Why Does My Monitor Randomly Go Black and Come Back On?
Why Does My Monitor Randomly Go Black and Come Back On?
3 Answers

Ever had your monitor just randomly go black when you’re in the middle of something important, then pop back on a few seconds later? Total buzzkill, right? Whether you’re working on a project or about to score the winning goal in a game, it’s enough to get anyone frazzled. But hey, don’t throw your monitor out just yet! There are a few things we can do to try to get this issue sorted.
Start with the Cables
Seriously, it’s not glamorous, but cables are usually the troublemakers. It’s like checking if your phone is plugged in—it’s obvious, but feels really good when it works.
- Power down your PC, unplug, and give your cables a nice inspection. Make sure everything’s looking good without any frayed bits or weirdly bent pins.
- Plug them back in and make sure they’re really snug in there. Wiggle them a bit if you’re feeling the need to double check.
- If you’ve got a spare cable lying around, swap it out and see if it fixes the glitch. It’s the easiest way to rule out a dud one.
Peek at Your Power Settings
This one’s for those sneaky settings that might make your monitor take an unwanted nap.
-
If you’re hanging out with Windows 11:
- Hit
Windows + I
, dive into your Settings. - Scroll on over to System > Power & battery.
- Make those options say “Never” when it comes to turning off the screen or sleeping.
- Hit
-
Rolling with Windows 10? No problem:
- Tap
Windows + I
for a shortcut to Settings. - Check under System > Power & sleep.
- Keep those settings on “Never” just for kicks!
- Tap
The Driver Dilemma
Outdated graphics drivers—known troublemakers. Don’t let them ruin your day.
- Hop on your graphics card maker’s website, like NVIDIA or AMD, and snag the latest version for your setup.
- For the lazy ones among us, driver update software like Driver Easy is basically magic.
- After you’re done, give your computer a restart. It’s your system’s equivalent of a fresh cup of coffee.
Keep It Cool, Literally
Sometimes, it’s not just you overheating with frustration. Let’s make sure your PC’s staying cool too.
- Fans all good? Nothing’s making weird noises? Then you’re good.
- Dust is the silent enemy. Grab that can of air and unleash a mini dust hurricane inside your case.
- Check temps with apps like HWMonitor while playing your favorite game. If they’re toasty, we need another plan.
Hit the Reset Button
When in doubt, reset it out! Give your monitor settings a fresh start.
- Look for that menu button on your monitor—usually lurking near the bottom.
- Dig around for a Factory Reset option and go for it.
- Clicking it is relatable—like the last resort for when tech gets weird.
Play the Switcheroo
Trying with a different monitor can be eye-opening. It’s like borrowing a friend’s phone charger to confirm yours is indeed broken.
- Swap in another monitor and see what’s up.
- If this newbie doesn’t behave the same, it’s a sign your original monitor might not want to work anymore.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve tried all this and your monitor’s still pulling its disappearing act, maybe it’s a deeper issue with the monitor itself or something inside your computer like the RAM or GPU acting up. Getting a tech-savvy friend or a professional technician to check it out might be the wise move here.
The gist of it: Your monitor’s black screen antics usually come down to cables, power settings, driver dramas, overheating, or sneaky hardware issues that need a hero to fix.

You know how frustrating it can be when your monitor just decides to flicker to black out of nowhere, right? Let’s dive into some easy ways to tackle this problem.
1. Check Those Cables:
First things first, make sure you’ve got your cables plugged in nice and snug. It sounds simple, but a loose or damaged cable can be the culprit behind that screen tantrum.
2. Spruce Up Your Graphics Drivers:
If your drivers are outdated, your monitor might be misbehaving. Hop over to the manufacturer’s site or use the Device Manager to grab the latest updates. Trust me, it’s worth it!
3. Power Settings, Anyone?
Ever think about checking your power settings? Sometimes, the monitor thinks it’s nap time. Head over to Control Panel > Power Options, and make sure you’re set to “High Performance.” You can tweak it to stop the screen from dozing off.
4. Peek at Monitor Settings:
Take a moment to play around with your monitor settings via the on-screen menu. You don’t want it to be set to bedtime when you’re trying to binge-watch your favorite show!
5. Is Your System Getting Hot Under the Collar?
Dust bunnies and poor ventilation can lead to overheating, causing all sorts of display issues. Give your computer some TLC with a good clean-out to keep it cool.
6. Swap Monitors:
Grab a buddy’s monitor, or use a spare if you have one, and see if the problem is your monitor. This can help pinpoint if the issue lies with the monitor itself.
7. Poke at Hardware Problems:
And if you’re feeling adventurous, checking components like the GPU, power supply, or motherboard might lead you to the answer. Don’t hesitate to get a pro if needed—no shame there.
8. Cut Out the Interference:
Sometimes it’s all about location, location, location. Make sure no other tech (like a bulky router) is messing with your monitor’s vibes.
9. Roll Back with System Restore:
Lastly, if this headache started recently, a system restore might just take you back to calmer times. Head to the System and Security settings to give this a shot.
There you go! These tips should guide you to a solution, and soon enough, your screen should stop playing hide and seek.

What’s Up with Your Monitor Going Black, Then Right Back On?
It’s a real pain when your monitor randomly goes dark. Usually, it’s thanks to some finicky hardware settings or an old driver that doesn’t play nice. Let’s dive into the common culprits and see how you can get it sorted out.
1. Wonky Hardware Connections
Sometimes it’s just the cables not feeling cozy enough in their ports. Yep, turns out loose connections can be a real hassle.
What Can You Do?
- Make sure everything’s plugged in snugly—check those video cables (think HDMI or DisplayPort). Maybe try swapping them out.
- Give your monitor another port to hang out with. If you’re on USB-C, switch it up to HDMI or something else.
- If you’re rocking a laptop setup, be sure the power supply’s beefy enough to keep everything running smoothly.
2. Pesky Power Management Settings
Have you checked your power settings? Sometimes your system gets too laid-back and starts snoozing the display.
Here’s a Fix:
- Tweak your power settings:
- For Windows: Hop into Control Panel > Power Options > Edit Plan Settings, and make sure “Turn off display” is set to Never.
- On macOS: Head to System Settings > Displays > Advanced, then kill off “Automatically adjust brightness” and “Prevent automatic sleeping”.
- Might wanna turn off power-saving features on your GPU through the graphics settings. They can be real sneaky sometimes.
3. Graphics Drivers Playing Hardball
Old or messed-up drivers can cause your system to go on the fritz. Updating them usually does the trick.
How to Roll:
- Manual Driver Update:
- Windows folks, dive into Device Manager for updates, or grab them straight from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel’s site.
- macOS users: Swing by System Settings > General > Software Update to catch the latest.
- Run
sfc /scannow
in Command Prompt on Windows to mop up any corrupt system files. It’s like a breath of fresh air.
4. Overheating or Hardware Trouble
Got that hotbox running too warm? Your gear might just need a breather.
Keep Things Cool:
- Track those GPU/CPU temperatures with HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner. If it’s hotter than 85°C, it’s dusting time.
- Hook up your monitor to another device—find out what’s really causing the drama.
- If your power supply’s getting worn out, consider swapping it with one that has more oomph.
5. Software Clashes or Funky OS Updates
Background apps or updates mess around sometimes, making your display go haywire.
Tame the Chaos:
- Boot into Safe Mode (Windows) or Safe Boot (macOS) and see if there’s a troublemaker lurking around.
- Consider rolling back those updates if they’ve caused more harm than good.
- For game-related crashes, try fiddling with graphics settings like fullscreen optimizations or VSync.
6. Monitor Going Bonkers?
If your monitor’s getting on in years, it might just be acting up.
Help it Out:
- Reset to factory settings through the monitor’s menu.
- Check online for firmware updates—manufacturers sometimes drop these to patch things up.
- Give the manufacturer a ring if you’re still within warranty.
A Few Last Thoughts:
- Don’t forget about tools like SetupDiag on Windows. They’re lifesavers for spotting update woes.
- If you’re sporting multiple monitors, keep those display settings in check.