To turn off one monitor without unplugging it on Windows 11, you can press Windows key + P and choose PC screen only (this works with two displays and turns off the rest), press the monitor’s own power button, or send a DDC/CI power command to that specific monitor. MonitorPilot gives each DDC/CI monitor a power control in the tray, alongside brightness, input, and profiles, so you can switch one screen off for a game, a call, or the evening and back on again without reaching behind the desk. The free NirSoft tool ControlMyMonitor can do the same from the command line.
Which method is right depends on whether you want Windows to stop using the screen, or just want the screen dark.
Power, brightness, and input for each monitor, right in the tray.
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What are the ways to turn off one monitor?
| Method | What happens to your windows | Works per monitor with 3 or more screens | Needs software |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monitor power button | Depends on monitor and connection | Yes | No |
| Windows key + P, PC screen only | Windows stops using the other displays | No, it is all or one | No |
| DDC/CI power command (ControlMyMonitor) | Depends on monitor and connection | Yes | Free tool |
| MonitorPilot power control | Depends on monitor and connection | Yes | One-time purchase |
“Depends on monitor and connection” is honest: when a monitor goes into standby, some combinations of monitor, cable, and graphics driver make Windows see it as disconnected and move your windows; others keep the desktop as it was. Test with your own setup.
How do I use Windows key + P?
Microsoft’s guide How to use multiple monitors in Windows lists four options when you press Windows key + P:
- PC screen only: see things on one display only.
- Duplicate: the same thing on all displays.
- Extend: your desktop across multiple screens.
- Second screen only: everything on the second display only.
For a laptop with one external monitor, PC screen only is the fastest way to stop using the external screen, and Extend brings it back. With three or more screens it is too blunt, because you cannot pick which one to drop.
What happens to my windows when a monitor turns off?
The same Microsoft guide describes two settings under Settings, System, Display, Multiple displays: “Remember window locations based on monitor connection” and “Minimize windows when a monitor is disconnected.” It also explains that when you undock, windows on the external monitor are minimized, and when you re-dock, “Windows puts everything back exactly where you had it before.”
If you switch monitors off and on often, check those two boxes so your windows return to where they were.
How do I turn a monitor off with DDC/CI?
DDC/CI is the channel apps use to send settings to an external monitor over the video cable. Microsoft’s monitor configuration documentation notes that the Windows monitor functions use it “to send commands to the monitor.” Power is one of the settings many monitors accept.
With NirSoft’s free ControlMyMonitor, its page documents /TurnOff, /TurnOn, and /SwitchOffOn options for a specified monitor, and this example for toggling power with VCP code D6:
ControlMyMonitor.exe /SwitchValue "\\.\DISPLAY1\Monitor0" D6 1 5NirSoft adds that “on some monitors you should use 4 instead of 5.” That detail is typical of DDC/CI: monitors implement the standard a little differently.
Steps:
- Turn on DDC/CI in the monitor’s on-screen menu if it has the option.
- Run ControlMyMonitor and find your monitor’s name or Short Monitor ID.
- Create a shortcut with the
/TurnOffcommand for that monitor. - Create a second shortcut with
/TurnOn, or use/SwitchOffOnto toggle.
Note that some monitors may stop listening to DDC/CI in deep standby, so turning back on by software may not work on every model. The power button always does.
Switch one screen off for a game or a call, and bring it back with a click.
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How do I turn a monitor off with MonitorPilot?
MonitorPilot is a Windows 11 tray app that controls every DDC/CI monitor. Each monitor gets controls for brightness, contrast, input source, volume, color temperature, and power. To switch one screen off:
- Open MonitorPilot from the tray.
- Use the identify overlay if you are not sure which monitor is which.
- Use the power control on that monitor’s panel.
- Turn it back on the same way, or with the monitor’s button if it does not wake by DDC/CI.
Related things MonitorPilot can do around the same moment:
- Profiles: a “Gaming” profile that dims the side monitors, or a “Calls” profile for your webcam lighting, switchable by hotkey.
- Rules: apply a profile automatically when a full screen app runs, at a time of day, or at sunset.
- Workspaces: restore your monitor and window setup after docking, with a report of anything that could not be restored.
- Window hotkeys: move a window to the next monitor before you turn one off.
Every monitor is recognized by its EDID fingerprint, so settings land on the right physical screen even if Windows renumbers them. It is offline, has no telemetry, and needs no kernel drivers.
Is dimming to zero better than turning off?
Sometimes. If your monitor or connection makes Windows treat a powered-off monitor as disconnected, your windows will move every time. Setting that monitor’s brightness to its lowest level keeps it connected and nearly dark, which some people prefer during a game or a film. A MonitorPilot profile with that monitor at minimum brightness does this in one keypress, and turning the profile off restores your usual level.
Which method should I pick?
Match the method to the moment:
- Laptop plus one monitor, heading out: Windows key + P, PC screen only. Free, instant, and your windows come back when you choose Extend.
- Three monitors, gaming on the middle one: turn off or dim the side screens per monitor. A MonitorPilot profile or rule does it without leaving the game; ControlMyMonitor shortcuts do it for free if you set them up.
- Evening, one screen too bright: dim rather than power off, so nothing moves.
- Screen sharing a single display on a call: turn the others off or dim them so you do not glance at notes that are not being shared.
- Monitor ignores software: use the power button, then check our guide to DDC/CI not working on Windows 11.
Frequently asked questions
Does turning off a monitor with software save power?
A monitor in standby usually draws less than one that is on. Check your monitor’s specifications for exact numbers.
Why did my windows move to the other screen when I turned a monitor off?
Windows detected the monitor as disconnected. Turn on “Remember window locations based on monitor connection,” or dim the monitor instead of powering it off.
Can I turn off a laptop’s built-in screen this way?
Not with DDC/CI, which laptop panels generally do not use. Use Windows key + P and choose Second screen only.
Does MonitorPilot work on Windows 10?
No. It requires Windows 11.
Try MonitorPilot
Get MonitorPilot from the Microsoft Store and see the MonitorPilot product page. Related: switch monitor input with software and restore your monitor setup after docking.
One tray icon for every external monitor on your desk.
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Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. NirSoft and ControlMyMonitor are the property of Nir Sofer. Other product names are trademarks of their owners. MonitorPilot is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.
Last updated 17 October 2026. Published by Automata Labs, a software company in Canada.