How to Turn Off Monitor Using Shortcut or Command-line in Windows

Whenever we take a short break from our computer, for security reasons we lock the workstation, mostly using the Winkey + L key combo.

But, many of us have the habit of keeping the monitor turned on even when going for a lunch break. Until that time the display timeout event kicks in and turns off the display, it’s a waste of electricity and increased wear & tear of the monitor.

This article discusses various ways using which you can turn off the display using desktop shortcut, hotkey or command-line.

How to Turn off Monitor Using Desktop Shortcut

My new and fantastic C24F390 Samsung Curved 24″ monitor has the power button on the rear end, perhaps for aesthetic purpose. All these years, I have been using monitors that have controls on the front or underneath the bezel. Now, with the new C24F390, I find it a little bit inconvenient to reach out the button on the backside every time I need to turn off/on the monitor.

Moreover, the only button the Samsung C24F390 monitor has is a JOG Button, which is a multi-directional button that helps navigate. The JOG button is on the rear left side of the product. The button can be used to power on, off, move up, down, left or right, and select options on the on-screen display menu.

To turn off this monitor, it takes three button presses: Press the center of the JOG button → (when on-screen menu appears) press the JOG button downward → then press the center.

So, I now desperately need a desktop shortcut or hotkey method than ever before to turn off the display, so that I no longer need to use the hardware buttons on the monitor. A mouse move or keyboard input should turn on the monitor.

Note: There doesn’t seem to be a way to turn off a specific monitor in a multi-monitor setup.

Turn off monitor using NirCmd

NirCmd is a multi-purpose command-line automation tool which we have covered many times previously on this website.

To turn off the monitor(s) using NirCmd, use this command:

nircmd monitor off

Create a desktop shortcut for the above command-line and assign a hotkey to the shortcut (e.g., Ctrl + Alt + M). You can also pick a neat looking icon by browsing the shell32.dll or imageres.dll files located in the Windows\System32 folder.

See also: NirCmd Command Reference

Turn off monitors Using Wizmo

Wizmo from Gibson Research Corporation is another multi-purpose command-line tool similar to NirCmd.

To turn off the monitors using Wizmo, run this command:

wizmo monoff

You can create a desktop shortcut to it and assign a hotkey. This tool also plays short music when turning off the display as well as when turning it on (by mouse or keyboard activity.)

RELATED: Put Windows Into Sleep or Hibernate Mode Using Command-line

Turn off monitor using PowerShell

If you prefer a native solution to turn off the display rather than a third-party program, you can use a PowerShell command in a batch file.

Open Notepad and copy the following line precisely into Notepad.

powershell (Add-Type '[DllImport(\"user32.dll\")]^public static extern int SendMessage(int hWnd, int hMsg, int wParam, int lParam);' -Name a -Pas)::SendMessage(-1,0x0112,0xF170,2)

Save the file with a .bat extension.

Running the above batch file or command will turn off your monitors.

RELATED: How to run .BAT files invisibly, without displaying the Command Prompt window