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This has most likely annoyed many of you at some point. You turn on your monitor one day and see a jeering message telling you something about an “OSD Lockout”. It doesn’t allow you to change any of your monitors settings, including the setting intended to turn off this message. While I’ve only seen this error on HP monitors I know that others have encountered it on other brands as well. The fixes I provide should work on those monitors too. (Note: OSD stands for On Screen Display.)
Fix One:
Plug in the monitor and power it up. Hold down the Power button until you get a message saying “OSD Unlocked”. If the problem persists after OSD is unlocked then unplug the monitor from the wall, wait 20 seconds and try again.
Fix Two:
Turn on the monitor and hold down the Menu button for 10-20 seconds. This should unlock the OSD.
Fix Three:
Turn off the monitor, press down the Menu button and then turn on the monitor. Wait 10-20 seconds. This should unlock the OSD.
Fix Four:
The Menu button may be stuck in a pressed in position. To get it “unstuck” you’ll usually need to open up the monitor. This could be tricky unless you know what you’re doing. Unfortunately there are too many models of monitor for me to provide detailed instructions. If you have warranty this is where you want to contact the manufacturer.
If you know of any other fixes feel free to contact me. Good luck!
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April 25th, 2009 at 7:21 am
Thank you very much… It works on my HP vs17e monitor…
April 27th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Great!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Method 2 worked like a charm. I am glad that this page exists since all the other advice to fix this problem didn’t work. And i was not about to open up my monitor.
worked on refurbished HP w2207
June 6th, 2009 at 1:56 am
I couldnt get none of thses step to work on mine,any other suggestions?
June 6th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
bruce: These are all the suggestions I have at the moment. Perhaps you should call HP or bring your monitor to a technician?
July 7th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Does the OSD have anything to with my sound going out? The - and + on the monitor do not work and my speakers are in my monitor. when I turn the osd off like in step number 2 the volume control screen for the monitor stays on my screen. I can’t get the sound to come back on. It is not my comptuer because when I plug headphones I get sound, It’s something with the monitor. any suggestions?
July 7th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
thank you.
very helpfull.
fix three.
July 7th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Adrienne: Most likely it’s a different issue entirely.
Are the buttons sticky in any way?
July 29th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I have tried everything. I keep getting the OSD Locked box flashing non stop.
July 29th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Then perhaps the menu button is stuck down. I’d suggest calling a local computer technician. ;)
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:22 am
THANK YOU11
August 19th, 2009 at 11:11 am
thxs i game and it was really annoying but thank u
August 19th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Glad to hear it helped. I edited your comment a bit. No advertising or solicitations.
September 20th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
gracias me funciono el 2 te agradezco mi monitor es un HP W1907
October 5th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
it does not work on mine :(
October 6th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Make sure the menu button is not stuck down. If you get a chance try calling HP and report back if they have any new suggestions that work.
October 20th, 2009 at 10:43 am
I have tried all the numerous attempts that HP have stated to fix problem, have used all the solutions here also, nothing seems to work. At times can’t even use the buttons at all. Any other suggestions? Can not afford to buy a new one at this time, currently have the HP f2105 hd flat panel wide screen
October 26th, 2009 at 11:15 am
Well, I spent nearly 3 days with HP support telling me pretty much the same things as in the books and research on the internet, mechanical failure, buy a new one. When I do I will purchase something with a warranty much longer than HP’s for sure.
October 26th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Sometimes an extended warranty works out, sometimes it does not.
I would look at it this way: an extended warranty is about $60 on a monitor. You did not buy a warranty so you now have $60 to spend on a brand new monitor. I would recommend going with Samsung. They are reliable and come with 3 Year Warranties.
November 29th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
The OSD lockout display disappear on mine when I press the menu for 10-20 secs but when I release it. It will come back again… :(
December 26th, 2009 at 12:17 am
The 2nd one worked .I am very happy to share this.
January 9th, 2010 at 4:35 am
thank you so much i couldnt turn up or down my volume and now i can on my Hpvs17e i was getting scared for a sec XD
February 5th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Fix Four worked: Break (!) open the lower part of monitor plastic frame, and CUT the 4 wires: Green, Yellow, Orange and Red (i.e. ‘Auto’, ‘Menu’, ‘-’ and ‘+’ buttons). Its a tough fix, and the casing is not pretty any more, BUT: The monitor seems to work as a monitor without any annoying OSD popups:-) And the on/off botton is still active :-) Happy little me, now back to the PhD…
April 3rd, 2010 at 9:20 am
Thank you Very much … This website is a life saver!!!!
April 9th, 2010 at 1:45 am
These did not work for the CTL 7tx monitor. Buttons are not stuck (thankfully i was able to put the monitor back together), and there is no menu button. OSD Lock Out screen still present. It’s intermittent at best. Comes on for anywhere from 3 seconds to several minutes and sometimes goes away for 5-15 seconds, but it always comes back. Flashes intermittently too.
April 15th, 2010 at 11:12 am
This the ONLY solution in many cases with this HP monitors (almost garbage). I found it in other blog and works. I tried many methods and finally I solved my problem following this solution.
Author: wookie319
I know you said there were others that had the same problem with the Main Menu coming up and I thought I would tell you what I did to fix the problem.
1. I shut down the PC.
2. I removed the power cable and video cable from the back of the monitor.
3. I removed the four screws that hold the stand for the monitor and slid the stand off.
4. I then removed the 5 screws that hold the back cover on the monitor.
5. I took two flat blade screw drivers and carefully removed the back cover.
At the bottom of the monitor case, there is a small circuit board the holds the 6 switches for controlling the display.
6. I located the button that calls up the Main Menu. It is the second switch from the left as you are looking at the monitor from the rear.
7. I used a small solder iron and heated up the four prongs in sequence while holding the switch with a pair of needle nose pliers. I had to rotate this process from one prong to the other while all the time applying slight pulling pressure on the switch pulling it away from the circuit board.
8. Once the switch was removed, I put the cover back on and tightened up the five screws.
9. Then I slid the base back in the slot it came from and tightened the four screws.
10. I connected the video and power cable and turned on the PC.
With the switch removed the Main Menu never popped up again and I am so very happy.
www,artycan.com
May 2nd, 2010 at 4:21 pm
THANKS HAVE A HP LP1965 AND OPTION 2 WORKED OUT FINE FOR ME THANKS
May 18th, 2010 at 8:39 am
Fix Two worked for me. I have HP LA2405wg. Thanks
July 15th, 2010 at 11:50 am
Hey, thanks for the help! We often have that OSD lockout issue and needed more possible resolutions! These are very helpful!
August 18th, 2010 at 6:22 am
i tried already buy i just cant seemed to unlock it…
August 18th, 2010 at 7:40 am
my monitor’s osd continuosly becomes on and off.i cant turn off the monitor and the switches is not working
September 6th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
I cannot thank you enough for this information. I spent four hours today trying to get the OSD Lockout out of my life! Thank you, thank you!
November 9th, 2010 at 9:18 am
Wow! It worked on my HP 1740! Thank you! Carlo
November 28th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
OMG thank you very much for your help!! Cheers Mate
January 2nd, 2011 at 1:33 pm
Thank you very much! Fix three made it work :P
January 9th, 2011 at 7:33 am
I have Windows 7 flast screen or whatever its called, basically the monitor (the part with the screen on it, right?) isn’t a big one; kind of like a flat screen TV. On the side there are four buttons, the top one is what I believe is the Menu Button because I use to be able to push it then a list of things to do would show up on the computer screen. Below that are two Up and Down Arrow BUttons which generally seemed to be the lock and unlock buttons or atleast I think they were because I would constantly have to drag my finger across the whole row of buttons to cause the OSD to unlock. The button button I think is the Power Button because when I push it the monitor shuts off (screen goes black, lights turn off, but the website I was on stays up). They are touch buttons, very sensitive to touch unlike the buttons on the keyboard or other monitors. The top three buttons (not the power button) cause the OSD Locked message to show up when I touch them. I have found numerous things online and this site seems to be the most informative. I have tried numerous things including what you suggested, pretty much what you suggest. I even unplugged the entire computer from the wall and tried shutting the tower down (power button on the tower (where the motherboard etc. is). I really don’t want to try taking the monitor apart even with CORRECT INSTRUCTIONS for the fear of messing things up unless it so simple that a monkey could do it without causing any damage to the computer.
January 9th, 2011 at 7:39 am
By the problem is that my screen, not the computer screen itself but whatever is showing up on the screen (background etc.) is slightly slanted to the left (yes, you heard me right!). It leaves about half and inch of black screen on the right while that same length of screen on the left is hidden out of sight. I can still access it but I have I can’t see it and thats becoming a problem. The OSD unlock usually fixed this but as I said in my first comment, above, that the OSD won’t unlock.
January 19th, 2011 at 2:05 pm
Saved my day! Thanks a bunch!
(HP LP2475w, fix two worked)
February 4th, 2011 at 2:52 am
This didn’t help mine either but I am thankful for someone trying to help out.
February 23rd, 2011 at 11:17 pm
i got hp 2009m and i kept getting that osd lockout in the middle of the screen i tryied everything to get it off and reasearch it really good after i cut the monitor on i held the power button in and stuck a thumbable push pin up in the middle of the power button to keep the button push in guess what it work i have not had that osd screen again seems like to me hp could have figured out what the problem was and replaced all of these guess they didnt care so if u ever buy a hp i guess anything reseach it before u buy because they wont tell us they are faulty so everyone knows whats wrong with urs it was mine
March 1st, 2011 at 4:37 pm
OSD Lock Function: To lock the OSD, press and hold the Left button while the monitor is off and then press power button to turn the monitor on. To un-lock the OSD - press and hold the Left button while the monitor is off and then press power button to turn the monitor on.
March 30th, 2011 at 7:05 am
For the last 3 days ave been experiencing OSD lockout on one of my users machine.
Most of the suggestions did not help.
All i did was to change the screen resolution and it worked.
Try it, Goodluck
April 2nd, 2011 at 7:40 am
ohhhhhhhhh great dear i have l.c.d his o.s.d locked but i don’t know how to unlock this i use this last 2 year but today i m see thefakegeek it’s solve my problum keep it up i m very happy thnks very much……………..
June 5th, 2011 at 3:53 am
i tried all the above steps but it doesnt work on my hcl monitor
June 7th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
Thank you so muuuch! I’ve been looking for a way to unlock it for so long! No idea how Happy i am right now. thank you thank youuu!!
June 29th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
Thanks, fix two worked for my hp l2245w! it’s been bugging me for weeks!
July 12th, 2011 at 8:54 am
This OSD lockout problem “SUCKS” and HP customer service “SUCKS” I did everything including unsoldering and removing the menu switch. Nothing works!
July 12th, 2011 at 8:56 am
Seems there is a product defect with HP monitors. I think we need to start a class action against “HP” to replace or repair this problem.
ontact me to start this action: Pa.ghostmtman1@yahoo.com
July 15th, 2011 at 6:17 am
Thank you very much… It works on my HP vs17e monitor
July 18th, 2011 at 10:13 pm
Man, you are the BEST!! I thought it was a mainboard issue when it started doing the OSD locked thing.
May your home always be a garrison of laughing children!
July 21st, 2011 at 10:18 pm
I finally cut the HP panel out with my dremal leaving the printed circut holding the buttons, grabed onto it with a vise grip and yanked it out like a bad tooth! Guess what, “NO MORE OSD” YA -WHO! Wow so nice to not have that problem any more!
Goes to proove HP MONITORS HAVE A DEFECT WITH THIS PRINTED CIRCUT, AND THEY KNOW IT! AND THEY DON’T CARE ABOUT THIR CUSTOMERS! I WILL NEVER BUY ANYTHING WITH ‘HP’ ON IT AGAIN!!!!!!!
July 23rd, 2011 at 10:24 pm
Fix three worked for me, thanks very much! FYI, I have the HP f2105 widescreen monitor.
July 26th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
I Punched the bottom of the monitor where the menu button is and it seemed to fix the problem. Nothing like the Fonzie touch right?
August 2nd, 2011 at 1:51 am
Thanks a lot :) :)
August 20th, 2011 at 2:54 pm
No. 3 worked for me! Advent P22WH Thanks!
August 24th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
Thank you much. # 4 worked AFTER AN HOUR OF TRYING MYSELF!!!!!!!!
August 24th, 2011 at 9:52 pm
Thanks a lot. I never thought that the fix would be that simple. Regards…
September 2nd, 2011 at 12:31 am
Cool man, thanks a load!
September 3rd, 2011 at 3:35 pm
Thanks very much! After a lot of frustration I finally can use my LG E2350V monitor again.
September 6th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
Wow! It worked and saved me from throwing out this POS monitor!! Franks!!
September 17th, 2011 at 12:51 am
thanks. I’ve fixed my hp L1706 problem. God bless
September 28th, 2011 at 6:44 am
thanks! the menu button was the cure!
September 29th, 2011 at 8:47 pm
THANK YOU
October 12th, 2011 at 9:40 am
CRD viewsonic 17″ E70f problem is still
help me out……………….
October 18th, 2011 at 3:19 am
The option from Terje was the only working solution for me : just cut the 4 wires : Green, Yellow, Orange and Red.
Thanks !
October 23rd, 2011 at 9:28 pm
Fix 3 worked like a charm. Using a Toshiba HD monitor.
November 1st, 2011 at 6:03 am
thxxxxxxxxxxxxx
November 10th, 2011 at 6:05 am
sir i have a Aoc monitor tft1560 and none of these examples work can u help?
November 11th, 2011 at 5:07 am
thanks alot for providing kind information great…………………
December 2nd, 2011 at 5:50 pm
Try reading what other users have written in the comments section here. One of their fixes may work for you.
December 2nd, 2011 at 5:55 pm
Hello nibhan,
Try one of the alternative fixes that the others have posted in the comments section.
December 9th, 2011 at 5:28 am
Tnx for the info! this is a really big help!!!
December 14th, 2011 at 6:41 pm
None of the “fixes” work for me. My HP 2711x monitor ($400) has buttons that simply do not work, no matter which button I press or how long. The buttons do nothing, ever. I am going to have to take this monitor back and never buy anything from HP again. This is bizarre.
December 19th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
Thanks, Option 1 workrd
December 30th, 2011 at 10:33 am
Tried a number of Solutions. Number 3 eventually helped here when I kept holding the Menu button for about 10 seconds after switching the monitor on. hp x23led.
January 17th, 2012 at 10:20 am
IT SEEMS LIKE HP ARE THE MONITOR WITH THE MOST PROBLEM WHAT A CRAP PRODUCT BRAND !!!!!
January 17th, 2012 at 10:26 am
I HAVE A CRAP HP 23 IN AND IT IS A PEACE OF CRAP MY WARRANTY IS OVER THEY ONLY GAVE ME A 1 YR WARRANTY FOR MY HP WHEN IT NEEDS 5 YR FOR THAT COMPANY HP WHAT A CRAPPY COMPANY WITH A LINE OF JUNK PRODUCT I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND HP ANYTHING WHAT A JOKE OF A COMPANY !!!
January 19th, 2012 at 10:19 pm
Thank you very much Sir!
February 27th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Muchas gracias! M funciono el metodo dos, pero deje presionado la tecla de menu por 2 minutos hasta q aparecio el cuadro de menu en la pantalla, para el Modelo HP L1710. Gracias!
February 28th, 2012 at 5:37 am
None of the listed fixes worked for me (well, I didn’t try the one where you take the monitor apart) but after several attempts, hitting the “menu” button hard seems to have fixed it. Thanks for helping me to realise that a dodgy menu button might be the problem!
March 14th, 2012 at 11:41 am
thankssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss its work i open my lcd lock
March 18th, 2012 at 2:11 am
fix two it work for me thanks
April 24th, 2012 at 11:37 pm
Another FIX, follow the following steps
1. Switch OFF the monitor
2. Press and hold the MENU button
3. Switch ON the monitor (while holding th menu button)
4. Release the MENU button
The OSD must be unlocked by then,.
Good luck!
May 5th, 2012 at 10:01 am
Cool!! Awesome!! Thank you, thank you!!! Holding down the menu button for 10 seconds or less unlocked the OSD. And I also discovered that I can lock/unlock the power button by holding it down for the same amount of time. It’s currently locked so no more accidentally powering off the monitor when moving it. Thanks again! :D
May 10th, 2012 at 1:11 pm
Thank you. Holding down the locked buttons for 10-20 seconds worked!
May 12th, 2012 at 12:36 pm
I just unplugged the piece of crap board. It works now. Seemed to just light up and work, of course no control. Needs a new board as it wasnt the menu switch, i removed that and it still shot the message. Just unplug the board……(makers of junk suck)
July 17th, 2012 at 12:25 am
my computer is about 6 years old and I have windows XP, I have a Dell Dimension 4600C…One day my 2 year old was bagging on the keyboard and thats when the annoying blue box with the white padlock came on and it constantly blinks locked and unlocked and sometimes keeping me from reading things…Ive tried powering down and unplugging the monitor and then plugging back in and power up again and it did not work :( I dont have a menu button on my montior to turn hold in to try and get it off…..now what =/ thanks in advance!!!
July 25th, 2012 at 4:01 pm
thankk you so much option two worked just brilliant!!!!!
August 8th, 2012 at 4:45 am
AOC e2350Sda; Held at bottom of screen (where buttons are) when moving whilst switched on.
Fix 3 removed OSD lock.
Thanks.
August 29th, 2012 at 10:50 am
Thank you so much it works on my LG flatron E2290
October 2nd, 2012 at 8:49 am
I really works on AOC e946Fwsk Moniter & also in all tpyes.
I …. luv u yaar I’m so Happy :D
October 25th, 2012 at 1:32 am
fix 3 (when it doesn’t come back again like after fix 2)
HP 1740
thanks
October 29th, 2012 at 8:46 am
My HCL Monitor is not getting osd unlocked by any of the fixes displayed above, what should i do, help please!
November 5th, 2012 at 7:06 am
Thank you very much I just got this HP2711x 10 days ago mad to say the least but you saved the day holding power button worked I am going to save you to favs and tell everyone I know about you Thank you
November 9th, 2012 at 10:43 am
Unplug from electrical and snap the menu button and through their prey to open up the back bracket and cut off the yellow wire, that seems to be menu wire and OCD problem seems to be solved.