Lorene Melone
How to Fix Second Monitor Going to Sleep and Not Waking Up on Windows 10 and 11
If you’re experiencing issues with your second monitor going to sleep and failing to wake up, you’re not alone. Many users face this dilemma, especially when relying on multiple displays for enhanced productivity. This guide will walk you through the various potential causes of this issue, ranging from power settings and display driver malfunctions to hardware problems, and provide you with effective, step-by-step solutions to restore functionality to your dual-monitor setup. Whether you are using a desktop or laptop running Windows 10 or 11, these tips will help you troubleshoot the problem efficiently.
Step 1: Check Power Settings
One of the most common reasons your second monitor might not be waking up is due to your power settings. Windows often configures devices to enter a sleep mode after a period of inactivity, which can affect secondary monitors. To adjust these settings, follow these steps:
- Open the Control Panel by searching for it in the Start Menu.
- Click on Hardware and Sound, then select Power Options.
- Locate and click on Edit Plan Settings next to your selected power scheme.
- In the Put the computer to sleep dropdown menu, set the time to Never for both On battery and Plugged In modes.
- Save your changes and check if the issue persists.
Step 2: Update Display Drivers
Outdated or corrupted display drivers can also result in your second monitor not waking up properly. Here’s how to update your drivers:
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type
devmgmt.mscand hit Enter to open the Device Manager. - Expand the Display adapters section.
- Right-click on your display driver and select Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for updated driver software and follow the prompts to complete the process.
- Restart your computer to apply the updates.
Step 3: Check Physical Connections
It is essential to ensure that all connections between your monitors and the computer are secure. Loose cables can cause the second monitor to fail to wake up. Here’s what you should do:
- Turn off your computer and unplug it from the wall.
- Check all cable connections for the second monitor, including HDMI or DisplayPort connections.
- Ensure that the cables are firmly connected to both the monitor and the computer.
- If possible, test with a different cable to rule out the current cable being faulty.
- Plug back in the computer and power it on to check if the monitor wakes up properly.
Step 4: Disable Fast Startup
The Fast Startup feature in Windows can sometimes cause issues with dual monitors. Here’s how to disable it:
- Open the Control Panel.
- Select Hardware and Sound and then click on Power Options.
- Click on Choose what the power buttons do from the left sidebar.
- Click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.
- Scroll down to the Shutdown settings section and uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended).
- Save your changes and test the monitor again.
Step 5: Adjust Screen Saver Settings
Sometimes, screen savers can interfere with display wake-up functionality. Here’s how to check and manage your screen saver settings:
- Right-click on the desktop and select Personalize.
- Click on Lock screen on the left side, then find and click Screen saver settings.
- Set the screen saver to None and click OK to apply changes.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
If you continue to experience issues, consider investigating the graphics card settings or testing the monitor on a different system. Also, make sure Windows is up to date as system updates can resolve underlying software issues. In addition, be aware of potential compatibility issues with older monitors and newer graphics cards.
Conclusion
In conclusion, resolving the issue of a second monitor going to sleep and not waking up can usually be accomplished by checking power settings, updating display drivers, ensuring secure physical connections, disabling fast startup, and adjusting screen saver settings. Implementing these steps should improve your dual-monitor functionality, allowing you to regain your productive multi-display setup. If problems persist, it may be worth seeking professional technical support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my second monitor go to sleep?
A second monitor may go to sleep due to power settings designed to conserve energy after periods of inactivity. Adjusting these settings can often resolve the issue.
What if updating the driver doesn’t work?
If updating the driver does not resolve the problem, consider rolling back to a previous version of the driver or checking for hardware issues such as faulty cables or connections.
Could a malfunctioning graphics card be the problem?
Yes, a malfunctioning graphics card can prevent proper communication with your monitor. Testing your setup with a different graphics card can help diagnose the issue.