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Windows 11 is designed to save energy by putting your computer to sleep or locking it after a period of inactivity. While this feature is useful for security and power efficiency, it can sometimes interrupt your work or downloads.

If you want to keep your PC awake and avoid automatic locking, this guide will show you how to adjust your settings step-by-step. The instructions are simple and suitable for all users, even if you’re not very tech-savvy.

By following the steps below, you can control when your Windows 11 device sleeps or locks, helping you stay productive without unwanted interruptions.

Let’s dive into the easiest ways to prevent your PC from sleeping or locking automatically.

Quick Note Before You Begin

• Make sure you are logged in as an administrator or have permission to change system settings.
• Check if your device is plugged in; some power settings differ between battery and plugged-in modes.
• Close any important programs before changing settings to avoid losing unsaved work.

Step 1: Adjust Sleep Settings in Power & Battery

The first and simplest method is to change your sleep settings in the Windows 11 Settings app. This controls when your PC goes to sleep after inactivity.

1. Click the Start button (Windows icon) in the bottom-left corner.
2. Select Settings (gear icon).
3. In the Settings window, click System from the left sidebar.
4. Then click Power & battery on the right side.
5. Scroll down to the Screen and sleep section.
6. Here, you will see options like On battery power, put my device to sleep after and When plugged in, put my device to sleep after.
7. To prevent sleeping, set both options to Never.

Why is this important? Setting sleep to “Never” means your PC won’t automatically enter sleep mode, so your work or downloads won’t be interrupted.

Step 2: Change Screen Timeout Settings

Sometimes your screen turns off but the PC stays awake. To keep your screen from turning off:

1. Go back to Settings > System > Power & battery.
2. Under Screen and sleep, look for options like On battery power, turn off my screen after and When plugged in, turn off my screen after.
3. Set these to a longer time or Never if you want the screen to stay on.

This ensures your screen stays visible, which can help if you want to monitor something on your display continuously.

Step 3: Disable Automatic Lock Screen

Windows automatically locks your PC after a period of inactivity for security reasons. You can change or disable this behavior by adjusting the screen saver settings:

1. Press Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type control desk.cpl,,@screensaver and press Enter. This opens the Screen Saver Settings.
3. In the Screen Saver Settings window, check if a screen saver is selected.
4. If there is a screen saver, uncheck the box that says On resume, display logon screen.
5. Alternatively, you can set the screen saver to (None) to disable it completely.
6. Click Apply and then OK.

Why do this? Disabling the lock on resume means your PC won’t ask for a password or lock automatically after using a screen saver.

Step 4: Adjust Dynamic Lock Settings (If Enabled)

Windows 11 includes a feature called Dynamic Lock, which automatically locks your PC when you step away using Bluetooth devices like your phone. To prevent unexpected locking:

1. Open Settings and go to Accounts.
2. Select Sign-in options.
3. Scroll to the Dynamic lock section.
4. Uncheck the box that says Allow Windows to automatically lock your device when you’re away.

This stops Windows from locking your PC based on Bluetooth device proximity.

Alternative Method: Use Command Prompt to Disable Sleep

For users comfortable with command-line tools, you can disable sleep mode using Command Prompt:

1. Press Windows + S and type cmd.
2. Right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
3. Type the following command and press Enter:

powercfg -change -standby-timeout-ac 0

This command sets the sleep timeout to zero minutes (disabled) when plugged in.

4. To disable sleep on battery, run:

powercfg -change -standby-timeout-dc 0

Using these commands helps control sleep settings directly without navigating through menus.

FAQs

Why does my PC still sleep even after setting sleep to “Never”?

Sometimes, other settings like screen saver or Dynamic Lock can cause the PC to lock or appear to sleep. Make sure all related settings are adjusted as described above.

Will disabling sleep affect battery life?

Yes, preventing your device from sleeping or turning off the screen can use more battery power. It’s best to keep sleep enabled on battery if you want to conserve energy.

Can I schedule different sleep settings for work and home?

Windows 11 does not have a built-in scheduler for sleep settings, but third-party apps can provide this functionality if needed.

Is it safe to disable automatic locking?

Disabling automatic locking reduces security, especially on shared or public computers. Only disable it on trusted devices.

When Nothing Works

If you have tried all the above steps and your Windows 11 device still sleeps or locks unexpectedly, consider the following:

• Check for Windows updates by going to Settings > Windows Update and installing any pending updates.
• Scan for malware or viruses that might alter system behavior.
• Reset your power plan settings to default by running powercfg -restoredefaultschemes in an elevated Command Prompt.
• Visit the official Microsoft support page for help: Microsoft Windows Support.

Conclusion

Preventing Windows 11 from sleeping or locking automatically is straightforward once you understand the key settings involved. By adjusting power and screen timeout options, disabling automatic lock via screen saver, and turning off Dynamic Lock, you can keep your PC awake and accessible when needed.

Always remember to balance convenience with security and power usage. If you follow this guide carefully, your Windows 11 experience will be smoother and free from unwanted interruptions.