miracast if you can see this option. If you are unable to, it is clear that a compatibility issue is the cause of your screen-sharing difficulty.
2. Check Compatibility and Network Connection
One of the most fundamental issues with screen mirroring is compatibility between your PC and the target device. Before you start troubleshooting, ensure that your Windows 11/10 PC and the receiving device (TV, monitor, or other display) are compatible with screen mirroring. Many modern devices support technologies like Miracast or DLNA for screen mirroring.
Additionally, ensure that both your PC and the target device are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Screen mirroring typically relies on a local network connection, and if your devices are on different networks, they won’t be able to communicate effectively.
- Hardware Compatibility: Your computer and the target display (e.g., TV or monitor) should support screen mirroring. Both devices must have compatible hardware, such as Wi-Fi Direct or Miracast.
- Network Connection: Ensure that both your computer and the target display are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Screen mirroring won’t work if they’re on different networks.
- Press the Windows + I keys, and it will open the Settings app.
- Go to Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.
- Make sure you are connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your target device.
- Display Drivers: Keep your graphics drivers up to date. Outdated or incompatible drivers can cause screen mirroring problems.
- Display Settings: Check your display settings in Windows to ensure they’re configured correctly. Right-click on the desktop, select “Display settings,” and verify that the display mode is set to “Extend” or “Duplicate.”
3. Enable the Wireless Display Feature
Making sure the wireless display option is turned on on the computer, which enables the system to wirelessly project the screen of your Windows device to another display, like a TV or monitor, using the Miracast standard, is the next action we advise taking.
Windows 11 and Windows 10 come with built-in screen mirroring features that need to be properly configured. To ensure screen mirroring is enabled:
- Press the Windows + I keys, and it will open the Settings app.
- From the left pane, select Apps, then click on “Optional features.“
- Now select Add an optional feature by clicking the “View Features” button. The Add an Optional Feature dialog should now be displayed.
- Type “wireless display” into the taskbar’s search box to bring up the dialog, then click it.
- To install the feature, click Next and follow the on-screen instructions.
This step ensures that your PC is ready to connect to external displays wirelessly.
4. Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter
You might not be able to use the screen mirroring capability because of an issue with the system’s hardware. To identify and resolve hardware problems, Windows’ Hardware and Devices troubleshooter runs a series of predefined tests.
The troubleshooter first confirms that the device’s drivers are up to date and correctly installed before beginning the troubleshooting procedure. Additionally, it will look for any hardware conflicts and problems with power management. If there are any issues, it will either suggest solutions or point you toward the manufacturer’s website.
The troubleshooter can be used in the following ways to resolve the screen mirroring problem:
- To display the Run dialogue box, use the Windows + R keys.
- In the Run box, type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic and press Enter.
- Click on Next to run the troubleshooter.
5. Disable Firewall Temporarily
Some antivirus programs can cause other programs to malfunction or crash by interfering with their operation. Sometimes it will mark a safe application or file as malicious or dangerous, which might lead to issues if the program or file is quarantined or removed.
Either of these possibilities may be true if you have security software installed on your computer and are the cause of the current problem.
The best course of action in this situation will be to temporarily disable the antivirus and see if that changes anything. With the help of the Bit Defender antivirus, we have demonstrated how to do this. The process for your antivirus may be a little different, but the fundamental idea is the same.
Firewall and security software on your PC can sometimes block screen mirroring connections, mistaking them for potential security threats. To resolve this issue:
- Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security.
- Click on “Firewall & network protection.“
- Click on “Domain network.“
- Toggle off for the “Microsoft Defender Firewall.“
Additionally, you may need to check your antivirus software or other security software settings to ensure they are not blocking screen mirroring connections.
6. Perform a Repair Install
You can try to execute a repair install if none of the troubleshooting techniques have been successful for you.
Repair installs, often referred to as in-place upgrades, allow you to reinstall Windows on a machine while preserving the user data and current system. By employing this technique, you can fix certain operating system issues like corrupted data or erratic behavior.
Windows copies the installation files to your computer as part of a repair install, then scans for and corrects any issues with the current installation before installing the updated files and replacing the older versions while preserving your personal information and installed programs. However, as this process takes a lot of time, we advise only starting it when you have enough free time.
- Using a bootable device or a force restart, boot your Windows 11 to WinRE.
- Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced > Startup Repair.
7. Update the Graphics Drivers
Visit the website of your graphics card manufacturer (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) and download the latest drivers for your specific model. Outdated graphics drivers can lead to screen mirroring issues.
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run box.
- Type devmgmt.msc and click OK to open Device Manager.
- In the Device Manager window, expand the Display adapters section. It will list all the integrated and dedicated graphics drivers installed on your computer. Do the following for all of the drivers.
- Right-click on the display driver and choose Uninstall Driver. Uncheck the “Delete the driver software for this device.” option in the pop-up if it shows up.
- Go to the top menu in Device Manager and under the Action tab, select Scan for hardware changes.
- The driver should appear back in the Display adapters list. If it does not, then restart your PC and it will appear back.
- Right-click on the display driver again and choose Update Driver.
- Select Search automatically for drivers. Windows will scan for available driver updates and download them.
- Restart your PC to apply the changes.
- If it didn’t work, again right-click on the display driver and choose Update Driver but this time select Browse my computer for driver software.
- Then select Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
- Select the driver you want to install, generally, it is the pre-selected top option in the list and click Next.
- Restart your PC to apply the changes.
- If even that doesn’t work, you can try going to your laptop or graphic card manufacturer’s official website and downloading the latest drivers for your specific model from there and then simply install the drivers and restart your PC to apply the changes.
- The following are links to GPU manufacturer driver download websites:
Conclusion
Screen mirroring is a valuable feature that can significantly enhance your Windows 11/10 PC experience, but it can be frustrating when issues arise. By following these five fixes and troubleshooting steps, you can quickly resolve common screen mirroring problems and enjoy seamless connectivity between your PC and external displays.
Remember to ensure compatibility, update graphics drivers, configure screen mirroring settings, consider third-party mirroring apps, and check firewall and security software settings to troubleshoot and resolve screen mirroring issues effectively. With these solutions at your disposal, you can make the most of this useful feature and avoid interruptions in your screen mirroring experience.
