Monitor Keeps Going Black? Here Are 9 Troubleshooting Tips

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It’s frustrating when your monitor goes black randomly, especially when you’re deep in a game or working on a tight deadline. Black screen issues are a common problem for users, especially with dual-monitor setups or after updates. The cause could be anything from loose cables and failing drivers to a faulty monitor or power supply. Here are 11 step-by-step methods to identify and fix it.

1. Start With Power and Cable Checks

These may sound basic, but loose or improperly connected cables are one of the most common reasons a monitor doesn’t work. First, ensure the monitor is turned on, the power cable is securely plugged into a working outlet and any power strips or surge protectors are switched on.

If power isn’t the issue, check your video cables next. Ensure the HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C or VGA cable is firmly connected to the monitor and the computer at both ends.  Try unplugging it for 30 seconds before replugging the cable. This resets the monitor’s internal connection and forces a fresh handshake with your computer. It may also clear out temporary glitches that prevent the display from appearing correctly.

If the screen still goes black, the cable itself might be faulty. Swap it with one you know works. Even if the damage isn’t visible, say frayed wires, bent pins or an aging cable, it could still be the root of the issue.

Next, confirm your monitor is using the correct input source. Most external displays have buttons along the front, side or bottom to open the on-screen display (OSD) menu. Navigate to the input/source section to see HDMI, DisplayPort and VGA among the options. Select the input that matches your cable. Some monitors default to HDMI even when another input is active, so manually selecting the correct source can solve the problem.

2. Inspect Monitor Hardware and Perform a Reset

Use your monitor’s OSD menu to perform a few quick checks. Start by resetting the monitor to factory defaults, then adjust the brightness and contrast settings to ensure it’s not simply a visibility issue. Factory-resetting methods may differ from one brand and model to another, so consult the user’s manual or the manufacturer’s website to reset yours properly.

While you’re at it, inspect the monitor for signs of hardware damage, such as bulging capacitors on the back or blinking power LEDs that may indicate a fault. If the screen remains completely black and unresponsive, try plugging the monitor into a different power outlet to rule out power supply problems.

Monitor hardware issues aren’t very common, as your screen should last you 30,000 to 60,000 hours or 10 to 20 years of continued use. If your device isn’t this old, it may be a software issue.

3. Try a Different Monitor or Device

This step rules out whether the problem is with your monitor or PC. Testing with a secondary device is one of the quickest ways to narrow things down.

Try connecting your computer to a second monitor. If that display works without issues, it’s a strong sign that your original monitor may be the problem. Alternatively, you can also connect your current monitor to a different computer. The monitor is likely the culprit if the screen goes black on both devices.

4. Update or Reinstall Graphics Drivers

If the issue isn’t hardware-related, it’s time to look inside the computer, specifically at your graphics driver. This software enables communication between your system and the graphics card. Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause black screens, especially after a Windows update or system crash.

You can start by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager. Expand the Display adapters section, right-click your graphics card and choose Update driver.

If the update doesn’t work, you may need to uninstall and reinstall the driver. Follow the same steps, but this time select Uninstall device. Then, visit your graphics card manufacturer’s website — usually AMD, NVIDIA or Intel — and download the latest driver for your model.

Once downloaded, run the installer. After installation, your updated driver should appear again under Display Adapters. This fresh install can often resolve driver-related display issues.

5. Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Wake or Reset Display

Sometimes, your screen is working, but you just can’t see it. If that’s the case, try the following:

• Ctrl + Alt + Del: This opens security options. If it appears, your display isn’t dead.
• Windows + P: This shortcut cycles between the display modes PC screen only, Duplicate, Extend and Second screen only. Enter the command to choose the correct display.
• Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B: This resets the graphic driver. The reset is successful if you hear a beep and see the screen flash. 

6. Boot into Safe Mode for Clean Troubleshooting

If your monitor keeps going black and you’ve experienced frequent crashes or unstable system behavior, booting into Safe Mode can help you troubleshoot. Safe Mode starts Windows with only the essential drivers and services, making it easier to isolate software-related problems. If your screen works fine in Safe Mode, it’s likely a software conflict rather than a hardware issue.

To enter Safe Mode, you’ll need to use the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). Hold the power button to force a shutdown and do this process three times. On the fourth reboot, Windows should automatically load WinRE.

From there, select Troubleshoot, select Advanced Options, proceed to Startup Settings and click Restart. After your PC restarts, choose option 4 or press F4 to start in Safe Mode.

Once inside, open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc and navigate to the Startup tab. Disable any unnecessary startup apps, especially recent software or drivers, that might be causing instability.

7. Check Resolution and Refresh Rate Settings

A monitor may go black if the computer sends a resolution or refresh rate that the display can’t handle. This is a common issue with projectors, high-refresh-rate monitors and 4K displays. 

To check, right-click on your desktop, select Display Settings, then scroll down and click Advanced Display Settings. From there, ensure the refresh rate matches your monitor’s specifications — typically 60Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz or higher, depending on your display. 

Experts recommend 240Hz as the ideal refresh rate. However, if you’re just gaming casually, you can set it to 60Hz.

Matching these settings ensures your monitor receives a compatible signal and can help prevent blackscreen issues.

8. Lower your graphics settings.

If you’re running visually demanding games or software, try lowering the graphics quality in the game’s Settings or Options menu. AAA games often feature stunning visuals but can significantly strain your GPU and CPU. If your system can’t keep up, reducing these settings can help improve performance and prevent crashes or display issues like black screens.

9. Run a Malware Scan

If your monitor or laptop screen went black without a warning, malware could be interfering with system processes or drivers. You should run a full antivirus scan using trusted software like Windows Defender, AVG or Malwarebytes. Then, remove any detected threats and reboot.

How to Prevent Future Black Screens

If your screen keeps going black, prevention is just as important as the fix. Tools like AVG TuneUp, Driver Updater or CCleaner can help reduce the risk of repeat issues by tackling the root causes. These utilities optimize startup processes, clear system junk, update outdated drivers and clean the registry, all of which can prevent black screens caused by driver conflicts, malware or system overload.

You can also use power management tools to adjust or disable sleep settings that may be causing the screen to shut off unexpectedly. Regular antivirus scans ensure malware isn’t interfering with your display or system files.

If you’re still experiencing problems and you’ve tried every fix, but your monitor consistently shows no signal, flickers or goes completely black, it may be time to consider replacing rather than repairing. Repair is only worth it if the monitor is under warranty or the fix is low-cost. Otherwise, replacement is often more practical and reliable.

Bring Your Screen Back to Life

It doesn’t necessarily spell doom for your system if your monitor or laptop screen goes black. It can be frustrating, but it’s often fixable. The key is to troubleshoot step by step, test thoroughly and stay patient. So, if your screen ever goes dark, take a deep breath and work through these solutions to help pinpoint the cause and get things back on track.