Keep Windows PCs Awake with PowerToys

This article describes how to keep Windows PCs awake and prevent them from going to sleep or turning off the display using Microsoft PowerToys utilities.

PowerToys is a collection of utilities from Microsoft designed for power users to optimize and enhance their Windows experience.

PowerToys offers various settings that can be configured by users. One of its many features is the Awake utility. Awake is designed for Windows and helps keep a computer awake for extended periods without interfering with the operating system’s sleep and power settings.

This feature is particularly useful for individuals who work in environments where the power and sleep settings on laptops and desktops are controlled. Some companies automatically turn off the display after just five minutes of inactivity, which can be quite frustrating, especially if you have to constantly re-enter your password.

How to stop Windows from turning the screen or display off

When you work in environments where your computer screen goes black after certain periods of inactivity, you can use Microsoft PowerToys tools to stop it from happening.

To do that, go to the link below and download PowerToys.

Releases · microsoft/PowerToys · GitHub

On the screen, click on PowerToysSetup-0.43.0-x64.exe

Future versions should have a different version number in the image below.

After downloading the file, navigate to the Downloads folder, double-click the file, and start the installation process.

Click Next to begin the setup wizard.

Select Automatically start PowerToys (Preview) on the next screen at logon.

In the end, click Install to install PowerToys tools in Windows 11.

After installing the app, close out the PowerToys Welcome screen at the first launch. Then go to the Start menu and search for “PowerToys,” as highlighted below.

Then right-click the app icon and select Run as administrator.

Click the Restart as Administrator button on the General tab, as highlighted below.

When the app re-opens, toggle the button to On to Always run as administrator. Also, turn on Run as a startup and Download update automatically, as highlighted in the image below.

Next, click the Awake tab on the left menu, then toggle the button to enable it. Check the box to keep the screen on, then change the mode.

The following Awake states can be selected:

• Off (Passive) – The computer’s awakeness state is unaffected. The application is waiting for user input.
• Keep awake indefinitely – The computer stays awake until the user explicitly puts the machine to sleep or exits/disables the application.
• Keep awake temporarily – Keep the machine awake for a pre-defined limited time. Once the time elapses, the computer resumes its previous awakeness state.

You can also keep the PC awake temporarily, then specify how long.

Exit and restart your computer.

How to use Awake from the Taskbar

Once Awake is configured, you can quickly change its settings from the Taskbar. The Awake icon (teacup symbol) will appear as a hidden icon in the Taskbar.

Click the show icons up arrow, then right-click on the Awake teacup icon and select the mode you want the computer to stay awake or turn off to use the default power & sleep settings on the PC.

That should do it!

Conclusion:

• Microsoft PowerToys offers the Awake utility to prevent your Windows PC from going to sleep or turning off the display.
• It is especially useful in environments where corporate settings automatically limit display time, enhancing productivity.
• Users can customize Awake settings to keep their computers awake indefinitely or for a specified timeframe.
• Access and adjust Awake settings conveniently from the Taskbar for on-the-fly changes.
• Installing PowerToys is a straightforward process, ensuring you can quickly implement these features and improve your Windows experience.

Frequently Asked Questions