This post shows students and new users steps to keep Windows PCs awake and stop them from going to sleep or turning off the display with Microsoft PowerToys utilities. PowerToys is a set of utilities from Microsoft for power users to tune and streamline their Windows experience.
Their multiple settings one can configure using PowerToys. One of the many features in PowerToys utilities is the Awake feature. Awake is a utility tool for Windows designed to keep a computer awake for extended periods without messing with Windows sleep & power settings.
This feature should come in handy, especially for folks who work in environments that control the power & sleep settings on individual laptops and desktops. Some companies will automatically turn off the display after 5 minutes of inactivity. This can be brutal, especially when you must always re-type your password.
The Microsoft Awake PowerToys tool lets you keep your computer awake indefinitely or for a specific period.
To install PowerToys utilities in Windows 11, follow the steps below:
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.
Once the file is downloaded, go to the Downloads folder, double-click the file, and begin the installation.
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.
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