How To Change the Computer Sleep Timer

If you’re the type who always leaves your computer on, you might be surprised to know that using a sleep timer can help you conserve energy. Not only does it prevent your computer from burning through electricity, but it also prevents hardware damage.

Windows has built-in sleep and power settings that automatically put the computer into sleep mode 15-30 minutes after you leave it idle. For most users, this duration is sufficient, but you can change it in settings if you wish.

When in sleep mode, your PC will start up a lot faster than when it’s not in sleep mode. And you’ll be right back where you left off, so you don’t have to waste time getting back into your work. And, during sleep mode, your computer consumes very little power.

With this article, we’ll walk you through how to change your computer’s sleep settings so that it goes into sleep mode automatically after a certain time! 

How To Change the Computer Sleep Timer

If your computer’s sleep timer durations are not meeting your preferences, changing the settings may be the answer.

Here’s how you can change the sleep timer duration on a Windows computer.

Step #1: Open the Windows Settings

You must first open the Windows Settings app to change the sleep timer duration on your computer or laptop.

If you want to access the Settings app, you can use the search bar, press Win + I on your keyboard, or right-click on the taskbar icon.

Additionally, you can open the settings using Cortana or typing ms-settings in Run.

Step #2: Go to Power and Sleep Settings

Now that we’re in Windows Settings, we need to navigate to the “Power and Sleep” section to access the sleep timer and related options.

For Windows 10 users, these options can be found in the “System” section, so click “System” and then look for “Power and Sleep” on the left.

For Windows 11 users, you can find these options by scrolling down the list in Settings, clicking on “Power and Battery” > “Screen and Sleep”.

Alternatively, if you’re in a hurry or want a quick solution, you can type “Power and Sleep” into the Settings search bar and open them.

Step #3: Adjust the Sleep Timer Duration

Now that you’re here, you’ll see all the different options related to this, and if you’re on a laptop, you’ll see additional options depending on whether the charger is plugged in.

In the “Screen” section, you can change the duration of inactivity or idle time, after which your computer or laptop will turn off its display.

From the drop-down menu, you can choose a duration between 1 minute and several hours, or even never if you don’t want the display to turn off.

In the “Sleep” section, you can specify how long it will take your computer or laptop to automatically hibernate and go into sleep mode after inactivity.

Once again, from the drop-down menu, select the duration you want between one minute and several hours, or set it to “Never” if you don’t want your computer or laptop to go into sleep mode.

That’s how you can adjust your sleep timer duration and save power while keeping your desktop computer or laptop running optimally.

How Is Sleep Mode Beneficial for Computers?

When your computer is in sleep mode, it goes into a low-power-consuming state, turning off most of the hardware to save energy.

Over time, this can benefit your computer in several ways.

1. Save Energy: When your computer is in sleep mode, it uses less energy than when it is running, which saves energy.
2. Conserve Battery: When the laptop is not in use, it will be put into sleep mode, making the battery last longer before needing to be charged.
3. Prolong Life: A computer left on all the time will eventually overheat and break down; sleep mode prevents that.
4. Quick Power On: Powering on a computer from sleep mode takes less time than powering on after a complete shutdown.

You can also pick up where you left off when you return from sleep mode because all programs and documents remain open when your computer goes to sleep.

This way, you won’t have to worry about your computer staying on in the background and wasting energy all day long while you are away.

Frequently Asked Questions