MacBook recognizes Dell S2340M, but no signal

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Level 1

4 points

MacBook recognizes Dell S2340M, but no signal

Mac with a Dell S2340M monitor

I recently came across a Dell S2340M monitor, and I was going to use it as a secondary display for my MacBook. I bought a DVI to HDMI adapter and then plugged it into an ANKER bank, and then plugged that into my mac and my Mac recognizes the monitor and allows me to change the preferences of the monitor. However, my monitor states, "There is no signal coming from your computer. Press any key on the keyboard or move the mouse to wake it up. If there is no display, press the monitor button now to select the correct input source on the On-Screen-Display menu." I have tried everything, but the monitor will not display my Mac. The monitor works perfectly fine besides this.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 13.6

Posted on Mar 21, 2026 9:42 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 22, 2026 12:07 AM in response to Mpamucar16

Dell – Dell™ S2240M/S2340M Monitor User's Guide

The S2340M appears to be a 23", 1920x1080 monitor with DVI and VGA inputs.

So you are using some sort of Anker hub with a HDMI port – with a HDMI to DVI adapter between the Anker hub and the Dell monitor? If the Mac did not see the monitor at all, I would suspect that this Anker hub was using some sort of workaround that required you to install an appropriate driver (e.g., DisplayLink driver, Silicon Motion Driver, etc.).

That makes me wonder how you have Display {Settings/Preferences} set up. If you are mirroring the built-in screen, perhaps the Mac is trying to pick some sort of compromise resolution that the monitor does not like. Try extending your Mac's desktop to the external display and selecting a resolution of 1920x1080 for the external display.

macOS User Guide – Extend or mirror your Mac desktop across multiple displays – Apple Support

Another possibility is that you need to use a shorter, or better-quality, cable. Modern versions of macOS do not like to see display transmission errors, and may reduce resolution or cut signal if they see any. Cables that are included with monitors sometimes are "lowest bidder" cables that might not always work reliably.

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Answer 2

TheLittles

Level 10

205,851 points

Mar 22, 2026 9:31 AM in response to Mpamucar16

“I mirrored my iPad to mirror the Dell monitor, and I can move my mouse onto it and interact with stuff on that display, but the monitor just does not display anything.”

———-

On the Mac…

Try Using the Keyboard Shortcuts:

Try Mirroring the Display:

[Hold Down: Command + Press F1]

Try Extending the Display:

[Hold Down: Command + Press F2]

Never tried it on an iPad. It might not work, but, it’s worth a go.

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Answer 3

Mpamucar16 Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 22, 2026 8:42 AM in response to Servant of Cats

The Mac recognizes the monitor. The issue is that the monitor is displaying anything; the monitor is new, and there are no issues with the monitor that I can see. Extending the display and other solutions mentioned still do not fix the issue. The monitor itself does not seem to be picking up the display. It picks up that I plugged it into something, but it doesn't display it. I mirrored my iPad to mirror the Dell monitor, and I can move my mouse onto it and interact with stuff on that display, but the monitor just does not display anything.

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Answer 4

Mpamucar16 Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 22, 2026 10:46 AM in response to TheLittles

I have tried that and still nothing. It seems like the monitor just doesn’t seem to recognize anything with Apple? I plugged it into an Xbox and it displayed it fine, same cord and everything.

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