I'm using a Dell SD25TB5 dock with a Dell Pro Max 16 laptop and two monitors connected directly to the dock over DisplayPort. After I lock the workstation and turn the monitors off, one or both displays sometimes fail to wake. For example, I may turn on the primary monitor to log in and then turn on the second monitor, but the second display remains blank. Unplugging and reconnecting the DisplayPort cables does not always help. The dock has the latest firmware, I've tried different cables, and this is already the second dock with the same problem. Has anyone found a reliable fix?
3 Answers
Try disabling deep sleep, eco mode, or monitor power-saving features in the BIOS and the monitors’ on-screen settings. Some docks and displays do not handle the transition back from low-power mode very well. Also check Dell’s peripheral or dock management utility for updated drivers, not just the dock firmware.
These wake-from-sleep problems are fairly common across different brands of docks. Along with checking for firmware and driver updates, test another connection arrangement if possible—such as HDMI for one monitor, using the laptop’s video output for one display, or mixing HDMI and DisplayPort. Make sure the cables are certified and that none of the ports or connectors are damaged. If the issue continues, avoiding monitor sleep and manually switching the displays off may be the most dependable workaround.
Using HDMI on one display and DisplayPort on the other may help, although connecting one monitor directly to the laptop is another useful test to determine whether the dock is losing a display link.
A full dock power cycle often brings the displays back. Disconnect the dock’s power cable for about a minute, reconnect it, and then reconnect the laptop if necessary. If the problem is more common in one location, inconsistent power could also be contributing. It is worth checking the power adapter, wall outlet, and dock connections.
By rebooting the dock, do you mean unplugging only its power cable for around 60 seconds? That is usually the easiest way to reset it without restarting the laptop.
I’ve had similar issues with other laptop-and-dock setups. Disabling display power saving and manually turning the monitors off when leaving seems more reliable than letting everything enter sleep automatically.