Dell S2725H Monitor Usage and Troubleshooting Guide

Summary: This article provides information about how to set up and use the Dell S2725H monitor. Learn how to troubleshoot common display or video issues with the Dell S2725H monitor.

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Instructions

Dell 27 Monitor - S2725H

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Getting Started with your Dell S2725H Monitor Dell S2725H Monitor Setup, Specifications and Service Manual Dell Drivers & Downloads Warranty and Support Services Frequently Asked Questions
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The Dell S2725H monitor has an active matrix, Thin Film Transistor (TFT), Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), and LED backlight. The monitor has the following features:

  • Supports the refresh rate of 100 Hz
  • Color gamut of 99% sRGB (typical).
  • Digital connectivity with 2 HDMI ports.
  • Plug-and-play capability if supported by your computer.
  • Integrated speakers (2 x 5W).
  • On-Screen Display (OSD) adjustments for ease of setup and screen optimization.
  • Removable stand and 100 mm Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) mounting holes for flexible mounting solutions.
  • Tilt only.
  • Security-lock slot for Kensington locks (sold separately).
  • Supports Dell ComfortView Plus feature.
  • Dell ComfortView Plus is an integrated low blue light screen feature that improves eye comfort by reducing potentially harmful blue light emissions without compromising color. Through ComfortView Plus technology, Dell has reduced harmful blue light exposure from ≤50% to ≤35%. This monitor is certified with TUV Rheinland Eye Comfort 3.0 with a 4-star rating. It incorporates key technologies that also deliver a flicker-free screen, up to 100 Hz refresh rate, and a color gamut of minimum 95% sRGB. Dell ComfortView Plus feature is enabled by default on your monitor.
  • This monitor uses a low blue light panel. When the monitor is reset to factory settings or default setting, it is in compliance with TÜV Rheinland’s hardware low blue light certification.
  • Decreases the level of hazard blue light emitted from the screen to make viewing more comfortable for your eyes without distortion of color accuracy.
  • The monitor adopts Flicker-Free technology, which clears the eye visible flicker, brings comfort viewing experience and preventing users suffer from eye strain and fatigue.
WARNING: The possible long-term effects of blue light emission from the monitor may damage your eyes, including eye fatigue or digital eye strain. The ComfortView feature is designed to reduce the amount of blue light emitted from the monitor to optimize eye comfort.

This section provides some technical specifications of the Dell S2725H monitor. For more information, see the user manual of the Dell S2725H monitor.

Table 1: Technical specifications of the Dell S2725H monitor
Ports and connectors
  • 2 x HDMI port version 1.4 (HDCP 1.4)
  • Security lock slot (based on Kensington Security Slot)
  • Power connector

For the best viewing experience, assemble the monitor stand, connect and organize the cables, and set up the monitor ergonomically.

Attaching the stand

The standard monitor stand is detached when it is shipped from the factory. To learn how to attach the standard monitor stand, see the user manual of the Dell S2725H monitor.

To learn how to set up any other monitor stand or monitor arm, see the setup guide of the product.

CAUTION: Do not remove the monitor from the packaging box before attaching the stand.

Ergonomics

Where you put your monitor is almost as important as what model you buy.

  • The monitor must be directly in front of you, at an arm’s length away (between 20-40 inches from your eyes).
  • The top edge of the screen must be set at eye level when you are sitting comfortably. Adjust your chair height or the height of the monitor to achieve this.

Connecting your monitor to the computer

To connect your Dell S2725H monitor to your computer:

WARNING: Read and follow Safety Precautions When Working with Electronic and Electrical Equipment.
  1. Turn off the computer.
  2. Connect the power cable to the monitor.
  3. Connect the video cable (HDMI) between the computer and the monitor.
    NOTE: Setting up the monitor with a Dell docking station? Learn How to Connect and Set Up a Docking Station With a Dell Laptop.
    NOTE: Setting up more than one monitor? Learn How to Set up Multiple Monitors or see the user manual of the Dell S2725H monitor.
  4. Turn on the monitor.
  5. Turn on the computer.

For additional product-specific information, see the user manual of the Dell S2725H monitor.

CAUTION: Dell S2725H setup must comply with the recommended panel orientation and working angle only. Setting up the monitor in an orientation that is not recommended may damage the monitor, cause a safety hazard, or both.

Using the tilt

NOTE: The following instructions are applicable only for the stand that is shipped with your monitor. If you are connecting a stand that you purchased from any other source, follow the setup instructions that were included with the stand.

With the stand attached to the monitor, you can tilt the monitor for the most comfortable viewing angle.

S2725H_Tilt
Figure 1: Using the Tilt on a Dell S2725H monitor.

To access the on-screen display (OSD) menu, press Joystick (Figure 2) at the back of the monitor.

To learn more about navigating through the on-screen display (OSD) menu, see the user manual of the Dell S2725H monitor.

NOTE: The monitor automatically saves any changes that you make. Whenever you move to another menu item, exit the OSD menu, or wait for the OSD menu to automatically close.

S2725H_Joystick Control
Figure 2: Dell S2725H Joystick Control

S2725H_Menu Laucher
Figure 3: Accessing the Menu Launcher.

Table 2: Buttons on the Dell S2725H monitor
Button Function Description
1 Menu To launch the OSD main menu, see Accessing the menu system.
2 Shortcut key for Preset Modes. When you move the joystick to the left or right to switch through the shortcut functions, the selected item is highlighted to the center position. Press the joystick to enter its submenu. After you change the settings by moving the joystick, press the joystick to save the changes before exiting.
3 Exit To exit the Menu Launcher.

Resetting a monitor to factory defaults can help resolve many video or display-related issues. Reset your Dell S2725H monitor to factory default settings by following these steps:

  1. Press the Joystick on the monitor to enter the On-Screen Display (OSD) Menu.
  2. Press up or down on the joystick to Highlight Other option in the menu and press on the joystick to select.
  3. Press up or down to highlight Factory Reset option in the menu and press on the joystick to select it.
  4. Press the joystick to Confirm the reset action.

S2725H_Joystick Control
Figure 4: Dell S2725H Joystick Control

A diagnostic test helps determine if the Dell monitor is normal when faced with a blank screen, blurry image, flickering or other abnormalities.

Verify that the monitor is working correctly by running a diagnostic test if you experience the following symptoms.

  • Your computer does not turn on or shows any sign of power.
  • Your computer does not show any indication of activity, the screen is blank and does not display the Dell logo during start-up.
  • Your computer gets stuck at the Dell logo screen or does not respond to any keys during start-up.
  • You cannot see any display on the screen.
  • You hear the windows chime, but the monitor screen is blank.

Self-Test Feature Check

Your Dell S2725H monitor provides a self-test feature check that allows you to check if the monitor is functioning properly. When the monitor is connected to the computer but the screen stays dark, run the monitor self-test by following these steps:

  1. Turn off the computer and the monitor.
  2. Unplug the video cable from the back of the computer. To ensure proper self-test operation, disconnect the video cable (VGA, DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C cable) from the back of the computer.
  3. Turn on the monitor. A floating dialog box should appear on-screen (against a black background), if the monitor cannot sense a video signal and is working correctly. While in self-test mode, the power LED remains white. Also, depending upon the selected input, the dialog box scrolls through the screen.
  4. This box also appears during normal system operation, if the video cable becomes disconnected or damaged.
  5. Turn off the monitor and reconnect the video cable.
  6. Turn on the computer and the monitor.

If the screen remains blank, check the video card (GPU) and computer, because the monitor is functioning properly.

Built-In Self-Test or Built-In Diagnostics

Your Dell S2725H monitor has an integrated diagnostic tool. Hardware diagnostic helps determine if the screen abnormality issue is with the monitor or the video card on your computer.

If you observe any screen anomalies, you should isolate the monitor by performing the built-in diagnostics (BID).

S2725H_Self Diags
Figure 5: Dell S2725H built-in diagnostics

  1. Ensure that the screen is clean (no dust particles on the surface of the screen).
  2. Select OSD items of Self-Diagnostics in Others feature.
  3. Press the Joystick button to start the diagnostics. A gray screen is displayed.
  4. Observe if the screen has any defects or abnormalities.
  5. Toggle the joystick once again until a red screen is displayed.
  6. Observe if the screen has any defects or abnormalities.
  7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until the screen displays green, blue, black, and white colors. Note any abnormalities or defects.

If you do not detect any screen abnormalities in the diagnostics test, the monitor is functioning properly. Check the video card (GPU) and the computer.

If you notice any abnormalities in the diagnostics test, contact Dell Technical Support for repair options.

During the manufacturing process, it is not uncommon for one or more pixels to get stuck in an unchanging state. Such pixel issues are hard to see and do not affect the display quality or usability. Learn more about Dell Display Pixel Guidelines.

The following table contains information about troubleshooting common display-related issues on your Dell S2725H monitor.

Alternatively, learn How to Troubleshoot Display or Video Issues on a Dell Monitor or check our Dell monitor self-help guide.

Table 3: Troubleshooting is common display issues on Dell S2725H monitor.
Common Problem What User Experiences Possible Solution
No Video - Power LED Off No picture.
  • Connect the power cable securely to the monitor.
  • Verify that the power outlet is functioning properly by using any other electrical equipment.
  • Press the power button.
  • Test with a known-good cable and a known-good computer if possible.
No Video - Power LED On No picture or no brightness.
Poor Focus The picture is fuzzy, blurry, or ghosting.
Shaky or Jittery Video Wavy picture or fine movement.
Missing Pixels LCD screen has spots.
  • Turn off the monitor and then turn on the monitor after a few minutes.
  • A pixel that is permanently off is a natural defect that can occur in LCD technology.
  • Run the built-in diagnostic (BID) test.
Stuck On/Off Pixels LCD screen has a bright spots.
Brightness Problems Picture too dim or too bright.
Geometric Distortion The screen not centered correctly.
NOTE: When using DisplayPort input, the positioning adjustments are not available.
Horizontal or Vertical Lines The screen has one or more lines.
NOTE: When using DisplayPort input, the positioning adjustments are not available.
Synchronization Problems The screen appears scrambled or torn.
Safety-Related Issues Visible signs of smoke or sparks.
Intermittent Problems The monitor malfunctions on and off.
Missing Color The picture does not have color.
Wrong Color Picture color is not good.
Image Retention from a Static Image Left on the Monitor for a Long Period A faint shadow from the static image appears on the screen.
  • Use the Power Management feature to turn off the monitor when it is not in use.
  • Alternatively, use a dynamically changing screensaver.
The screen image is too small. The image is centered on the screen, but does not fill the entire viewing area.
Image Ghosting Fast-moving images leave a trail of shadow images.

On certain videos and applications with fast-moving images, imaging ghosting, which appears as a trailing shadow, may occur.

Change the Response Time to Fast using the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu.
No Input Signal when user controls are pressed. No picture, the power LED light is white.
  • Check the signal source. Ensure that the computer is not in power-saving mode by moving the mouse or pressing any key on the keyboard.
  • Connect the video cable securely between the monitor and the computer.
  • Restart the computer.
The picture does not fill the entire screen. The picture cannot fill the height or width of the screen.
No Video, No Display No video when connecting docking, dongle, or Blu-ray DVD players Because legacy platforms cannot identify or output 1920 x 1080, adjust the EDID to a lower resolution to address this compatibility issue.
  1. Remove all input cables.
  2. Press Button 3 and Button 4 for 5 seconds.
  3. Choose Enable on POP up screen to change the maximum resolution from 1920 x 1080 to 3840 x 1080.
Unable to switch back to native resolution (1920 x 1080) after Picture by Picture is turned off.

Dell S2725H supports Picture by Picture (PBP) mode. Picture by Picture (PBP) mode is two side-by-side images with each image that is displayed at 2560 x 1440 resolution.

When the monitor is connected to a computer using HDMI and PBP mode is turned off, the monitor may display images at the lower resolution (2560 x 1440) rather than automatically switching to the native resolution (1920 x 1080).
  1. Disconnect the HDMI cable.
  2. Wait for 5-10 seconds.
  3. Connect the HDMI cable.
Display mode changes from Second screen only to Extended mode after opening and closing the laptop LCD.

The display mode on your computer reverts to Duplicate or Extend. This depends on which was selected before you changed to Second screen only or Projector only when you close and open the laptop screen.

When you close and then reopen the lid on a laptop, the Connecting and Configuring Displays (CCD) feature in Windows automatically reverts the display mode to the last active selection. This behavior is by design in Microsoft Windows.

Switch to the display mode that you want after you close and reopen the laptop screen manually:

  1. Press the Windows + P key on the keyboard.
  2. Select Second screen only or Projector only mode.
The monitor blinks twice when connected to computer with an NVIDIA NVS 310 video or graphics card.

When the monitor is turned-off and back on, the monitor may blink twice. This issue may occur if the computer is using a NVIDIA Graphic NVS 310 card and the graphics card resolution setting is 2560 x 1600.

To resolve this issue, manually set the resolution to 2560 x 1440 using the NVIDIA Control Panel.

  1. Right-click the desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel.
  2. In the NVIDIA Control Panel, select Change resolution on the left panel.
  3. Under Resolution, select 2560 x 1440.
  4. Click Apply to confirm.
The monitor has a sound icon when the Dell S2725H is connected to a laptop using HDMI.

Dell S2725H does not support audio or sound using HDMI. Speakers or headphones must be connected using the audio connector on the computer.

To resolve the audio icon displaying, update the video or graphics (GPU) driver to the latest version. Learn How to Download and Install Dell Drivers.
The monitor will not display Blu-Ray video after the monitor is powered-off and powered on. If the monitor is powered-off and powered-on when displaying the Blu-Ray video, the Blu-ray player may lose the data signal from the system to the monitor.
  1. Disconnect the HDMI cable
  2. Wait for 5 seconds
  3. Connect the HDMI cable
Cannot enable YCbCr color mode on the monitor. When the monitor is connected to the computer using HDMI, the video or graphics card (GPU) controls the YCbCr setting. Disable the YCbCr setting from the video or graphics utility such as Intel HD Graphics Control Panel.
Monitor will not support the YCbCr color format when a USB-C to HDMI dongle is connected from the monitor to the computer. Some combinations of USB-C to HDMI dongle and video or graphics card (GPU) are not compatible to support the YCbCr color format.
  • Do not use the dongle
  • Connect the computer to the monitor using the HDMI cable or the USB-C cable
  • Disable the YCbCr setting from the video or graphics card (GPU) utility such as Intel HD Graphics Control Panel
When changing the monitor’s resolution from Windows Display Settings, the image quality may not be good. Windows Display Settings and the resolution settings on the laptop's video or graphics utility may not be compatible. Change the resolution using the video or graphics card (GPU) utility such as Intel HD Graphics Control Panel.
No video when the monitor is connected to a Dell docking station. The monitor may not receive video signals from the computer when connected to a Dell docking station. To learn more about how to set up and configure the Dell S2725H monitor with a Dell docking station, see the user manual of the Dell S2725H monitor.
Light leak from the monitor The monitor appears to have light leaking from the edges in a dark room. This is the normal behavior of the monitor. Dell consumer monitors are tested under 150-lux ambient lighting (similar to typical office lighting). Dell UltraSharp and Gaming monitors are tested with tighter criteria of 70-lux ambient lighting (dimly lit room, but not dark). Learn more about Troubleshooting Light Leakage or Light Bleeding on a Dell Monitor or Laptop LCD Screen.
Color variation on the corners of the monitor The monitor appears to have color variation on the corners of the screen.

The optimal viewing position for the monitor is from the center of the screen.

Dell S2725H monitor uses a curved IPS panel, the corners of the screen may appear slightly yellowish or pinkish, especially when viewing in a dark room. This is normal IPS panel behavior and typically does not affect the overall viewing performance.

  1. Change the Uniformity Compensation using the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu.
  2. Change the Uniformity compensation setting to Calibrated
No video when a Blu-Ray, DVD player or PS4 is connected to the monitor using HDMI. The monitor does not display any video when an external Blu-ray, DVD player or PS4 is connected.

Dell S2725H monitor is factory default set at HDMI EDID with three Block (Detailed Timing Descriptor) to support 1920 x 1080 @ 60 Hz. To display a resolution of 3840 x 1080 @ 60 Hz or lower, you must switch the monitor HDMI EDID from three Block to two Block.

  1. Remove all input cables from the monitor
  2. Press and hold Button 3 and Button 4 for 5 seconds
  3. A message box appears. Select Enable to switch to the lower primary resolution

To display 1920 x 1080 resolution over HDMI again, you must switch the monitor back to HDMI EDID 3 Block. Follow Steps 1 and 2, and select Disable.
Horizontal stripes when watching online videos using Microsoft Movies and TV app, Microsoft Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge. Unwanted horizontal stripes appear on the video playback window when viewing online videos on YouTube using Microsoft Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge browser. They are also seen while watching online videos using the Movies and TV app.
  • Change the monitor resolution to 4k 3840 x 1080 or lower.
  • For YouTube videos, change the playback resolution to 720p or lower.

Frequently Asked Questions

For more information, click to expand a section below.

NOTE: If you do not see the recommended resolution as an option, update the video card (GPU) driver of your Dell computer from https://www.dell.com/support/drivers or the video card (GPU) manufacturer's website. Learn How to Download and Install Dell Drivers.

Using Windows Display Settings

In Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8 or 8.1, and Windows 7:

  1. For Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 only, select the Desktop tile to switch to the classic desktop view.
  2. Right-click the desktop and click Screen Resolution.
  3. Click the dropdown list of the Screen Resolution and select 1920 x 1080.
  4. Click OK.

Using NVIDIA Control Panel

To change the resolution using the NVIDIA Control Panel:

  1. Right-click the desktop and click NVIDIA Control Panel.
  2. Click the + symbol next to Display on the left pane.
  3. Select Change Resolution under Display.
  4. In the dropdown menu on the right pane, select the resolution 1920 x 1080.
  5. Click Apply.

Using AMD Catalyst Control Center

To change the resolution using the AMD Catalyst Control Center:

  1. Right-click the desktop and click AMD Catalyst Control Center.
  2. Click the + symbol next to Display on the left pane.
  3. Select Change Resolution under Display.
  4. In the dropdown menu on the right pane, select the resolution 1920 x 1080.
  5. Click Apply.

The Dell S2725H monitor has two built-in diagnostics that are available:

  • Self-Test Feature Check - The self-test feature check on the Dell S2725H monitor allows you to check whether the monitor is functioning properly.

  • Built-In Self-Test - The Dell S2725H monitor has a built-in self-test that helps you identify if the screen abnormality is with the monitor or the video card (GPU) on your computer. When you notice screen abnormalities such as distortion, clarity, horizontal or vertical lines, color fade. It is always a good practice to isolate the monitor by running the built-in diagnostics.

Learn how to run a diagnostic test on the Dell S2725H monitor.

The troubleshooting section of this article provides information about troubleshooting common issues with your Dell S2725H monitor.

This section has troubleshooting steps on how to resolve power issues, video issues, color or clarity issues, distortion issues, horizontal or vertical lines, brightness issues or pixel issues, and so on.

Learn how to access the on-screen display (OSD) menu on the Dell S2725H monitor. For additional product-specific information, see the user manual of the Dell S2725H monitor.

Information about the monitor such as the model number, firmware version, and Service Tag can be accessed using the on-screen display (OSD) menu of the monitor.

Learn how to access the on-screen display (OSD) menu on the Dell S2725H monitor. For additional product-specific information, see the user manual of the Dell S2725H monitor.

NOTE: The default factory setting on the Dell S2725H is HDMI 1.4.
  1. Press the joystick on the monitor to enter the On-Screen Display (OSD) Menu.
  2. Press up or down to highlight Input Source in the menu and press on the joystick to select.
  3. Press up or down to highlight HDMI in the menu.
  4. Press and hold on the joystick for approximately 10 s until the HDMI configuration message appears.

S2725H_Joystick Control
Figure 6: Dell S2725H Joystick Control

For information about the supported orientation to set up the Dell S2725H monitor, see the monitor orientation section of this article.

Affected Products

Dell S2725H
Article Properties
Article Number: 000223761
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 03 Apr 2024
Version:  1
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