I am working off of a laptop and have a second monitor to extend my displays. I have been using this set up for two years now and have not had a problem until last night. It seems that my attached monitor only (main monitor on laptop is not affected) will go black for a few seconds before turning back on and showing my screen. It should be noted that my laptop does not reset the display to place the windows back onto the main screen when this happens but the extended monitor goes black at random. Note that I am running Windows 10 and unable to upgrade to Windows 11 as of now. So far, I have tried the following solutions but still cannot figure this out. Bought brand new chords (HDMI + Adapter) Bought a brand new second monitor (issues happening with both old and new monitor) Checked for updates on all drivers Reinstalled both graphics drivers Rolled back graphics drivers Checked basic settings (sleep/power/screen saver settings) Disabled all services in background apps in "System Configuration" Restarted Windows explorer This means I have spent time replacing and even buying new equipment to get around this issue but cannot seem to figure it out! This is very important since I work at home as well. Please let me know if there is anything else I can possibly do outside of hard resetting the computer (which I cannot do for a few reasons). Thank you!

I should have updated this as I was able to resolve this issue in the same manner as you. Lowering the refresh rate to match my laptop eliminated all of my issues.

I have a similar problem on my desktop PC. My configuration is: Main display: 1080p 165Hz Secondary: 1080p 60Hz Windows and graphics drivers are all up to date. Already tried DDU, reinstalled drivers. Tested all hardware and cables working properly. When secondary monitor is connected, main display turns on and off repeatedly. I tried lowering my main display to 144Hz, 120Hz, 100Hz, 85Hz. and the problem only disappeared when set to 60Hz, which is the same refresh rate as the secondary display. Disconnecting the secondary display also eliminates the problem and allows me to set the refresh rate at 165Hz. Obviously, this is not a solution. I hope Microsoft or Nvidia fixes this soon.

Ditto to all the above, including switching out docks; the only 'solution' of lowering refresh rates seems less than ideal...

[Updated Below] I have an MSI laptop running Win 11 and I have the same or at least a very similar issue. I've tried multiple extended monitors and different cables. I have updated all drivers. I've reinstalled the drivers. The only thing I noticed is that today I started getting a pop-up about already having a hidden taskbar. In fact, I can usually go several minutes before my screen resets but today it was doing it every 15 seconds or so. I finally removed the hide feature on my taskbar and it got better but did not go away. Now I'm back to every few minutes. Update - I use 50" 4k TV as my main displays with my laptop acting as the secondary. I have one at home (Samsung), shop (Amazon firetv), and in my RV (TCL). All had the same issue to one degree or another. Changing the refresh on my laptop for all displays, including on the laptop, to 60Hz resolved all issues. Not a great solution but it works.

I have the same issue, when the computer goes into sleep mode. After resume, the laptop screen works but the secondary don't. If I press win + P and then Extend or Duplicate, the secondary screen is turned on and then it returns to black again.

Second monitor keeps on temporarily going black at random

Anonymous

I am working off of a laptop and have a second monitor to extend my displays. I have been using this set up for two years now and have not had a problem until last night. It seems that my attached monitor only (main monitor on laptop is not affected) will go black for a few seconds before turning back on and showing my screen. It should be noted that my laptop does not reset the display to place the windows back onto the main screen when this happens but the extended monitor goes black at random. Note that I am running Windows 10 and unable to upgrade to Windows 11 as of now.

So far, I have tried the following solutions but still cannot figure this out.

Bought brand new chords (HDMI + Adapter)
Bought a brand new second monitor (issues happening with both old and new monitor)
Checked for updates on all drivers
Reinstalled both graphics drivers
Rolled back graphics drivers
Checked basic settings (sleep/power/screen saver settings)
Disabled all services in background apps in "System Configuration"
Restarted Windows explorer

This means I have spent time replacing and even buying new equipment to get around this issue but cannot seem to figure it out! This is very important since I work at home as well. Please let me know if there is anything else I can possibly do outside of hard resetting the computer (which I cannot do for a few reasons). Thank you!

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

157 answers

Anonymous

2023-06-02T16:35:54+00:00

I should have updated this as I was able to resolve this issue in the same manner as you. Lowering the refresh rate to match my laptop eliminated all of my issues.
Was this answer helpful?

10+ people found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2023-06-02T14:18:33+00:00

I have a similar problem on my desktop PC.

My configuration is:
Main display: 1080p 165Hz
Secondary: 1080p 60Hz

Windows and graphics drivers are all up to date.
Already tried DDU, reinstalled drivers.
Tested all hardware and cables working properly.

When secondary monitor is connected, main display turns on and off repeatedly.
I tried lowering my main display to 144Hz, 120Hz, 100Hz, 85Hz. and the problem only disappeared when set to 60Hz,

which is the same refresh rate as the secondary display.

Disconnecting the secondary display also eliminates the problem and allows me to set the refresh rate at 165Hz.
Obviously, this is not a solution.
I hope Microsoft or Nvidia fixes this soon.
Was this answer helpful?

50+ people found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2023-05-29T15:01:26+00:00

Ditto to all the above, including switching out docks; the only 'solution' of lowering refresh rates seems less than ideal...
Was this answer helpful?

20+ people found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2023-05-05T01:54:20+00:00

[Updated Below] I have an MSI laptop running Win 11 and I have the same or at least a very similar issue.

I've tried multiple extended monitors and different cables. I have updated all drivers. I've reinstalled the drivers. The only thing I noticed is that today I started getting a pop-up about already having a hidden taskbar. In fact, I can usually go several minutes before my screen resets but today it was doing it every 15 seconds or so. I finally removed the hide feature on my taskbar and it got better but did not go away. Now I'm back to every few minutes.

Update - I use 50" 4k TV as my main displays with my laptop acting as the secondary. I have one at home (Samsung), shop (Amazon firetv), and in my RV (TCL). All had the same issue to one degree or another. Changing the refresh on my laptop for all displays, including on the laptop, to 60Hz resolved all issues. Not a great solution but it works.
Was this answer helpful?

20+ people found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2023-04-25T00:29:27+00:00

I have the same issue, when the computer goes into sleep mode. After resume, the laptop screen works but the secondary don't. If I press win + P and then Extend or Duplicate, the secondary screen is turned on and then it returns to black again.
Was this answer helpful?

30+ people found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments