How To Fix A Monitor Not Waking Up After Sleep

When your monitor fails to wake up from sleep mode, it can be frustrating and disrupt your workflow. Here are several steps and tips to help you resolve this issue effectively.

Check Monitor Connections

Ensure that all cables connecting your monitor to the PC are securely plugged in, both at the monitor end and the PC end. If you're using HDMI, DisplayPort, or DVI cables, try reseating them to ensure they are properly connected.

Verify Monitor Input Source

Sometimes, the monitor might switch to a different input source after waking up from sleep. Use the monitor's On-Screen Display (OSD) menu to manually select the correct input source (e.g., HDMI, DisplayPort) that your PC is connected to.

Adjust Power Settings in Windows

Open the Windows Control Panel and go to "Power Options." Check the power plan settings, especially the "Turn off the display" and "Put the computer to sleep" options. Set them to values that are appropriate for your usage. Under "Advanced power settings," ensure that the "USB selective suspend setting" is disabled to prevent USB devices, including the mouse, from being turned off during sleep.

Update Graphics Drivers

Outdated or corrupt graphics drivers can cause display issues. Visit the website of your GPU manufacturer (NVIDIA or AMD) and download the latest graphics drivers for your GPU model. Install the drivers and restart your PC.

Disable Fast Startup

Open the Windows Control Panel and go to "Power Options." Click on "Choose what the power buttons do" from the left pane, then click on "Change settings that are currently unavailable." Scroll down to "Shutdown settings" and uncheck the box for "Turn on fast startup".

Check BIOS Settings

Ensure that your BIOS is up to date, and you can try resetting the BIOS settings to default values. Some BIOS settings might affect power states and sleep behavior.

Check for Windows Updates

Make sure your Windows operating system is up to date with the latest updates and patches. Sometimes, Microsoft releases updates that fix sleep-related issues.

Test with Different Monitor/Cable

If possible, try connecting your PC to a different monitor and use a different cable. This will help determine if the problem is related to your monitor or cable.

Disable Deep Sleep on Monitors

Some monitors, especially Dell monitors, have a feature called Deep Sleep, which lowers the power usage of your monitor even more than going into regular standby mode. To fix this, turn on the On-Screen Display on your monitor, select “Others -> Monitor Deep Sleep,” and disable it there. This feature can prevent your monitor from automatically turning on when your PC comes out of sleep.

Disable PLL Overvoltage (ASUS Motherboards)

If you have an ASUS motherboard, the PLL Overvoltage feature might be causing issues. To disable it, reboot your PC, enter the BIOS settings, go into "Advanced Mode," select "AI Tweaker," and change the "Internal PLL Overvoltage" setting to OFF. Save the settings and exit the BIOS.

Disable Link State Power Management

Go to "Control Panel -> Power Options," select "Change plan settings" for your current power plan, and then "Change advanced power settings." Scroll down to "PCI Express," click the "+" icon next to it, and under "Link State Power Management," change the setting to "Off" and click "Save changes".

Ensure Keyboard and Mouse Can Wake the PC

Make sure that your keyboard and mouse are set to wake the PC from sleep. Go to Device Manager, find your keyboard and mouse devices, right-click on them, go to Properties, and ensure that the "Allow this device to wake the computer" option is checked.

Disable Auto-Detect in Monitor Settings

When your monitor goes to sleep, the connection between it and the cable connecting it is severed. To prevent issues when the connection is re-established, use the buttons on your monitor to switch off the "auto-detect" option.

Temporary Workaround: Disable Sleep Mode

As a temporary workaround, you can disable sleep mode and see if the issue persists. Set the power plan to "High Performance" or "Balanced" without sleep mode enabled to see if the problem still occurs.

Advanced Troubleshooting

If none of the above solutions work, there might be a more complex issue related to hardware compatibility, drivers, or firmware. In such cases, it's advisable to seek help from a qualified technician or the manufacturer's support team for further assistance.