How to Change How Long Your Screen Stays On in Windows 11 Settings

Does your computer screen keep turning off too quickly while you’re working, watching videos, or reading something important? Or maybe it stays on for too long and drains your battery?

In Windows 11, you have full control over how long your screen stays on when the PC is idle. You can customize the screen timeout settings through the Settings app, Control Panel, Power Options, or even the Command Prompt.

This guide will walk you through every method, step-by-step, so you can set your screen to turn off exactly when you want it to — whether you’re on a laptop, desktop, or tablet.

What Is Screen Timeout in Windows 11?

Screen timeout (also called display sleep) is the time your PC waits before automatically turning off the screen when there’s no activity — such as typing, moving the mouse, or touching the screen.

This feature helps:

• Save power and battery life

• Prevent screen burn-in on OLED or LCD displays

• Enhance privacy when you leave your computer unattended

You can set different timeout values for when your device is plugged in and when it’s running on battery.

---

⚙️ Why Change Screen Timeout Settings?

There are several reasons you may want to adjust how long your screen stays on:

By setting the right screen timeout, you can balance convenience, security, and energy efficiency.

---

🪟 How to Change How Long Your Screen Stays On in Windows 11 Settings

The easiest and most direct way to adjust screen timeout is through the Windows Settings app.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Open Settings
   Press Windows + I on your keyboard to open the Settings window.

2. Go to System Settings
   In the left sidebar, select System.

3. Select Power & Battery
   Scroll down and click Power & battery on the right side.

4. Expand Screen and Sleep Settings
   Under the Power section, click the dropdown arrow beside Screen and sleep.

5. Adjust Screen Timeout Duration
   You’ll see two options:

   • On battery power, turn off my screen after:
     Set a time from 1 minute to 5 hours, or choose Never.

   • When plugged in, turn off my screen after:
     Choose how long your screen should stay on when charging or on AC power.

6. Changes Apply Automatically
   There’s no need to save — Windows 11 applies the new settings instantly.

✅ Pro Tip:
If you want your screen to never turn off, set both options to Never — perfect for long downloads, presentations, or media streaming.

---

🔋 How to Set Screen Timeout for Battery and Plugged-In Modes Separately

Windows 11 allows you to customize timeout settings differently depending on whether you’re using battery power or plugged-in power.

Example Configuration:

• On Battery Power: 3 minutes (to save power)

• When Plugged In: 30 minutes (for convenience)

This flexibility ensures you get maximum battery efficiency without interrupting your workflow when plugged in.

---

🧭 How to Change Screen Timeout via Control Panel

If you prefer the classic Control Panel interface, you can still change the display timeout there.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + R → type:

   control


   and press Enter.

2. Go to:

   Hardware and Sound → Power Options → Change plan settings


3. Under your active power plan, click Change plan settings.

4. Adjust:

   • Turn off the display: Choose time for both On battery and Plugged in.

5. Click Save changes.

That’s it! This method works on all versions of Windows 11 — Home, Pro, and Enterprise.

---

⚡ How to Change Screen Timeout Using Power Options (Advanced)

If you want fine-tuned control, use the Advanced Power Settings.

Here’s How:

1. Open the Control Panel → Power Options.

2. Click Change plan settings next to your active plan.

3. Click Change advanced power settings.

4. In the new window, expand:

   Display → Turn off display after


5. Set different times for On battery and Plugged in.

6. Click Apply → OK.

✅ Bonus Tip:
You can also adjust Sleep, Dim display, and Hibernate settings here for complete power management.

---

💻 How to Change Screen Timeout Using Command Prompt or PowerShell

If you prefer using commands or want to automate settings for multiple PCs, you can set screen timeout via the Command Prompt or PowerShell.

Step-by-Step (Command Prompt):

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
   (Press Windows + X → Terminal (Admin) or search “cmd” → right-click → Run as administrator.)

2. To set screen timeout for battery mode, use:

   powercfg /change monitor-timeout-dc 10


   (This sets the screen to turn off after 10 minutes on battery power.)

3. To set timeout for plugged-in mode:

   powercfg /change monitor-timeout-ac 20


   (This sets the screen to turn off after 20 minutes on AC power.)

✅ PowerShell Version:

You can replace numbers (minutes) with your preferred value.

---

🌙 How to Prevent the Screen from Turning Off Automatically

If you never want your display to turn off, you can set the screen timeout to Never.

Method 1: Through Settings

• Go to Settings → System → Power & battery → Screen and sleep.

• Choose Never under both options.

Method 2: Command Prompt

(Setting 0 minutes means “Never.”)

Method 3: Use Presentation Mode

For temporary prevention:

1. Press Windows + X → Mobility Center.

2. Turn Presentation Mode → On.
   This keeps your display awake while giving presentations or watching videos.

---

🔐 How to Set Different Screen Timeout for Lock Screen

The lock screen timeout is controlled separately and can be adjusted using Registry Editor.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.

2. Navigate to:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerSettings\7516b95f-f776-4464-8c53-06167f40cc99\8ec4b3a5-6868-48c2-be75-4f3044be88a7


3. Double-click Attributes, and set the value from 1 to 2.

4. Open Power Options → Advanced settings → Display.

5. You’ll now see a new setting called:

   Console lock display off timeout


6. Set your preferred lock screen timeout (e.g., 15 minutes).

7. Click Apply → OK.

---

🧰 Troubleshooting Screen Timeout Issues

If your display still turns off too soon — or doesn’t turn off at all — try these solutions:

---

🔋 Tips to Save Battery While Keeping the Screen On

If you need your screen to stay on longer but don’t want to drain battery too fast:

• Lower screen brightness (Settings → System → Display)

• Turn on Battery Saver under Power & battery settings

• Use Dark Mode or custom power plans

• Close background apps when idle

• Avoid “Never” timeout on battery — it can overheat laptops

Balancing brightness and timeout ensures optimal performance and longevity.

---

🏁 Conclusion

Changing how long your screen stays on in Windows 11 is quick, flexible, and customizable.

Whether you want to keep your display awake longer while working or conserve battery power on the go, Windows 11 provides multiple ways to do it — from the modern Settings app to classic Control Panel and advanced PowerShell commands.

💡 Key Takeaway:
For most users, the easiest way is:

Settings → System → Power & battery → Screen and sleep → Choose your preferred timeout.

Once you set it up, your PC will behave exactly how you want — no more unwanted screen blackouts or wasted energy!

---

❓ FAQs

1. How do I stop my screen from going black too quickly in Windows 11?
Go to Settings → Power & battery → Screen and sleep and increase the time under “Turn off my screen after.”

2. How can I keep my screen on permanently?
Set both On battery and Plugged in timeout values to Never.

3. Why does my screen still turn off even after changing settings?
Other power-saving features or third-party apps may override timeout settings. Check “Battery Saver” or disable adaptive power settings.

4. Does screen timeout affect sleep mode?
Not directly. Screen timeout only controls when the display turns off; sleep mode depends on separate settings.

5. Can I have different timeout settings for different users?
Yes. Screen timeout settings are user-specific, so each Windows account can have its own preferences.

---

📊 Summary Table