How to keep your computer from sleeping (Windows 10 & 11)
A sleeping PC interrupts downloads, drops your online status, and stops long tasks dead. Here are your options, from the built-in Windows settings to the fastest one-click fix.
1. Change your power & sleep settings
The proper fix for a computer that sleeps too soon:
- Open Settings → System → Power & battery (Windows 11) or Settings → System → Power & sleep (Windows 10).
- Under Screen and sleep, set "When plugged in, put my device to sleep after" to Never (or a long time).
- Do the same for the screen-off timeout if you don't want the display to dim.
This is the cleanest option when you're on your own machine and have permission to change settings.
2. Turn on Presentation mode
If you're giving a talk or watching something, press Windows + P or use the Mobility Center (Windows + X → Mobility Center) to enable Presentation mode, which temporarily prevents sleep and notifications.
3. Keep the screen awake from your browser (no install)
Don't have permission to change settings, or just want something instant? Our free online keep-awake tool uses your browser's Wake Lock to stop the screen sleeping while the tab is open — nothing to install. Great for reading, watching training videos, or presentations.
4. Use a mouse jiggler (keeps you "active," not just awake)
Power settings stop the screen sleeping, but they don't stop apps like Teams from marking you "Away" after a few idle minutes. To defeat that, you need actual input activity. A free mouse jiggler nudges the cursor with small, randomized movements so the idle timer never trips — keeping both your screen on and your status active. On a locked-down work laptop where you can't install anything, a USB hardware jiggler does the same with no software.
Which should you use?
- Own machine, just don't want it to sleep? → Change power settings.
- Reading or presenting? → Browser keep-awake tool.
- Need your status to stay active? → A mouse jiggler.
- Locked-down work PC? → A USB hardware jiggler.
Curious how these actually work? Read how mouse jigglers work.