Why Does My Monitor Background Keep Turning Black?
Why Does My Monitor Background Keep Turning Black?
4 Answers

Dealing with a monitor background that keeps turning black can be incredibly annoying. It’s a common issue, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating. Let’s dig into why this might be happening and how you can fix it.
Here’s what’s likely going on:
First off, it could be your display settings. If you’ve got your screensaver set to kick in after a few minutes of inactivity, your screen might just be going black. Also, some display modes might cause hiccups, making the screen turn black.
Another culprit could be graphics driver issues. The drivers might be outdated, corrupted, or just not compatible with your system. These drivers are essential for your display to work correctly. Without a good driver, your screen might end up going black.
Hardware problems might also be causing this. Think of issues like a faulty video cable, a malfunctioning graphics card, or even the monitor itself. If the connection is loose or the cable’s damaged, the signal between your computer and monitor could be interrupted, making the screen go black.
Sometimes, operating system issues could be the reason. Corrupted system files or settings can mess things up, leading to display problems. If your system goes into power-saving mode or hibernation, your screen might also turn black.
Don’t overlook software conflicts. Some applications might not play nice with your operating system or graphics driver, hogging resources or causing conflicts that lead to a black screen. Or, even worse, a virus or malware could be behind it, controlling your display directly or damaging necessary system files.
So, what can you do about it?
Check your display settings:
- Head to your screen saver settings and disable it. Just go to Start, type “screen saver,” and set it to “None”.
- Ensure your display mode settings (resolution and refresh rate) match your monitor’s specs. Right-click on the desktop, select “Display Settings,” and adjust as needed.
Update or repair graphics drivers:
- Go to the Device Manager, find “Display adapters,” and update your graphics driver. Let Windows search for the latest drivers automatically.
- If updating leads to issues, roll back to the previous driver version via the “Properties” menu in Device Manager.
- Uninstall and reinstall the driver if necessary. Windows should automatically reinstall it after a reboot.
Check your hardware:
- Inspect your video cables for damage. If they’re faulty, replace them. Make sure all connections are secure.
- Test your monitor on another computer or try a different monitor with your current setup to rule out any monitor issues.
Repair your operating system:
- Use the System File Checker: open Command Prompt as an admin and run “sfc /scannow”.
- If the problem started after a software update, consider a System Restore to revert to an earlier state.
Deal with software conflicts:
- Disable startup programs through Task Manager to lighten the load on your system.
- Uninstall problematic software that might be causing conflicts.
Run a virus and malware scan to rule out any infections that might be causing the issue.
For prevention, make sure to:
- Keep your drivers and system updated.
- Use quality hardware components.
- Install software from trusted sources.
- Always shut down and restart your computer properly.
There’s no sugarcoating it—dealing with a screen that keeps going black can be a real headache. But by checking your settings, updating drivers, and ensuring your hardware is up to scratch, you can usually solve the problem. If none of this works, it might be time to get a professional to look at it. Good luck!

Got a monitor background that keeps turning black? It’s annoying, right? Well, let’s dive in and figure this out together. This hiccup could be sneaking in from a bunch of places like messing with your display settings, outdated graphics driver, power settings, or maybe even some software playing tricks. Here’s what you should kick off with.
First up, let’s make sure your display settings aren’t rocking something wonky. You’d be amazed how often a black desktop background happens because of a sneaky setting.
- Enable Desktop Background Image:
- Hit
Win + I
to pop open the System Settings. - Find Ease of Access.
- Swing by Display on the left.
- Make sure you’ve got the Show desktop background image switched on. If it’s off, give it a flick on and reboot your computer.
- Hit
Believe it or not, sometimes those accessibility settings cause mischief.
- Configure Ease of Access Center:
- Smash
Win + R
to get the Run dialog up. - Type
Control Panel
and hit Enter. - Set the view mode to Small icons and click on Ease of Access Center.
- Tap Make the computer easier to see.
- Uncheck stuff like Turn off all unnecessary animations and Remove background images (when available). Slap these settings on and restart your PC.
- Smash
If the usual way you change your wallpaper seems to be the culprit, let’s try mixing it up:
- Fire up Windows File Explorer (
Win + E
) and hunt down your wallpaper folder. - Right-click on the image you want and choose Set as desktop background. Now, restart and see if the gremlins are gone.
You might have some ancient graphics drivers causing display chaos like a black desktop background.
- Here’s how you spruce up those drivers:
- Right-click the Start menu and choose Device Manager.
- Open up the Display adapters section.
- Right-click on your graphics card and smack Update driver, then follow along like it’s a treasure map.
If sprucing up those drivers doesn’t do the trick, try ditching and reinstalling them:
- In Device Manager, hit the ejector seat on your graphics adapter by selecting Uninstall device. After uninstalling, click on the Action tab in Device Manager and choose Scan for hardware changes to get it back up automatically.
Power settings can throw a wrench in how your desktop acts when you’re grabbing a coffee or switching between power states.
- Here’s how you fix up those power settings:
- Jump into Control Panel and head for Power Options.
- Click on Change plan settings beside your chosen plan.
- Then tap Change advanced power settings.
- Expand Desktop background settings > Slide show, and check both “On battery” and “Plugged in” are set to “Available”. Hit Apply and you’re done.
High contrast settings might be the sneaky reason your backgrounds are acting up:
- Get back into Settings (
Win + I
), go to Personalization > Colors, then scroll down to High contrast settings. Make sure high contrast is switched off if it was zapping your vibes.
If all else fails, go for System Restore if you reckon recent changes are messing things up:
- Search for “System Restore” in the Windows search bar.
- Follow along to roll back your system to a time when black backgrounds were not on the menu.
And there you have it! By tackling these steps—you know, checking display settings, tweaking ease of access, updating those drivers, fiddling with power, disabling high contrast, or calling in System Restore—you should get your monitor back to its usual self.

Ah, monitors—they can be a bit finicky, can’t they? One day they’re working just fine, and the next day you’ve got a black screen staring back at you. It’s like the monitor decided to take a coffee break without telling you! So, what’s causing this blackout drama? Let’s dive into some fixes:
1. Power Management Shenanigans
Sometimes your operating system decides to save energy by putting your screen to sleep without asking. A tweak here might do the trick.
Quick Fixes:
- Windows: Go to Control Panel, hit Power Options, and tweak those plan settings. Making the display stay on forever sounds pretty good, right?
- Mac Folks: Head to System Preferences, then to Energy Saver, and slide that Display sleep to ‘never’ land.
Don’t forget to check if a cheeky screensaver is messing things up.
2. Graphics Driver Grumbles
Ever had software that just refuses to get along with your hardware? An outdated driver might be guilty.
Try This:
- Keep those NVIDIA or AMD drivers in line by using their official update apps. Intel users, grab what you need straight from the source.
- If things went downhill after a recent update, roll back to a previous driver. Sometimes old school is the way to go!
3. Cable or Port Puzzlers
Loose connections or a bad cable could send your monitor into a blackout.
What to Do:
- Double-check those connections, unplug and plug the cables back in like you mean it. Maybe even swap them out to see if a new port does the trick.
- Spot any damage? Don’t wait too long to swap out faulty cables.
4. Multi-Display Mayhem
Running multiple displays? Your system might be a bit confused about which one’s the star of the show.
Reset Stuff:
- Windows users, try a quick press of Win + P to cycle through display modes.
- If you’re on macOS, head to System Preferences, yank out any extra displays lying around, and uncheck anything you don’t need.
5. Possible Hardware Hiccups
Sometimes, the issue goes deeper, like a hardware failure or components not playing nice.
Steps to Take:
- Peace of mind check: Run the built-in self-test on your monitor.
- Scope out your GPU with something like FurMark. It’s your system’s way of telling you if it’s feeling OK.
6. Software Clashes
Background shenanigans or OS quirks can sometimes take your screen down.
Give These a Shot:
- Start up in Safe Mode. Does the problem disappear? If yes, then you’ve got a third-party culprit.
- Feeling nostalgic? Roll back your system to a happier time when things worked perfectly.
7. BIOS or Firmware Fun
If you’ve been messing around in BIOS, some settings might have gone awry.
Consider This:
- Default it out: Head over to BIOS/UEFI and load those optimized defaults. Sometimes you gotta start fresh!
- Don’t forget to check for any BIOS updates—the manufacturer’s website might have something new.
The Big Takeaway
Start small with easy checks like cables and settings before diving into the deep end with drivers or hardware tests. If this puzzle gets too tricky, don’t shy away from asking a pro to take a look. They might just save the day—and your monitor.
There you go! Now you’re all set to tackle that errant black screen. Happy troubleshooting!

If your monitor keeps going black, don’t worry, you’re not alone. There are a few things that might be causing this annoyance. Let’s dig into some potential fixes:
1. Display Settings: This is a quick first step. Sometimes, tweaking a setting can save the day.
- Give a right-click on the desktop and hit “Personalize.”
- Under “Background,” see if your preferred background is selected. Make sure it’s not on “Solid Color” or “Slideshow,” unless that’s what you’re going for.
2. Corrupted System Files: Windows can sometimes get its wires crossed. A system check might sort things out.
- Fire up the Command Prompt as an admin and type:
sfc /scannow
. It’s like giving your system a health checkup.
3. Video Driver Issues: Outdated drivers can bring you down. Time to go driver hunting.
- In “Device Manager,” look under “Display adapters.” Right-click your graphics card and pick “Update driver.” Easy peasy.
4. Active Theme Conflicts: Sometimes a theme can mess with your vibe.
- Consider toning it down: Head to “Settings” > “Personalization” > “Themes” and pick a basic theme you like.
5. Ease of Access Settings: High contrast settings might be your culprit.
- Try turning off that high contrast mode: Go to “Settings” > “Ease of Access” > “High contrast” and switch it off. Simple fix, right?
6. Third-party Software: Sometimes apps like IntelliJ IDEA have a mind of their own.
- Maybe update them or even uninstall them for a bit just to see what happens.
These tips should help you get your monitor looking sharp again. If things are still acting out, a system restore might help. And if all else fails, Microsoft Support might just be your new best friend. Here’s hoping you’re up and running smoothly!
References:
- Microsoft Support
- ASUS Support
With these tricks up your sleeve, you should be able to get that pesky background issue sorted in no time.