How to fix a monitor showing a 'No Signal' error after waking from sleep on Windows 10/11

Hardware & Peripherals KB-756

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to fix a monitor showing a 'No Signal' error after waking from sleep on Windows 10/11. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

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Common Causes

If your monitor displays a 'No Signal' message after waking your computer from sleep mode, it usually means the Windows operating system and the display are not communicating correctly. This is a common issue on Windows 10 and Windows 11 and can often be resolved by checking physical connections or adjusting power settings.

Quick Fix Steps

Ensure all video cables (HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, or VGA) are firmly connected to both the computer and the monitor.
Press any key on your keyboard or click your mouse to ensure the PC is actually awake.
Use the monitor's physical buttons to select the correct input source.
Press Windows key + P and select Duplicate or Extend to force a signal detection.
Restart your computer to reset the graphics driver.

Detailed Instructions

1. Check Physical Connections

Loose cables are the most frequent cause of 'No Signal' errors. Unplug the video cable from both ends and plug it back in securely. If you are using an adapter or a docking station, try connecting the monitor directly to the computer to rule out hardware failure.

2. Adjust Windows Power Settings

Windows may be cutting power to the graphics adapter during sleep. To prevent this:

Click the Start button and select Settings.
Go to System > Power & sleep (Windows 10) or System > Power & battery (Windows 11).
Click Additional power settings or Related settings > Additional power settings.
Click Change plan settings next to your selected plan.
Select Change advanced power settings.
Expand PCI Express, then Link State Power Management, and set it to Off.
Click Apply and OK.

3. Update Graphics Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers can prevent the monitor from waking correctly.

Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
Expand the Display adapters category.
Right-click your graphics card and select Update driver.
Choose Search automatically for drivers.
Restart your computer once the update is complete.

If you use a dedicated graphics card (NVIDIA or AMD), it is often better to download the latest driver directly from the manufacturer's website rather than using Windows Update.

Troubleshooting

Monitor still shows 'No Signal'

Test with a different cable: Swap your HDMI or DisplayPort cable for a new one.
Test with a different monitor: Connect your PC to another screen to determine if the issue is the monitor or the computer.
Disable Fast Startup: Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do and uncheck Turn on fast startup.

Avoid forcing a shutdown by holding the power button frequently, as this can lead to data loss or file system corruption.

If you have tried these steps and the issue persists, please Open a Ticket with our Brisbane support team.

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Still Having Issues?

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