Modern monitors have a power-save mode that unexpectedly dims the display and reduces the refresh rate upon inactivity. This feature serves to conserve energy, decrease power consumption, and ultimately curtail the carbon footprint associated with their use.
Sounds good. But yet, the power-save dream could quickly turn into a disruptive problem for users who would rather have an always-on display — from Video editors to UIUX designers that work on multiple screens.
This article explores the topic of monitors entering power-save mode randomly and its implications for users. We also provided possible solutions to stop your monitor from automatically entering power save mode on startup or whenever it happens. Let’s get to it.
Why My Monitor Enters Power Saving Mode?
The following are reasons for manufacturers to introduce power save mode in monitors:
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To Conserve Energy.
Monitors consume a lot of energy and contribute to a high electricity bill and carbon footprint. By entering power save mode, users get to reduce power consumption – saving money on electricity bills and reducing their carbon footprint. -
To Respond to Inactivity.
Most monitors are equipped with an automatic power-saving feature that turns off the monitor after a specified period. This feature is designed to conserve energy and reduce power usage when the monitor is not in use. -
If your Computer Enters Sleep Mode.
When this happens, the monitor also goes into power-saving mode. This is because the computer is not in use, and there is no need for the monitor to be active. -
Due To A Technical Issue.
If the monitor is unable to receive a transmission from the computer, it goes into power saver mode. This occurrence may stem from an issue with the cable linking the monitor to the computer, or a graphics card malfunction.
How to Fix Monitor Entering Power Save Mode
Here are 7 solutions to fix a monitor that is entering power save mode:
- Fix Doing Basic Checks
- Fix From Desktop Taskbar
- Fix From Control Panel
- Fix Using Terminal
- Fix by Adjusting the Screen Resolution
- Fix by Using a Screen Saver
- Fix by Windows Troubleshooter
Solution #1 Fix Doing Basic Checks
A monitor entering power save mode can be either due to software or hardware problems. The first thing you have to do is basic checks on your monitor to ensure that it is not a hardware problem. When your monitor does not receive electric signals from the computer, it will enter power-saving mode on startup.
Follow the steps below to diagnose and fix the problem:
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Step 1. Check the cables.
The cable between your computer and your monitor might be not properly connected. Thus, when you turn on your computer, it does not send a signal to your monitor.
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Step 2. Connect to a different port.
Sometimes, the ports where the cables are connected might malfunction and refuse to transmit signals to the monitor. You can switch from the built-in motherboard video port to an external video card to confirm this is the case.
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**Step 3. Restart Your Computer
If your monitor suddenly enters power save mode while in use, it might as a result of your CPU overheating. The quickest fix is to restart the computer and allow it to cool and reboot.
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Step 4. Try another computer.
Sometimes, the problem can result from parts incompatibility. The monitor or video card might be incompatible with the system unit configuration. The best way to know this is to try both modules with different computer setups.
Solution #2 Fix From Desktop Taskbar
From your Windows Taskbar, you adjust your monitor’s settings to prevent it from entering power save mode. Follow the steps below to do that.
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Step 1. Right-click on the power icon (the battery icon)
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Step 2. Click the “Power and Sleep” settings on the pop-up window.
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Step 3. Change the options for each item to “Never”.
Windows will disable the power save feature for the monitor so that it will no longer switch off after a set period of inactivity.
Solution #3 Fix From Control Panel
Another way to prevent a monitor from entering power saver mode is to change the power settings on the computer. You can do this through the control panel or the power options in the Windows operating system.
By changing the power settings, it’s possible to set the monitor to stay on even when the computer is not in use. Here is how you can do that:
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Step 1. Select “Control Panel” from the “Start” menu panel.
You can search for ‘Control Panel’ in the search bar if the icon is not in the start screen menu.
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Step 2. Select “Power Options > Change When Computer Sleeps”
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Step 3. Change the options menu beside “Turn Off Display” to “Never” under both the “On Battery” and “Plugged In” headings.
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Step 4. Change “Put the Computer to Sleep” to “Never” under both headings.
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Step 5. Click “Save Changes” to implement the setting.
Solution #4 Fix Using Terminal
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Step 1. Type “cmd” in the “Start Menu Search Bar” & open the command prompt.
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Step 2. Type the following command.
powercfg -change -standby-timeout-ac 0Code language: PowerShell (powershell)The value ‘0’ are the minutes. Setting it up to 0 will make that the computer never enters into the sleep state.
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Step 3. Press “enter” to execute the command.
Solution #5 Adjust the Screen Resolution
It’s also possible that the monitor is having problems with the screen resolution. You can try to adjust the screen resolution settings on the computer to prevent a monitor from entering power saver mode
Here’s how to do it:
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Step 1. Right-click on the desktop & click “Display Settings”.
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Step 2. Adjust your resolution to a lower resolution.
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Step 3. Adjust the “Scale settings” to fit your needs.
Solution #6 Use a Screen Saver
Screen savers are designed to keep the monitor active and prevent it from entering power saver mode. Selecting a screen saver that requires user interaction makes it possible to keep the monitor active even when the computer is not in use.
Here is how to do this on your PC:
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Step 1. Click on the “Search” button on the Windows taskbar.
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Step 2. Search for “Screen saver“, and click on “Change screen saver”.
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Step 3. Select a screen saver from the dropdown menu.
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Step 4. Adjust the “Wait” time to a high value.
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Step 5. Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.
Solution #7 Fix by Windows Troubleshooter
The Windows Troubleshooter is an excellent tool for fixing general computer problems. You can also use it to resolve display issues. To resolve the issue of your monitor going into power-saving mode, you can try these steps:
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Step 1. Press the “Windows + I” keys to open “Settings”.
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Step 2. Navigate to “System” on the left side panel.
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Step 3. Click on “Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters”.
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Step 4. Locate the “Power” section and click “Run the troubleshooter”.
Why Is Dell Monitor Entering Power Save Mode?
Dell Monitors enter power save mode for the following reasons:
- The monitor is not receiving a signal from the computer.
- The computer has entered hibernation, sleep, or shut down.
- The monitor’s power-saving settings have been activated.
- The monitor is connected to an unstable power source
- The computer’s CPU is overheating and its motherboard battery is drained.
The exact behavior of a monitor entering power saver mode depends on the specific model and manufacturer. Dell provides further information on this issue in this guide about how to troubleshoot multiple monitor issues.
Why Does My Monitor Say “No Signal” Entering Power-Saving Mode?
A monitor that displays a “no signal” message and enters into power-saving mode is because it is not receiving input signals from the computer. This can be caused by cables not being connected properly or malfunctioning or because there’s some hardware issue.
Make sure your cables are properly connected and if that’s the case, move them a little bit and check if you see any change on the monitor. They might also be malfunctioning and you might need to replace them.
If you can, test out the monitor and your computer with another monitor too. Chances are there’s a hardware issue with either your computer or the monitor, such as the graphic card not outputting the signal from your computer.
Why Won’t My PC Get Out of Power-Saving Mode?
If your PC won’t get out of power-saving mode it is because it is not properly connected to your CPU or System Unit. When your monitor is not properly connected to the CPU, it will not receive the input signals for what to display. Thus, when you put it on, it will enter power-saving mode and not get out of power-saving mode.
To fix this issue, switch off your computer and check the monitor data cable connection.
Fix Monitor Enters Power Save Mode While Gaming
If your monitor enters power save mode while you are actively using it, it is a big issue. It is indicative of your CPU’s health. You need to fix it as soon as possible. Two likely issues that make be causing that are Outdated Drivers and/or Overheating CPU/GPU.
To fix this issue, do the following:
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Step 1. Clean your CPU & your VGA card
Sometimes, you have to remove dust that clogs the CPU fan and particles on the card port. You can use a blower to remove the dust particles.
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Step 2. Download the latest drivers for your VGA card manufacturer’s site.
ATI and NVIDIA are two of the most popular video card manufacturers.
Control How Your Monitor Enters Power Saving Mode
Monitors entering power saver mode is a crucial aspect of energy conservation in today’s world. Monitors are one of the most significant energy consumers in a computer setup.
By reducing the amount of energy consumed by monitors, it’s possible to save resources and reduce energy consumption.
However, when your monitor enters power saving mode while in active use, or more often than you would prefer – you have to fix it.
To resolve this issue, you can implement some of the proactive measures we discussed. By following the steps described to disable the power-save mode, you eliminate the risk of unexpected interruptions and enjoy a seamless user experience.
