Monitor Keeps Going to Sleep? Try These 5 Easy Fixes

Sometimes your monitor can have a mind of its own and go to sleep mode randomly in the middle of an important work meeting or a gaming session.

If this is something that happens to you quite often and you can’t seem to locate the issue, you’ve come to the right place.

We will give you a step-by-step monitor troubleshooting guide so you can quickly figure out why your screen keeps switching to sleep mode or power saving mode.

Finally, we will present the most effective methods of fixing this issue, so stay tuned!

Why does your monitor keep going to sleep?

Your monitor can enter sleep mode due to specific software issues, settings, or hardware problems.

Either way, this kind of problem should be easily solved, so let’s look at some of its main causes before focusing on the solutions.

Monitor connection issue

If your monitor keeps going to sleep, there may be an issue with the connection – usually with the monitor cable.

The connecting cable may not be plugged in correctly. If the cable is loose, this will affect the connection.

Moreover, the monitor cable could be damaged or worn out, causing the monitor to switch to sleep mode frequently.

Sometimes the problem isn’t in the cable itself but in the port, you’re plugging it into. The port could be damaged or clogged with accumulated dirt and debris.

Enabled screen saver

Yet another possible problem with your monitor is that you’ve enabled a screen saver on your computer.

If your operating system detects no activity for a certain period, the screen saver will automatically turn on, causing the computer to enter sleep mode.

Luckily, this setting can easily be disabled in your monitor settings.

Outdated monitor driver

An outdated monitor driver is an issue that can be manifested in numerous ways – including random switches to sleep mode.

It could also cause screen flickering and resolution issues, so it is essential to keep the monitor driver up to date and always download the updates from trusted sources.

Power plan settings

Your monitor may sleep due to a specific power setting – especially if you have power-saving mode turned on.

Luckily, this is yet another of those issues that you can solve in a few clicks. All you need to do is change plan settings, and the sleep mode won’t be activated automatically.

System unattended sleep timeout

System unattended sleep timeout is when your monitor goes to sleep because there wasn’t any activity on the computer.

If the sleep timeout is set to a shorter period, you will often experience sleep mode on your Macbook Pro or Windows computer when you haven’t touched the keyboard or the mouse.

Pending operating system updates

If you haven’t installed important operating system updates, your monitor could be going to sleep even after you change settings.

It is possible that you’ve accidentally ignored the updates or that your system didn’t conduct them automatically, and you may have to do it manually.

How to fix a monitor that keeps going to sleep

Without further ado, let’s see how you can adjust the sleep setting, so it doesn’t switch to sleep mode so often and disrupt your activities.

1. Check the monitor connections

The first step would be to check all the physical monitor connections, including the monitor cable and the power cord.

You want to ensure that these connections aren’t pressed tightly against a hard surface, such as a wall, that could cause friction and signal interruptions.

It is also necessary to double-check if the connections are plugged in correctly, especially if you’ve just set up your external monitor. Look at the user manual and ensure that the connections are in order.

As you inspect the connections, check for any signs of damage on these cables. A damaged cable can do much more than jeopardize the monitor connection, so you want to replace it as soon as possible.

Another factor to consider is that the ports and inlets may be clogged with dirt and debris accumulated over time. Grab some rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab and get it all out before you reattach the cables.

The problem may also arise from a malfunctioning power outlet. You can quickly test this possibility by plugging the monitor and the computer into a different outlet.

In case you’ve recently had an issue with the power supply, it is best to hire an electrician to inspect the system and ensure it is safe.

2. Change the screen saver settings

While a screen saver is a nice aesthetic touch for your computer, it may be why your monitor keeps going to sleep.

Luckily, you can easily disable the screen saver on your computer. All you need to do is search for lock screen settings in the search bar and click on the result.

Now select Screen saver settings and change the setting to None. This will remove the screen saver altogether.

You also want to ensure that the “On resume, display logo on the screen” box is unchecked, especially if you’ve noticed a Windows logo when your monitor sleeps.

Click Ok to save changes.

3. Update the graphics card driver

Updating your graphics card driver or monitor driver may sound advanced and too complicated. It is quite easy to ensure that your drivers are up to date.

All you need to do is launch the Device Manager, where you can find the list of display drivers. Right-click on the driver you want to update, then select Update driver. 

Follow the steps displayed on the screen until the driver is updated. Restart your computer for these changes to take place. 

4. Change the power plan settings

Your power plan settings could be set to make your monitor switch to sleep mode more frequently than you would like it to.

To change the power plan settings, press the Windows and X keys simultaneously, then select Power Options. 

Now select Additional power settings to launch a menu for power plan settings. In this new menu, select Change plan settings. 

Make sure that the On battery and Plugged in options in this menu are both set to Never (both for Put the computer to sleep and Turn off the display).

5. Change the system unattended sleep timeout

If changing your power plan settings doesn’t work, and your monitor still goes to sleep, you may have to adjust the system unattended sleep timeout.

Press the Windows and R keys simultaneously, then click OK. Paste the following directory sequence Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerSettings to launch the directory. 

Find Attributes and double-click on it. Once a dialogue box shows up, type 2 in the Value data box. Click Ok to confirm and save the changes, then exit the directory.

Right-click on the Windows icon, then select Power Options in the menu. Navigate to Additional power settings.

Now select Change plan settings, and finally, Change advanced power settings. Under the Sleep category, find System unattended sleep timeout and change the minutes to however often you want the monitor to go to sleep.

Hit Ok to save the new settings. 

FAQ

Why does my monitor keep going into power save mode?

Most monitors will automatically enter the power-saving mode, as they have been set to sleep if they’ve been idle for a couple of minutes.

Luckily, the screen timeout is something you can adjust in advanced display settings, as explained in the methods above. 

If you want to disable power save mode, you must launch Settings on your computer, then select Battery.

Check if the Low Power Mode has been enabled. If this is the case, turn it off and save these changes. Check if the monitor is switching to sleep mode as often now that you’ve disabled the low power mode. 

Why won’t my monitor turn on?

If you’re unable to turn your monitors on, the issue probably lies in the power cord. The power cord may not be connected correctly, so ensure the connection is secure and tight.

If the power cable is damaged, it is necessary to replace it with the new one, as the monitors may not get sufficient power to function correctly.

When troubleshooting the monitors, ensure that the inlets are free of any blockages and clogs, as accumulated dirt and particles may block the connection between the monitor and the cable.

You can also try plugging the power cord into a different power outlet, as the one you’re currently using may be faulty or damaged.

The issue may lie in the software, not in the hardware components of your monitor. In this case, you can try to reset your monitor to default settings.

Note that this option will delete all your custom settings and monitor-related data, so you may want to back it up beforehand.

To factory reset your monitor, press the MENU button on the front of your monitor, and a MENU window should appear on the screen.

Using the up and down arrow buttons on the monitor, navigate to the Reset option and press the OK button to confirm your choice, and start the resetting process.

The last step would be selecting All Reset or Ok using the up and down arrow buttons. Confirm your choice once again by pressing the OK button. 

The factory reset should resolve any software issues in your monitor system, eliminate system bugs, and refresh the system so you can configure it from scratch.