Having to deal with a computer screen that keeps going black while the computer is still running has to be one of the most aggravating problems, especially if you work from home.
In this article, we will answer the question, “Why does my monitor keep going black?” and cover some potential fixes.
The main reasons why your computer screen goes black randomly and comes back on are indicated below.
- Damaged or loose cables
- Out-of-date graphics drivers
- Overheating
- System failure
While these are the most common factors that cause your monitor screen to keep going black, we will cover more problems and their solutions in this article.
Cables
Your monitor may randomly go black due to many reasons, but before assuming the worst, it is best to check the simplest fix first.
- Confirm that all the cables that connect your monitor to your computer are not loose and are tightly attached to their ports and that there are no visible marks indicating damage.
- Verify or check the monitor’s power supply cable to make sure it is plugged into a working wall outlet or extension cable.
- Confirm that your monitor is receiving power. You can check this by looking at the LED light that is usually located beside the power-on button or embedded in the button itself. Make sure that it is on and working normally.
- Examine your video cables for pinching because it is possible for the wire inside to short without noticeable outward damage.
- Check whether there are any exposed wires in the cables jacket. They should be inside and not exposed at all.
- Swap the power and video cables and see whether your monitor powers on. Also, try plugging them into other dedicated ports.
Check Your Power Settings
Another simple fix you should check if your computer screen goes black but the computer is still running is regarding your power settings.
Your computer screen might keep going black due to something as simple as having your power settings on Energy Saving mode or having a screensaver that only displays a black screen scheduled to appear every now and then.
Follow these steps to check your power settings.
Step 1: Open Start and click on the search box.
Step 2: Type Control panel in the search box and hit Enter.
Step 3: Click in the search box of the control panel and type Power Options and hit Enter.
Step 4: Select Power Options and make sure the power saver mode is not turned on.
Overheating
All computers generate heat, some more than others, but regardless of different parts, all internal computer components generate heat.
This often causes the temperatures inside your computer to climb to component-damaging levels, especially if the computer is poorly ventilated and constantly running heavy and demanding software.
The main components that cause overheating are mainly the processor and the video card
The video card is what you should question if your computer monitor or screen keeps going black and the computer seems to be on.
Computers generally have small plastic fans installed in them to help vent the heat before your computer overheats, but if the computer is old, then it is possible that the fans are covered and blocked with dust, hair, pet fur, and other small dirt particles.
This means that the heat has no proper ventilation causing your computer to overheat and damage internal components
To remedy overheating, you can do the following:
- Open up your computer case and brush off the dust and dirt particles.
- Use an air duster to clean your computer.
- Check whether the fans are all functional and there is no sign of damage.
You should investigate your video card if you have cleaned your computer, but the display still keeps going black, while the computer is running.
System Failure
You should also listen to your computer and make sure it is working normally.
If your entire system stops functioning, then that would mean the monitor or computer screen will not have anything to display hence the blank screen.
Total system failure occurs when your computer has faulty components, viruses, or conflicting software.
Adhere the following steps to try and narrow down your issue
- Uninstall or remove any recently installed software
- Use your anti-virus software to run an up-to-date virus scan.
- Check for any signs of overheating in your computer, signs like the fan not working and clogged vents, and use a computer duster to clean your computer components
- Try and remember what programs or software you were running before the problem arose.
- Lastly, you should seek assistance from an IT professional if the computer screen keeps going black after trying all the easy fixes.
Related: How to Rotate a Screen in Windows
Why Does My Monitor Keep Going Black When Gaming?
Check Your Graphics Driver
This is the next simple fix you could do before assuming the worst on your computer display that keeps going black. An out-of-date graphics driver may lead your computer screen to go black.
If you recently updated your graphic drivers, then you might be using corrupted files that were installed during your update.
The driver will then stop communicating or reacting to your computer display in both of these circumstances, causing the images to turn off.
This might be the reason your computer screen keeps going black
Below are the recommended fixes. Try all of them to check whether your graphics drivers were the cause of the problem
Update Your Drivers
Step 1: Click the search box on your taskbar
Step 2: Type device manager and press enter.
Step 3: Select Display Adapter category in Device manager.
Step 4: Select your dedicated graphics provider.
Step 5: Right-click your mouse button.
Step 6: Click update driver on the sub-menu.
Reinstall Your Drivers
Step 1: Click the search box on your taskbar.
Step 2: Type device manager and press Enter.
Step 3: Select Display Adapter category in the device manager.
Step 4: Select your dedicated graphics provider,
Step 5: Right-click your mouse button.
Step 6: Click Uninstall device on the sub-menu.
Step 7: Restart your PC, and Windows will reinstall your drivers
Roll Back Your Drivers
Step 1: Click the search box on your taskbar
Step 2: Type device manager and press enter
Step 3: Select Display Adapter category in the device manager
Step 4: Select your dedicated graphics provider
Step 5: Right-click your mouse button
Step 6: Double-click your graphics provider or right-click and select Properties
Step 7: Click on Driver at the top of the toolbar in the Properties section
Step 8: Click on Roll Back Driver
Why Only The Second Monitor Keeps Going Black on Windows
The following are some of the reasons why your 2nd monitor keeps going black:
Hardware Malfunctions
Hardware malfunction is most often the case when your second monitor keeps going black on the Windows 10 operating system. So before trying any technical fixes, it is advisable that you check the cables connecting your computer to your second screen or monitor are working properly.
Switch the power and inputs between your two monitors to check. You could also connect your second monitor to an individual system to see if it will work, and there is nothing out of the ordinary.
Check for Loose or Damaged Cables
After confirming that there are no hardware malfunctions on your system, the next step is to check the cables connecting your system to the second monitor.
Ensure the cables are properly plugged in and are in the correct ports.
Unplug your second computer monitor and firmly plug it back in to rule out the issue of loose or misconfigured cables.
Also, make sure the ports of the connecting method you are using are not damaged in any way.
Factory Reset Your Monitor
To factory reset your computer monitor means removing any customized settings that you may have personally configured and making the monitor feel like it’s just right out of the box.
Factory resetting your monitor will return all changed settings back to default. These settings include image ratio, contrast and brightness, and many more.
The exact button or method to factory reset a monitor varies across different brands and models
The option of factory resetting your computer monitor is most likely in the display setting section, so navigate to the display settings on your monitor and search for the factory reset option.
You could also visit your device manufacturer’s website to learn how to reset your monitor or search for tutorial videos of your monitor brand and model.
If none of these fixes work, you may need to try split screening a single monitor until you can get a new secondary one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Does My Monitor Keep Going Black for a Few Seconds?
When your display adapter driver is outdated, incorrect, or becomes incompatible, then it will lead to issues that make your computer monitor randomly go black.
So the first thing you should do is check your display adapter drivers and makes sure they are updated and compatible with your system.
Why Does My Monitor Suddenly Turn Off?
This issue mainly occurs when the monitor is not getting enough power to keep it on.
Check your power cable and power switch to make sure they are working correctly.
However, the power supply unit may not be sending enough power to your monitor, causing it to turn off.
How Do I Know if My Monitor Is Overheating?
The signs to look out for to know whether your computer hardware product is overheating are:
- It is too hot to the touch.
- A fan that is running in overdrive, causing loud whirring noises coming from your computer.
- Slowdowns or shutdowns in your computer due to the computer trying to end running tasks to cool down and prevent internal overheating.
Wrapping Up
In summary, you should check your cables are working and you’re drivers are up to date. Failing that, it’s likely a hardware error that will require a repair or new monitor. Hopefully, you’ve found the answer and solution to the question, “Why does my monitor keep going black?” Let us know in the comments which fix worked for you.
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Chris is a spreadsheet expert and content writer for Productivity Spot and Spreadsheet Point. He has a double Bachelor's Degree in Teaching and has been working in the education industry for over 11 years. His experience makes him adept at breaking down complex topics so that everyone is able to understand.
