How to Fix: Second Monitor Goes Black When Gaming

When the second monitor goes black when gaming, sometimes it can be a power connection brought on by a less-than-great dual monitor stand and poor installation. But, more often than not, the problem stems from the hardware: the monitor, cables, the video card, the motherboard, or the RAM. First of all, it is critical to determine if your PC can run two or more screens simultaneously. Ideally, some machines cannot support all types of gaming monitors or top monitors used for streaming. So, what might be the reason? How can you find a solution if you encounter this problem? Let’s find out.

How to Troubleshoot When the Second Monitor Goes Black

STEP 1 CHECK THE POWER

You might have already gone through this step. If not, check to ensure that your monitor is on. Just look at the light on the power button and see if it is “ON.” If that is the case, but the screen is not showing anything, look for the display menu button to access the built-in controls. If you cannot see anything on the screen, then your monitor could be faulty. To figure out if your monitor has an issue, try connecting another screen.

Alternatively, your secondary monitor used for gaming might have a faulty cable. If it’s your main monitor that’s going to sleep while gaming, it could be monitor settings that are set up incorrectly. This doesn’t include a variable refresh rate, which is something entirely different. 

If the other monitor works properly, then the power supply of the first monitor needs replacement. The next step is to make the necessary repairs to resolve the issue. But suppose you end up hearing unusual beeps or see any warning lights. In that case, your monitor might be having an internal problem.

STEP 2 DISCONNECT AND CONNECT THE CABLES

The other simple step you need to go through is checking the cables because they may be disconnected. Cable disconnection is typical for cables that do not use screws. Ensure that you check the cable connection on the monitor and the PC. For example, if you have two video cards, you need to check the connection of the two screens to the video cards. 

If your gaming PC has a dedicated graphics card, connect the monitor to the graphics card and not the motherboard. In some instances, the motherboard graphics are usually disabled by default when you install another graphics card.

So, when you connect the screen to the motherboard, it will work for a short while and then go blank. Although restarting the PC may fix the problem, the monitor will still go blank again. You now know why the monitor goes blank if you connect the second monitor to the motherboard in a dual setup. Suppose the cables are in position and there is only one video connection. Then, you can test the cables by connecting a second monitor. On the other end, you can test if you have faulty cables by testing different cables for your multiple connections.

STEP 3 CHECK DISPLAY, SOURCE, AND RESOLUTION

In some cases, increasing the resolution of the screen can cause the screen to go blank. You can fix this issue by starting Windows in safe mode. You also need to ensure that your monitor’s input source is the correct one because most monitors auto-detect the input source. This may be HDMI or DisplayPort. But in some cases, this setting is usually disabled. Check this feature by pressing the monitor buttons, and then go to “Input,” where you can change the inputs.

Note: You may also need to check the nits brightness of your screens to determine which one is good enough quality to be your primary monitor.

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