Windows lets you set separate idle timers for turning off the screen and putting the PC to sleep. To keep the display on longer, change the screen timeout. Change the sleep timeout as well only if you also want the computer itself to stay awake.
Change the screen timeout
- Select Start > Settings.
- Select System > Power & battery.
- Open Screen, sleep, & hibernate timeouts. The wording can be abbreviated to Screen and sleep on some Windows versions.
- Under Turn my screen off after, choose a longer time for the relevant battery and plugged-in states.
- If the PC is still sleeping too soon, adjust Make my device sleep after separately.
Choose a duration that fits how you use the device. A longer setting uses more energy, especially on a laptop running on battery power.
Screen off and sleep are different
When the screen turns off, Windows can keep running in the background. Sleep puts the PC into a low-power state. If a download, presentation, or other task stops, check the sleep timer as well as the screen timer.
If the screen still turns off unexpectedly
- Confirm the setting for the power state you are using: battery or plugged in.
- Check whether a work or school device applies organization-managed power settings.
- If the PC supports presence sensing, review Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen and sleep for an option that turns off the screen when you leave.
- Keep the lid-closed workflow separate. Closing a laptop lid is controlled by its own power-button/lid settings and is outside this general timeout guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I set the display to never turn off?
Windows may offer Never for a timeout on some devices and power states. Use it deliberately: it can increase power use and leave the screen visible when you step away.
Why does the display go dark while the PC is still working?
The screen-off timer can expire while the PC remains awake. Increase Turn my screen off after without necessarily changing the sleep timer.
Does this change the screen saver?
No. Screen saver settings are separate from the display and sleep timeouts.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.