5 Ways to Fix Monitor Goes Black Randomly on Windows 11

Quick Fixes

• Adjust Power settings to extend the Sleep and screen time under Settings > System > Power.
• Turn off Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling from Settings > System > Display > Graphics.

Basic Fixes

• Check the monitor connection: Ensure the monitor cable isn’t loose. Unplug and plug it again to solve the flickering black screen.
• Replace the HDMI cable: If it is damaged or has cuts on either side, replace it with a new HDMI cable.
• Uninstall problematic apps: Press the Windows + I shortcut to open Settings, select Apps from the sidebar, and click on Installed apps. Review the list and uninstall the unnecessary ones.
• Disable the Focus mode: Open Windows Settings (press the Windows + I shortcut), select System from the sidebar, and click Focus. Click on Stop Focus Session at the top right to disable it.
• Perform a clean boot: Clean boot your Windows 11 system and wait to check the black screen issue. If resolved, boot into the normal mode and uninstall conflicting monitor-related apps.
• Update or reinstall your graphics drivers: Press the Windows key, search Device Manager, and click to open it. Expand Display adapters, and right-click your graphic driver to update it. Alternatively, select Uninstall device and reboot the PC to install new drivers.
• Update Windows 11: Open Windows Settings, select Windows Update from the left sidebar, and install available updates.

Fix 1: Tweak Power Settings

Windows 11 automatically turns off the screen and puts your computer to sleep after a set period, causing your monitor screen to go black. Adjust the Power Settings manually to fix it.

Step 1: Press the Windows + I shortcut to open Settings, select System from the sidebar, and click on Power.

Step 2: Expand the Screen and sleep menu and click on the available drop-down lists to extend the set time limits.

Fix 2: Update the Monitor Firmware

Obsolete monitor firmware is a common reason behind the monitor screen going black randomly on Windows 11. Access the monitor settings to update it. Let’s take the Samsung monitor for demonstration.

Step 1: Press the Home button on your Samsung monitor, slide left, and select the Gear icon.

Step 2: Select All Settings.

Step 3: Open Support from the sidebar and select Software Update.

Fix 3: Disable High Contrast Themes

Applying high-contrast themes on Windows 11 often messes up the monitor output, causing the screen to go black randomly. Disable it from the Windows Settings.

Tip: Press left Alt + left Shift + Print Screen on your keyboard to quickly disable or enable the high contrast theme.

Step 1: Open Windows Settings > select Accessibility from the left sidebar > click on Contrast themes.

Step 2: Click the drop-down menu next to Contrast themes and set it to None.

Fix 4: Disable Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling

Hardware-accelerated GPU-scheduling sends the high-priority threads, such as rendering frames, directly to the graphics processor instead of the CPU. While this reduces the processor load, it can sometimes create black screen issues. Disable it to restore normalcy.

Step 1: Open Windows Settings (press the Windows + I shortcut) > select System from the left sidebar > click Display.

Step 2: Scroll down to the bottom and select Graphics.

Step 3: Click Change default graphics settings under Default settings.

Step 4: Toggle off Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling.

Fix 5: Adjust Resolution and Refresh Rate Settings

Incorrect screen resolution and low refresh rates can cause random screen flickers and blackouts. Setting the correct resolution and increasing the screen refresh rate should solve the issue.

Note: You can only increase the screen refresh rate if your monitor supports it.

Step 1: Open Windows settings > select System from the sidebar > click on Display.

Step 2: Pick the appropriate screen resolution from the drop-down menu next to Display Resolution > select Advanced display.

Step 3: Finally, click on the drop-down menu next to Choose a refresh rate > set it to a higher value (e.g., 90Hz, 120Hz).