Monitors that can't sleep directly

What it does

BranchOut Display sleeps monitors with DDC/CI — a standard way for a PC to send commands (like "sleep") down the display cable. Most monitors support it, but it's sometimes turned off in the monitor's menu, and TVs, some portable monitors, adapters, docks and HDMI switches often don't pass it through.

For a monitor without DDC/CI you choose what "sleep" means:

• Black screen (default) — covered with a black window. Instant and harmless, but the backlight stays on, so it saves little power.
• Turn off its signal — Windows stops sending a picture, and the monitor goes into its own "no signal" standby, just like when the PC is off. Real power saving. Windows moves any windows on that screen to another one while it's off; they're put back on wake.

How to use it

1. Click the monitor's tile on the map. Its DDC/CI line says Not supported.
2. Under This monitor can't be slept directly. When sleeping: choose Black screen or Turn off its signal.

Before choosing, check the monitor's on-screen menu for a DDC/CI setting and turn it on — then it gets a real sleep and none of this is needed. Click Refresh afterwards.

Good to know

• Turn off its signal is never used for your main display (the one with the taskbar and Start menu) — cutting it would rearrange your whole desktop. The main display gets the black screen instead.
• The signal change is never saved into your Windows display settings. If anything goes wrong, reopening BranchOut Display, restarting the PC, or pressing Win+P → Extend brings the monitor back.
• Some TVs show a "No signal" message for a while before they go into standby.

Troubleshooting

• The monitor's light stays on with Black screen. Expected — only its picture is black. Switch to Turn off its signal.
• It says "No signal" but doesn't switch off. Check the TV/monitor's own settings for "auto power off" or "no signal power off".
• It didn't come back on wake. Reopen BranchOut Display, or press Win+P → Extend.

Related

• Sleep Now
• A monitor won't go to sleep
• Putting windows back on wake