Monitor Turns Off or Goes Black Randomly: 3 Fixes to Use

Apply these easy steps to fix the random issue

by Claire Moraa
Claire Moraa
Claire Moraa
Author
Claire has a knack for solving problems and improving the quality of life for those around her. She's driven by rationality, curiosity, and simplicity, and always eager to... read more
Affiliate Disclosure
  • Random monitor blackouts could be a result of loose connections or the internal energy-saving circuit. 
  • Sometimes it is a problem with the computer monitor, and you need to do advanced troubleshooting to continue with your work.
monitor turns off randomly

You must have found this guide because your monitor turns off randomly. Often computers will have issues that aren’t serious but can be frustrating. Other times they might be a warning sign of underlying issues, like a significant hardware problem. 

If your computer suddenly goes black, the first thing to check is whether the computer is set to enter sleep mode, which turns off the monitor. 

It could be a problem with the hardware, or it could be a problem with the software. It could also be a problem with the internal wiring of the monitor or a problem with something connected to the monitor.

Why does my monitor keep turning off when my PC is still on?

This is a problem in which the display randomly turns off and on. The display can be on for a few seconds to several minutes, then turned back off. For some users, the screen went black while charging.

There are many possible reasons for this. Some include:

  • Screen issues – One of the most common problems is something wrong with the screen itself. If you notice that your screen turns off when it gets hot, then there’s likely an issue with the cooling system in your computer. It, therefore, shuts down to minimize the risk of damage.
  • Faulty power switch – Your monitor may turn off randomly because of a faulty power switch on the back of the monitor. In your computer’s case, the power supply unit could be failing to send enough power to the monitor, causing it to shut off.
  • Loose connection – Another possible reason why your computer monitor randomly turns off could be due to a loose connection between the computer and the monitor.
  • Faulty GPU – If your graphics card drivers are outdated, it can cause crashes, video playback and display issues, game performance problems, and other related issues.

Fixing this problem is not as difficult as you might think. You can often use simple troubleshooting steps to determine why your computer monitor randomly turns off and fix it.

How can I fix a monitor that turns off randomly?

Before going into any recommended solutions:

  • Ensure that all cables are plugged in correctly. If you have doubts about whether a wire is connected correctly, unplug it and then plug it back in to see if it fixes anything.
  • Also, you must determine if it comes from your computer or your monitor. It may be helpful to hook up another display to isolate the problem.

1. Update the graphic drivers

  1. Press the Windows key, type Device Manager in the search box, and click Open.
  2. Navigate to Display adapter and expand.
  3. Find your driver (in this case, Intel), right-click, and select Properties.
  4. On the Driver tab, select Update Driver.
  5. Check if the problem persists.

You will be able to solve this problem quickly and easily by following the instructions we have just provided. However, if you don’t want to go through all the steps manually, there is an alternative solution.

Outbyte Driver Updater is an excellent option since it has been proven more efficient in fixing such issues from finding, downloading, and installing missing drivers.

Get Outbyte Driver Updater

2. Turn off the energy-saving mode

  1. Hit the Windows + R keys simultaneously to open the Run window. 
  2. Enter powercfg.cpl in the dialog box. 
  3. Check Balanced or High performance under Power Options.
  4. Next, click Change plan settings.
  5. Select Never under Turn off the display and click Save changes.

3. Uninstall conflicting applications

3.1 Run the computer in safe mode

  1. Click the Start menu, press the Power icon, and hold Shift while you select Restart.
  2. On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot, navigate Advanced options, Startup Settings, and click Restart.
    monitor turns off randomly
  3. A menu will appear once your computer restarts. To start your computer in safe mode, press 4 or F4.

If the problem does not occur in safe mode, some conflicting software may be causing the monitor to turn off randomly, so go ahead to uninstall your recently added apps.

3.2 Uninstall applications

  1. Press Windows + R, type control, and hit Enter.
  2. Select Uninstall a program.
    monitor turns off randomly
  3. Choose the program from the list, click on Uninstall, and then simply follow the wizard to complete the uninstallation.
    monitor turns off randomly

As a safety precaution, you should also consider installing performance monitoring software on your PC to detect any problems early in advance and manage your system.

If you enjoy dual monitor setups, feel free to check out our guide on how to successfully set it up.

We hope that our solutions were able to help solve the annoying problem and that you can now carry on with your tasks uninterrupted.

In the comments section below, let us know what solution worked for you.

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