To adjust power and sleep settings in Windows 10, open Settings > System > Power & sleep. Use the Screen dropdowns to choose when the display turns off, and the Sleep dropdowns to choose when the PC goes to sleep, with separate options for battery and plugged-in power on laptops. For more control, such as what happens when you close the lid, click Additional power settings.
Below you’ll learn how to change these settings, choose a power plan, control the power button and lid, and turn on hibernate.
How to change screen and sleep timers
- Press Windows + I and click System.
- Click Power & sleep.
- Under Screen, choose how long before the display turns off.
- Under Sleep, choose how long before the PC goes to sleep. Pick Never to keep it awake.
How to choose a power plan
- Click Additional power settings on the Power & sleep page (or press Windows + R and type powercfg.cpl).
- Choose Balanced (recommended), Power saver, or High performance if it’s listed.
- Click Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings for detailed options like hard disk sleep, USB power, and processor power.
On laptops, you can also click the battery icon in the taskbar and drag the power mode slider between Best battery life and Best performance.
- In Power Options, click Choose what closing the lid does (or Choose what the power buttons do).
- Pick Do nothing, Sleep, Hibernate, or Shut down for each situation, on battery and plugged in.
- Click Save changes.
How to turn on Hibernate
Hibernate saves your open work to the drive and turns the PC off completely, using no power. To add it to the Start menu power options:
- In Power Options, click Choose what the power buttons do.
- Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
- Check Hibernate under Shutdown settings, then click Save changes.
If Hibernate isn’t listed, run powercfg /hibernate on in an admin Command Prompt.
Troubleshooting
- PC won’t sleep: Run powercfg /requests in an admin Command Prompt to see which app or device is keeping it awake.
- PC wakes up by itself: Run powercfg /lastwake. In Device Manager, turn off Allow this device to wake the computer for mice or network adapters.
- Settings keep changing: A PC maker’s power app or your organization may override them.
Related: Disable the screensaver in Windows 10.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between sleep and hibernate?
Sleep keeps your work in memory and uses a little power for a quick resume. Hibernate saves to the drive and uses no power, but takes longer to start.
Is it bad to never let my PC sleep?
It uses more power and can shorten a laptop battery’s life. Let the screen turn off even if you keep the PC awake.
Does this work on Windows 11?
Yes. In Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Power & battery.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.