Turn Off Power Saving Mode on Monitor | Quick Fixes September 2025

Your monitor is stuck showing “Entering power saving mode shortly” and won’t display anything. You need to work, but your screen stays black. Don’t panic – this guide shows you exactly how to turn off power saving mode on a monitor in minutes. These solutions work for all monitor brands and Windows versions.

Power saving mode happens when your monitor thinks it’s not getting a signal from your computer. Sometimes it’s a simple setting issue. Other times, your monitor keeps entering power saving mode due to cable problems or driver conflicts. We’ll fix all of these issues step by step.

Why does Your Monitor Enters Power Saving Mode?

Your monitor showing power saving mode means it’s not receiving a video signal. Think of it like a TV that turns off when there’s no channel broadcasting. The monitor assumes your computer is off or sleeping, so it saves energy by going dark.

Three main things cause this problem:

Incorrect Windows Power Settings
Windows might be telling your monitor to sleep too quickly. Sometimes updates change these settings without you knowing. Your display thinks it should save power even when you’re using the computer.

Connection Issues
A loose cable or wrong port can make your monitor think nothing is connected. Even a slightly unplugged cable causes the dreaded monitor keeps going into power save mode message.

Driver Problems
Graphics drivers control how your computer talks to the monitor. Outdated or corrupted drivers break this communication. Windows updates often mess with these drivers, especially the big feature updates.

Quick Fixes to Turn Off Power Saving Mode

Method 1: The 30-Second Power Cycle

This simple trick solves about 40% of power saving issues:

1. Turn off your monitor completely using the power button
2. Unplug the power cable from the wall
3. Wait 60 seconds (this drains all power from the circuits)
4. Plug everything back in and turn on the monitor
5. Start your computer normally

Many users report this instantly fixes their monitor keeps going into power saving mode problem. The power cycle forces the monitor to reset its detection systems.

Method 2: Check Your Cables First

Before diving into complex fixes, inspect your connections:

• Push the video cable firmly into both the monitor and the computer
• Try a different cable if you have one
• Switch between HDMI, DisplayPort, or DVI if available
• Make sure you’re plugged into the graphics card, not the motherboard

A Reddit user discovered their expensive monitor kept entering power save mode because the HDMI cable wasn’t fully clicked in. One firm push solved weeks of frustration.

Method 3: Force Windows to Detect Your Monitor

Windows sometimes needs a nudge to recognize displays properly:

1. Right-click on your desktop
2. Select “Display settings”
3. Scroll down and click “Detect”
4. Click it 2-3 times if needed
5. Try pressing Windows + P and selecting different display modes

This forces Windows to rescan for monitors and often solves the how to get monitor out of power save mode issue immediately.

Change Windows Power Settings to Prevent Sleep Mode

Your computer’s power settings directly control when the monitor sleeps. Here’s how to get monitors out of power saving mode permanently by adjusting these settings.

Disable Monitor Sleep in Power Options

1. Type “Power Options” in the Windows search bar
2. Click “Change plan settings” next to your current plan
3. Set “Turn off the display” to “Never”
4. Set “Put the computer to sleep” to “Never”
5. Click “Save changes”

For laptop users, change both “On battery” and “Plugged in” options. This prevents your monitor showing power saving mode when you step away briefly.

Advanced Power Settings for Persistent Issues

Some monitors need deeper configuration:

1. In Power Options, click “Change advanced power settings”
2. Expand “Display” and then “Turn off display after”
3. Set both battery and plugged in to “0” (never)
4. Expand “Sleep” and set everything to “Never”
5. Apply and OK all windows

A user on Microsoft’s support forums reported this fixed their Dell monitor that kept entering power saving mode shortly after every Windows update.

Disable USB Selective Suspend

This hidden setting causes many power-saving headaches:

1. Open Control Panel
2. Go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options
3. Click “Change plan settings” then “Change advanced power settings”
4. Find “USB settings” > “USB selective suspend setting”
5. Set both options to “Disabled”
6. Click OK and restart

Advanced Solutions for Stubborn Power Saving Mode

When basic fixes fail, these advanced methods solve deeper issues, causing your monitor keeps entering power saving mode.

Update or Roll Back Graphics Drivers

Graphics drivers are often the hidden culprit:

1. Right-click Start button, select “Device Manager”
2. Expand “Display adapters”
3. Right-click your graphics card, select “Update driver”
4. Choose “Search automatically”
5. Restart after updating

If problems started after a recent update, try rolling back:

1. Same steps to Device Manager
2. Right-click graphics card, select “Properties”
3. Go to “Driver” tab
4. Click “Roll Back Driver” if available

Reset Graphics Driver with Keyboard Shortcut

This Windows trick resets your display driver instantly:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Windows + B all together

Your screen will flicker black for a second. This forces Windows to restart the graphics driver without rebooting. Many users fix their power saving mode issues with just this shortcut.

Check Monitor Input Source

Modern monitors have multiple inputs. Your monitor might be looking at the wrong one:

1. Press the Menu button on your monitor
2. Navigate to “Input” or “Source”
3. Select the correct input (HDMI 1, HDMI 2, DisplayPort, etc.)
4. Some monitors have an “Auto-detect” option – try turning it off

A frustrated user spent hours troubleshooting only to find their monitor was set to HDMI 1 while plugged into HDMI 2. Check this simple setting before assuming hardware failure.

BIOS and Hardware Solutions

Sometimes the problem runs deeper than Windows settings. Here’s how to fix monitor power saving issues at the hardware level.

Enter BIOS and Check Display Settings

Your computer’s BIOS controls fundamental display settings:

1. Restart your computer
2. Press F2, Delete, or F10 during startup (varies by brand)
3. Look for “Display” or “Video” settings
4. Ensure primary display is set correctly
5. Disable any power saving features
6. Save and exit

If you can’t see the BIOS screen, connect to your motherboard’s video port temporarily. This bypasses graphics card issues.

Test with Integrated Graphics

Isolate whether it’s a graphics card problem:

1. Shut down completely
2. Connect the monitor to the motherboard video port (not graphics card)
3. Start computer
4. If it works, your graphics card might be failing

This diagnostic step helped a user realize their graphics card was overheating, causing the monitor keeps going into power save mode error during gaming.

Hardware Troubleshooting Checklist

Work through these physical checks:

• Different Monitor: Test with another display to rule out monitor failure
• Different Computer: Connect your monitor to another PC
• Clean Connections: Dust in ports causes signal problems
• Check Power Supply: Weak PSUs can’t power graphics cards properly
• Monitor Buttons: Reset monitor to factory settings through its menu

Related: If you’re having other display issues, check our guide on Monitor Not Detecting HDMI for more troubleshooting tips.

Windows-Specific Fixes for Power Saving Mode

Different Windows versions have unique quirks. Here’s how to handle power saving mode issues on your specific system.

Windows 11 Power Management

Windows 11 changed how power settings work:

1. Go to Settings > System > Power & battery
2. Click “Screen, sleep, & hibernate timeouts”
3. Set all options to “Never”
4. Under “Power mode”, select “Best performance”
5. Turn off “Energy recommendations” if it keeps changing your settings

Microsoft’s official power documentation notes these settings sometimes reset after major updates.

Windows 10 Specific Solutions

For Windows 10 users:

1. Disable Fast Startup (causes many monitor issues)
   • Control Panel > Power Options > “Choose what the power buttons do”
   • Click “Change settings that are currently unavailable”
   • Uncheck “Turn on fast start-up”
2. Run Power Troubleshooter
   • Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot
   • Click “Power” and run the troubleshooter

Fix After Windows Updates

Updates often break display settings. If your monitor showing power saving mode after an update:

1. Check Windows Update history
2. Uninstall recent quality or feature updates
3. Pause updates for 7 days to test
4. Reinstall graphics drivers clean using DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller)

Need help with other Windows issues? Our guide on Enable or Disable Fn Lock Key covers more keyboard and system settings.

Common Monitor Models and Their Fixes

Different monitor brands have specific quirks. Here’s how to handle power saving mode on popular models.

Dell Monitors

Dell monitors are notorious for power saving issues:

• Press any button except power to access menu
• Navigate to “Energy” or “Power Save”
• Set “Power Save” to “Off”
• Look for “DDC/CI” setting and disable it
• Reset to factory defaults if nothing works

Dell users report the U2412M and U2312HM models especially prone to entering power saving mode shortly.

ASUS and AOC Monitors

These brands often have aggressive power saving:

• Hold menu button for 5 seconds to unlock hidden settings
• Find “Eco Mode” or “Power Saving” in menu
• Disable all eco features
• Turn off “Auto Source” if your monitor searches for inputs

Samsung and LG Solutions

Korean monitors have different menu systems:

• Samsung: Look for “PC/AV Mode” and set to “PC”
• LG: Disable “DPM” (Display Power Management)
• Both: Turn off “Auto Sleep” features
• Update monitor firmware if available

Prevent Future Power Saving Mode Issues

Stop dealing with power saving problems permanently. Follow these preventive steps to keep your monitor working reliably.

Create a Stable Configuration

Once everything works:

1. Document your working settings
   • Take photos of BIOS display settings
   • Screenshot Windows power options
   • Note which ports and cables work
2. Disable automatic driver updates
   • System > Advanced > Hardware > Device Installation Settings
   • Select “No (your device might not work as expected)”
3. Back up your graphics driver
   • Use driver backup software
   • Save the current working version

Regular Maintenance Tips

Keep your monitor healthy:

• Monthly: Dust video ports with compressed air
• Quarterly: Check for monitor firmware updates
• After Updates: Verify power settings haven’t changed
• New Software: Some programs change power profiles

Warning Signs to Watch For

Catch problems early:

• Monitor takes longer to wake up
• Brief black screens during use
• “No Signal” messages that fix themselves
• Display flickering before sleep

When you notice these signs, run through the quick fixes immediately. Don’t wait for complete failure.

Troubleshooting Specific Scenarios

Sometimes power saving mode happens in specific situations. Here’s how to fix scenario-specific issues.

Gaming Triggers Power Save Mode

Many users report their monitor keeps going into power save mode only during gaming:

• Set Windows to “High Performance” power plan
• Disable GPU power saving in NVIDIA/AMD control panel
• Check if games run at unsupported resolutions
• Monitor temperature – overheating GPUs shut down
• Upgrade power supply if GPU draws too much power

One Steam user fixed this by discovering their 650W PSU couldn’t handle their RTX 3080 under gaming loads. The monitor would show power saving mode when the graphics card pulled maximum power.

Multiple Monitors and Power Saving

Running multiple displays adds complexity:

• Ensure primary display is set correctly in Display Settings
• Disable power saving on each monitor individually
• Check if monitors support daisy-chaining properly
• Try powering monitors from different outlets
• Update dock firmware if using USB-C/Thunderbolt

Remote Desktop Power Issues

Remote access often triggers power saving:

• Change remote desktop settings to keep display active
• Use TeamViewer’s “Black Screen” option disabled
• Set “On resume, display logon screen” to disabled
• Configure wake-on-LAN if accessing sleeping PCs

Need help with network settings? See our guide on Why Won’t Any Website Load for network troubleshooting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

You now have all the tools to turn off power saving mode on monitor permanently. Start with the simple fixes – check cables, adjust Windows power settings, and reset your graphics driver. These solve most issues within minutes.

Remember these key takeaways:

• Power saving mode means no signal, not a broken monitor
• Windows Updates often cause these problems
• Cable issues are more common than hardware failure
• Document what works for quick fixes next time

Most importantly, don’t panic when you see entering power saving mode shortly. Work through our solutions systematically, and you’ll have your display working again. Save this guide for future reference – power saving issues often return after major Windows updates.

Take action now: Try the 30-second power cycle first, then check your cables. If those don’t work, dive into the Windows power settings. Your monitor will be back to normal before you know it.