To get your monitor off power saving mode, you'll typically need to interact with your computer's power settings, check physical connections, or perform a simple power cycle on the monitor itself. This mode usually indicates that your computer is asleep, or the monitor isn't receiving a signal.
How to Get Monitor Off Power Saving Mode
When your monitor displays a "Power Saving Mode" message, it often means it's not detecting an active video signal from your computer. Here are the most effective ways to resolve this common issue.
1. Power Cycle Your Monitor
A simple power cycle can often reset the monitor's internal components and resolve the issue.
- Turn off your monitor using its power button.
- Unplug the monitor from its power outlet.
- Wait for at least a few minutes (e.g., 2-5 minutes) to ensure any residual power drains.
- Plug the monitor back in to the power source.
- Turn the monitor on using its power button.
2. Wake Up Your Computer
The most common reason for a monitor to enter power saving mode is that the connected computer is asleep or hibernating.
- Press any key on your keyboard.
- Move your mouse vigorously.
- Press the power button on your computer case briefly (do not hold it down, as this might force a shutdown).
3. Check Video Cable Connections
A loose or faulty video cable can prevent your monitor from receiving a signal.
- Ensure both ends of the video cable (HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, VGA) are securely plugged into the monitor and the computer's graphics port.
- Try unplugging and re-plugging the cable firmly.
- If possible, test with a different video cable to rule out a faulty cable.
- Ensure the cable is connected to the dedicated graphics card if your PC has one, rather than the motherboard's integrated graphics port (unless you're intentionally using integrated graphics).
4. Adjust Computer Power Settings
Your operating system's power settings dictate when your computer and display go into sleep mode.
For Windows:
- Open "Settings" (Windows key + I).
- Go to "System" > "Power & sleep" (or "Power & battery" on Windows 11).
- Under "Screen" and "Sleep," adjust the times for "When plugged in, turn off my screen after" and "When plugged in, put device to sleep after" to your desired duration or "Never" for troubleshooting.
- For more advanced options, search for "Edit power plan" in the Windows search bar, then click "Change advanced power settings." Here, you can find settings for "Turn off display after" and "Sleep."
For macOS:
- Open "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" on older macOS versions).
- Go to "Displays" > "Advanced..." (or "Energy Saver" on older versions).
- Adjust the "Turn display off after" slider or check options like "Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when display is off."
5. Use the Monitor's On-Screen Display (OSD) Menu
Your monitor might have its own power-saving features enabled.
- Locate the buttons on your monitor (usually on the bottom, side, or back).
- Press the menu button to access the OSD.
- Navigate through the menu to find settings related to "Power," "Display," "Input Source," or "Sleep Mode."
- Ensure the correct input source (e.g., HDMI 1, DisplayPort) is selected to match how your computer is connected.
- Disable any aggressive power-saving or eco modes if present.
6. Update Graphics Drivers
Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers can sometimes cause display issues, including the monitor incorrectly entering power-saving mode.
- Identify your graphics card manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel).
- Visit the manufacturer's official website to download and install the latest drivers for your specific graphics card model.
- Alternatively, use your operating system's device manager to check for driver updates (e.g., in Windows, search for "Device Manager," expand "Display adapters," right-click your graphics card, and select "Update driver").
Troubleshooting Summary Table
| Issue | Common Solution |
|---|---|
| Monitor "No Signal" | 1. Power cycle monitor. 2. Re-seat video cables. |
| Computer is asleep | 1. Press keyboard key/move mouse. 2. Briefly press PC power button. |
| Incorrect Power Settings | 1. Adjust OS power options (sleep/display off). |
| Monitor Input not matched | 1. Change input source via monitor OSD menu. |
| Outdated Graphics Drivers | 1. Update graphics drivers from manufacturer's website. |
By systematically going through these steps, you should be able to get your monitor out of power saving mode and back to normal operation.
