
If your computer monitor goes to sleep, you can wake it up by moving your mouse, pressing a key on your keyboard, or pressing the power button. If this doesn't work, you may need to troubleshoot the issue. This could include checking your power settings, updating your BIOS, Windows, and drivers, disconnecting and reconnecting external devices, or using third-party software to keep your computer awake.
How to wake your computer after the monitor goes to sleep
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Move the mouse | Move the mouse to wake the computer from sleep mode |
| Press any key on the keyboard | Press any key on the keyboard to wake the computer from sleep mode |
| Press the power button | Press the power button to wake the computer from sleep mode |
| Check the video signal source | Ensure the monitor is receiving a video signal from the computer |
| Check the video cable | Ensure the video cable is plugged in properly and reconnect if necessary |
| Restart the computer | Restart the computer if the above steps do not work |
| Change power and sleep settings | Change the power and sleep settings if the monitor continues to enter standby mode |
| Use a non-Bluetooth device | If using a laptop, use an embedded keyboard, pointing device, or external non-Bluetooth device to wake the computer |
| Disable sleep mode | Disable sleep mode temporarily to see if the issue persists |
| Use third-party software | Use tools like Wakeful, Caffeine, or Insomnia to prevent the computer from going to sleep |
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What You'll Learn

Move the mouse or press any key on the keyboard
If your computer monitor goes to sleep, you can wake your computer by moving the mouse or pressing any key on the keyboard. This works because sleep mode is a power-saving state that stops all actions on the computer, but the computer is still powered on and can be quickly resumed to normal, full-power operation within a few seconds.
If moving the mouse or pressing any key on the keyboard doesn't wake your computer from sleep mode, there are a few other methods you can try. Firstly, check that your computer is not in standby or sleep mode by ensuring that you can see a video signal from the computer on the monitor. If there is no video signal, the monitor will enter standby mode to reduce power consumption. You can check the signal source by making sure the video cable is plugged in properly and reconnecting it if necessary.
If you are using a laptop, you can try opening the lid to use the embedded keyboard or pointing device, or connecting an external non-Bluetooth device to wake the computer. This is because many laptop manufacturers will not allow a Bluetooth device to wake the computer from sleep mode due to the power consumption required to keep the Bluetooth radio activated.
If none of these methods work, you may have encountered a system problem. You can refer to the documentation that came with your computer or contact the manufacturer for further support.
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Check the video cable
If your computer monitor goes to sleep, you can try to wake it by moving your mouse, pressing any key on your keyboard, or pressing the power button. If these methods do not work, you may need to check the video cable.
To check the video cable, start by verifying that the cable is plugged in properly. If it is loose, disconnect and reconnect the cable securely. If your monitor has multiple input ports, try using a different port by changing the input signal source. You can do this by pressing the input button on your monitor until the correct input is selected. Additionally, try connecting your computer to a different monitor or display to determine if the issue lies with the cable or the original monitor.
If the problem persists, restart your computer. Ensure that your operating system and drivers are up to date, as outdated software can sometimes cause issues with sleep mode. You can also try disabling sleep mode temporarily by setting the power plan to "High Performance" or "Balanced" to see if the issue is related to sleep mode settings.
If none of these solutions work, there may be a more complex issue with hardware compatibility or firmware. In this case, it is advisable to seek assistance from a qualified technician or your manufacturer's support team.
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Change power and sleep settings
If you are using a Windows 11 or 10 operating system, you can troubleshoot sleep and hibernation issues by following the steps outlined in the Dell Knowledge Base articles.
To change power and sleep settings on Windows 11, follow these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Click on System.
- Click on the Power & Battery (or Power) page on the right side.
- Click on the "Screen, Sleep, & Hibernate Timeouts" setting.
- Use the "Turn my screen off after" setting under "On battery" to decide when the display should turn off when running on battery power.
- Use the "Make my device sleep after" setting under "Plugged in" to decide when the device should go into sleep mode when connected to a power outlet.
- Use the "Turn my screen off after" setting under "Plugged in" to decide when the display should turn off when connected to a power source.
To change the default power mode on Windows 11:
- Follow steps 1-3 above.
- Click on the Power mode setting.
- Choose from the following options:
- Best power efficiency: Preserves the most energy, but lowers system performance.
- Balanced: Windows 11 automatically balances energy and performance for an optimal experience.
- Best performance: Uses the most energy, increasing system performance.
To enable hibernation on Windows 11:
- Open Start.
- Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select "Run as administrator".
- Type the following command to confirm the hibernation status and press Enter: powercfg /availablesleepstates.
- If "Hibernate" appears under the "The following states are available on this system" section, the feature is enabled.
To change power and sleep settings on Windows 10:
- Select Search on the taskbar, type Control Panel, and select it from the results.
- Select System and Security.
- In the Power Options section, select "Change what the power buttons do".
- Select "Change settings that are currently unavailable".
- Select options based on how you want Sleep to work. For example, for a laptop, expand the list for "When I close the lid" in the "On battery" column and select Sleep.
If you are unable to wake your computer from sleep mode using the mouse or keyboard, you may need to press the power button to wake it up. Additionally, you can try disconnecting and reconnecting the video cable or restarting your computer.
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Use third-party software to keep the computer awake
If you want to keep your computer awake, there are several third-party software tools available. These tools can simulate user activity or override sleep settings, ensuring your system remains active without needing manual adjustments. This can be a major productivity boost for those who require continuous access to their computer, whether for quick file retrieval, ongoing software tasks, or business operations.
One such tool is Caffeine, a free and portable program that repeatedly presses a key in the background to keep your computer awake. You can adjust how long Caffeine keeps your computer awake by right-clicking on the program's icon. Similarly, Insomnia is another popular application that prevents your device from going to sleep.
Another option is PowerToys Awake, a tool for Windows that keeps your computer awake without you needing to adjust its power and sleep settings. It does this by spawning background threads that tell Windows that they require a specific state of the machine. Once PowerToys Awake exits, the threads are terminated, and your computer will resume its standard power plan behaviour.
If you're using a Mac, you can prevent your computer from sleeping by going to System Preferences > Energy Saver in the Apple menu. Here, you can check the box next to "Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off" and uncheck the box next to "Put hard disks to sleep when possible".
It's important to note that keeping your computer awake using third-party software can lead to faster battery drain, especially on a laptop. Additionally, always download third-party tools from trusted sources and keep the software up-to-date to avoid vulnerabilities and compatibility issues.
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Check for problematic hardware
If your computer monitor goes to sleep and you are unable to wake it up, there are several things you can do to check for problematic hardware.
Firstly, ensure that your computer is not in sleep or hibernate mode by moving the mouse or pressing any key on the keyboard. If this does not work, try pressing the power button to wake up the computer. If your computer is not waking up, it might be due to a problematic mouse or keyboard. Try using a different mouse or keyboard to see if the issue persists.
Next, check all the connections between your monitor and the computer. Ensure that the cables are fully inserted and try changing the ports. If possible, use a different cable to determine if the problem is related to the monitor or the cable. Monitors with multiple ports should have a setting in the OSD Menu to manually switch the input.
If your monitor has different ports, try changing from HDMI to DP or vice versa. Additionally, check if your monitor's firmware can be updated, as well as your graphics card drivers. There may be a bug in the recent drivers that is causing the issue.
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 is advisable to seek help from a qualified technician or your manufacturer's support team.
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Frequently asked questions
Try moving your mouse, pressing any key on your keyboard, or pressing the power button.
Check if your computer is in hibernation mode. If it is, you must press the power button to wake it up.
Try disconnecting all external devices, including your keyboard, mouse, and external hard drive. Sometimes, external devices can cause your system to malfunction.
Try updating your BIOS, Windows, and drivers. Regularly updating these can enhance system stability and performance.
You may have experienced a system problem. Refer to the documentation that came with your computer or contact the manufacturer for support.



































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