Is your screen constantly turning off while you’re reading, watching something, or working on a project? It’s frustrating, right?
Thankfully, Windows 11 gives you full control over when your screen turns off — or whether it turns off at all.
In this detailed, beginner-friendly guide, we’ll show you how to keep your screen from turning off on Windows 11 using various built-in settings. You’ll learn multiple methods, quick fixes, and pro tips to keep your display awake exactly when you need it.
Why Does Your Screen Turn Off Automatically?
By default, Windows 11 automatically turns off your screen after a few minutes of inactivity.
This is designed to:
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Save power, especially on laptops.
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Prevent screen burn-in on displays.
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Increase device lifespan by reducing heat and usage.
But if you’re reading a long article, running a presentation, or downloading a large file, you probably want to keep the screen on the whole time.
How to Keep Your Screen from Turning Off on Windows 11 (Quick Answer)
Here’s the fastest way:
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Press Windows + I to open Settings.
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Go to System → Power & Battery.
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Under Screen and sleep, choose Never for:
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When plugged in, turn off my screen after
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When on battery, turn off my screen after
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That’s it! Your display will now stay on continuously until you manually turn it off.
Method 1: Change Screen Timeout in Settings
This is the most common and user-friendly way to stop your screen from turning off.
Steps:
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Press Windows + I to open Settings.
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Navigate to System → Power & Battery.
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Click Screen and sleep to expand it.
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Set the following options:
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On battery power, turn off my screen after: → Never
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When plugged in, turn off my screen after: → Never
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✅ Pro Tip: You can also set a specific number of minutes (like 60) instead of “Never” if you just want to delay it.
Method 2: Keep Screen On When Plugged In (Power Settings)
If you use your laptop mainly while charging, this setting helps keep your screen active only when it’s plugged in.
Steps:
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Open Settings → System → Power & Battery.
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Under Power mode, choose Best performance.
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Expand Screen and sleep.
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Set When plugged in, turn off my screen after → Never.
✅ Why Use This:
This method saves battery life when unplugged, but keeps the display awake during plugged-in sessions — great for productivity or presentations.
Method 3: Adjust Power Mode and Screen Timeout Together
Sometimes your Power Mode affects whether the screen turns off.
Steps:
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Open Settings → System → Power & Battery.
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Under Power mode, select Best performance or Balanced.
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Then adjust screen timeout settings to Never.
Tip:
Avoid “Best power efficiency” mode — it may override your brightness and timeout preferences to save energy.
Method 4: Prevent Screen Turn-Off Using Control Panel
If you prefer the classic Windows interface, you can modify screen timeout from the Control Panel.
Steps:
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Press Windows + R, type
control, and press Enter. -
Go to Hardware and Sound → Power Options.
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Click Change plan settings next to your selected plan.
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Under Turn off the display, choose Never for both “On battery” and “Plugged in.”
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Click Save changes.
✅ Why Use This:
It works even if Settings is not responding — ideal for advanced users.
Method 5: Stop Screen Timeout for Specific Power Plans
Windows 11 lets you customize power plans individually.
Steps:
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Open Control Panel → Power Options.
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Select your preferred plan (Balanced, Power Saver, or High Performance).
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Click Change plan settings → Change advanced power settings.
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Expand Display → Turn off display after.
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Set both battery and plugged-in values to 0 (which means “Never”).
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Click Apply → OK.
✅ Pro Tip: Create a custom power plan for “Work Mode” that never turns off your screen.
Method 6: Use Dynamic Lock and Sleep Settings Wisely
Dynamic Lock can automatically lock your device when you walk away — even if your screen timeout is off.
To prevent unwanted screen offs:
Steps:
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Go to Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options.
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Under Dynamic Lock, uncheck Allow Windows to automatically lock your device.
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Also, go to Settings → System → Power & Battery → Screen and sleep, and disable Sleep after options.
✅ Tip: Disable both screen timeout and sleep for complete control.
Method 7: Keep Screen Awake with PowerToys “Awake” Tool
Microsoft’s PowerToys includes a handy utility called Awake that keeps your system active.
Steps:
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Download PowerToys from the Microsoft Store.
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Open PowerToys → Go to Awake.
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Toggle Enable Awake → On.
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Choose:
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Keep awake indefinitely, or
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Keep awake temporarily (for a set time).
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✅ Why It’s Great:
It doesn’t modify system settings — ideal for keeping your screen awake during long tasks, downloads, or video rendering.
Method 8: Use Command Prompt or PowerShell
If you’re a power user, you can prevent screen timeout using commands.
Command Prompt Steps:
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Press Windows + S, type cmd, and choose Run as administrator.
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Enter these commands:
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monitor-timeout-ac→ for when plugged in. -
monitor-timeout-dc→ for battery mode.
✅ Note: Setting 0 disables timeout completely.
Method 9: Turn Off Lock Screen Timeout
Sometimes your lock screen times out before your screen does.
Here’s how to fix that:
Steps:
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Press Windows + R, type
regedit, and hit Enter. -
Navigate to:
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Double-click Attributes, set the value to 2, and click OK.
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Now go to Control Panel → Power Options → Advanced settings → Display.
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You’ll see Console lock display off timeout — set it to 0.
✅ Caution: Editing the registry should be done carefully. Backup your system first.
How to Prevent Sleep Mode Entirely
Keeping your screen on is one thing — stopping your PC from sleeping is another.
Steps:
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Open Settings → System → Power & Battery.
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Click Screen and sleep.
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Set Put my device to sleep after → Never (for both battery and plugged in).
✅ Extra Tip:
When you just need your PC awake temporarily (like during a download), use PowerToys Awake instead of changing system settings.
Common Reasons Your Screen Still Turns Off
If your screen keeps turning off despite changing settings, here are possible reasons:
| Cause | Fix |
|---|---|
| Battery Saver mode is on | Turn it off in Settings → Power & Battery |
| Adaptive brightness enabled | Disable it in Display settings |
| Windows Update reset settings | Reapply your power plan |
| Outdated drivers | Update graphics and chipset drivers |
| Third-party apps controlling power | Check background utilities (e.g., Lenovo Vantage, Dell Power Manager) |
Troubleshooting Tips (If Settings Don’t Save)
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Restart your PC after changing power settings.
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Run the Power troubleshooter:
Go to Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters → Power → Run. -
Try creating a new user account if your profile is corrupted.
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Reset power settings with:
Best Practices for Balancing Screen Time and Energy Saving
Keeping your screen on continuously is convenient but can affect power consumption and display life.
✅ Here’s how to balance it smartly:
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Lower brightness if keeping the screen on for long periods.
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Use Night Light during evening hours.
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Enable auto sleep after several hours instead of “Never.”
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Turn the display off manually (press power button once) when done.
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Avoid static images to prevent burn-in on OLED screens.
Conclusion
Now you know how to keep your screen from turning off on Windows 11 using multiple methods — from simple Settings tweaks to advanced PowerShell commands.
Whether you want your display to stay on during presentations, downloads, or long work sessions, Windows 11 gives you total control.
Remember:
“Your screen, your rules — you decide when it rests.”
Just balance convenience with battery life and monitor health.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do I keep my screen on forever in Windows 11?
Go to Settings → System → Power & Battery → Screen and sleep, then set both screen timeout options to Never.
2. Why does my screen keep turning off even after I changed settings?
You may have Battery Saver mode enabled, or a third-party power manager overriding your settings.
3. Can I keep my screen on temporarily without changing settings?
Yes — install Microsoft PowerToys and use the Awake utility to keep your PC active temporarily.
4. Is it bad to keep the screen on all the time?
It’s fine occasionally, but constant use at high brightness can reduce screen lifespan and increase power usage.
5. How do I stop my screen from locking automatically?
Go to Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options, and disable Dynamic Lock or Require sign-in after sleep.
Summary: Key Takeaways
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Change screen timeout in Settings → Power & Battery → Screen and sleep.
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Set Never for screen-off options to keep your display awake.
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Use Control Panel or PowerToys Awake for more control.
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Disable Sleep Mode if you want your PC fully active.
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Troubleshoot persistent issues via driver updates or Power troubleshooter.
Final Thought:
Once you know how to manage screen timeout and power settings, you’ll never again lose focus because your screen decided to take a nap. Windows 11 gives you all the tools — you just need to flip the right switches.