White screen when plugging in a second monitor

This seems to be a problem likely related to your graphics card. What graphics card do you currently have?

You can check what graphics card you currently have by holding the Windows key + R, typing in "dxdiag" inside the box and pressing enter. That will open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, your graphics card will be listed under "Display".

Hello,

My graphics card is an Intel UHD Graphics 620.

Frankly, it's annoying not being able to plug and unplug your monitor as you please.

Lokamoon  I can look at a dxdiag if you like, to check for any obvious issues.  Once you've run the dxdiag, click "save all information" and save the file to your desktop.  From there, you can attach it to a reply using the paper clip (Attachment) icon included with the other formatting buttons.

However, hot-swapping monitors is unreliable in general, even on new, high-end hardware.  It's just one of those things that has never been perfected.  If you can't plug in your monitor before you want to play though, or wait to unplug it, for example if it's a matter of moving around freely, try minimizing the game and having another app in the foreground instead.

Apparently the DirectX 11 mode isn't fully optimized yet, at least not for Intel graphics.  Until then, it's not going to be forced.

Hi !

Thank you for taking the time to review and respond to my problem. I'm attaching the results of my dxdiag.
I think I've already tried the recommended technique : I minimized my game, found myself on my home screen, and unplugged my screen. And when I returned to my game, it was completely white. So this technique doesn't work. I even lowered the game's graphics level, also in the settings, but nothing worked.

Before, I did not have this problem but following the 2024 updates. Because before, even if I put my laptop to sleep then reopened it I had no problem but since May/June 2024, impossible. So white screen also when putting on standby.

I am forced to either unplug the screen beforehand or leave it plugged in but unable to move 😓

Arrff

Anyway, thank you very much to those who respond. I hope I'm not the only one with this problem 😉🙌

Thank you for your reply. I finally have a lead on what's causing my issue. I’ll try each of the tips you gave me as soon as I get back from vacation, and I’ll let you know how it goes.

Hello,
I'm coming back here to give an update following your last message with all the helpful suggestions to try out. So, i tried adding dx11 in the Sims 4 > Manage > View properties . and it finally works 😭🎉. I can finally unplug and plug back in my monitor whenever i want, and everything is much more stable now.
Thank you so much for this solution, I didn't know about it, and it's made such a difference.
I just had one last question : you recommended using dx11, so does that mean I can't run the game with dx12 . Is my graphics card too weak for that ?

In any case, thank you so much!

Lokamoon​  I'm glad to hear that worked, and sorry for the late reply.  Sims 4 doesn't have a DirectX 12 mode, only DX9 and 11, the latter having been added not quite a year ago.  So you're running the more advanced version already.

The game defaults to DX11 mode on Nvidia and AMD GPUs, but DX9 mode on Intel GPUs, regardless of the relative strength of the hardware in question.  So the fact that you have to force DX11 mode rather than having it automatically says very little about the capabilities of your computer when it comes to Sims 4.  And if DX11 mode runs fine, you have nothing to worry about on that front anyway.