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Yes. You can restart most monitors by turning them off and back on; if that does not help, you can power-cycle the display by disconnecting its power briefly. Neither action restarts the computer or restores the monitor’s factory settings. Before restarting, check whether the computer is asleep, the monitor is set to the right input, and the video cable is secure—those issues can leave a monitor blank even when it has power.
Restart, power cycle, computer restart, or factory reset?
These are different troubleshooting actions. Choose based on what you want to affect:
| Action | What it affects | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Monitor restart | The monitor | Turns the display off and back on, briefly interrupting it. |
| Monitor power cycle | The monitor | Turns it off, disconnects its power, waits, then reconnects and turns it on. ViewSonic’s general guidance is to wait 15–30 seconds; follow your model’s manual if it gives different directions. ViewSonic’s power-cycle steps. |
| Computer restart | The computer and its operating system | Restarts Windows and may interrupt open work. Save your work first. Microsoft includes a device restart among troubleshooting steps for external-display problems. Microsoft’s Windows guidance. |
| Factory reset | The monitor’s saved settings | Uses an on-screen display (OSD) menu option such as “Reset,” “Memory Recall,” or factory defaults to restore settings. This is not a restart and may undo customized settings; consult the manual for your model. |
What to check before restarting
A blank screen does not by itself identify the cause. Check the simple signal and power possibilities first:
- Wake the computer if it may be asleep, and check whether the monitor’s power indicator is lit.
- Make sure the monitor has power and the video cable is firmly connected at both the monitor and computer ends.
- Use the monitor’s OSD to select the input that matches the connected cable, such as HDMI or DisplayPort.
- If a dock, adapter, or converter is in the connection path, bypass it temporarily and connect directly when possible.
- If practical, try another cable or connect the monitor to another computer. These cross-tests can help isolate whether the issue follows the cable, monitor, or source device.
Manufacturer troubleshooting guides recommend checking power, input, and connections for no-display symptoms; a lit indicator with no picture can still point to a signal or input problem. See ViewSonic’s no-display guidance, ASUS’s no-display troubleshooting, and MSI’s monitor troubleshooting steps.
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How to restart or power-cycle the monitor
Turn it off and back on
- Press the monitor’s power button to turn it off.
- Wait briefly, then press the power button again to turn it on.
Button behavior varies by model; use the product manual if the control is not clear.
Disconnect monitor power briefly
- Turn the monitor off.
- Unplug its power cable from the monitor or power source, as appropriate for the model.
- Wait 15–30 seconds, following ViewSonic’s general support guidance.
- Reconnect the power cable and turn the monitor on.
The stated interval is ViewSonic’s instruction, not a universal timing requirement. A model-specific manual takes precedence. This procedure interrupts power to the monitor only; it does not reboot the computer.
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If the screen is still blank
Consider the computer separately
If the monitor is powered and its input and cable appear correct, the problem may be on the computer side. On Windows, Microsoft says the Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + B may reset the graphics driver in some cases. If it does not help, Microsoft suggests trying a Windows-device restart. That key sequence and restart act on the computer, not the monitor; save open work before restarting.
Microsoft’s external-monitor troubleshooting page places the driver-reset suggestion in its Windows troubleshooting context and follows it with: “If that doesn’t work, see if restarting helps.”
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Use factory reset only if settings may be involved
Some manufacturer guides list an OSD reset or factory-default option as a separate step. It changes the monitor’s saved settings rather than merely restarting it. Menu wording and the settings affected depend on the model, so check the manual before selecting it. See ASUS’s guide, MSI’s guide, and ViewSonic’s no-display guidance.
Escalate persistent power or display problems
If the symptom continues, cross-test with another cable or source device when available, then contact the monitor maker’s support service. A monitor with no power indicator may need checks of its outlet, adapter, or hardware, but the symptom alone does not establish which component has failed. For intermittent power, LG also recommends inspecting settings and the cable or adapter: LG’s intermittent-power guidance.
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