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Windows 11 Screen saver and Sleep settings

Anonymous
2022-04-25T03:46:45+00:00

Hey there,

First time posting here since I couldn't really find a clear answer on what I am experiencing.

I recently upgraded my desktop to Windows 11 and am trying to replicate my old screensaver and sleep setting from Windows 10, but it doesn't seem Windows 11 is allowing that configuration.

Specifically, my settings in Windows 10 were:

When plugged in, turn my screen off NEVER

When plugged in, put my device to sleep after 20 minutes.

The motivation behind this setting is that it would drive me nuts if my monitors went dark while I was reading, or was monitoring something on a screen without actively mousing or typing, or had just stepped away for a few minutes. Since I have multiple monitors, there's always a gap time for the monitors to load back up, which also aggravated me.

Anyways, every time I try to set the screensaver/screens off time to be greater than the sleep time in Windows 11, it overrides the sleep setting to equal the screensaver/screens off time. It appears the settings have no issue with the screen time being less than sleep time. Under this scenario, the only way I can get my monitors to stay on provided the computer is awake is to have my computer NEVER enter sleep mode.

Anyways, any help or assistance would be awesome.

Many thanks

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Sleep and Power on, off

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-04-25T14:57:15+00:00

    Hey Greg,

    Thanks for the response.

    Last night I think I stumbled on a fix here. It appears that if you try to set screen and sleep settings in the new streamlined settings app, the above problem is present (i.e. Screen off time must be less than or equal to sleep time. Attempted to make screen off time greater than sleep time overrides the sleep setting).

    I thought this may be related to the power plan, so I accessed the power settings in the older control panel app. Here, changing the plan settings allows for screen off time to be greater than sleep time, and it appears to carry through into the simplified settings app.

    Thanks for taking the time to respond though! I have used longer sleep settings before, but the problem is my space as I'm in a apartment where my workstation is in my living room, and the fans whirring and screens glowing when I'm not using the computer is a a bit of a PITA :).

    Anyways, looks like my problem is solved either way!

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-04-25T16:25:25+00:00

    I'm really glad to hear that it's resolved.

    Let me know if I can help further. I'll stay subscribed to this thread in case you need anything else, until the system locks it in a few months.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2022-04-25T04:35:33+00:00

    HI ZV. I'm Greg, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, here to help you.

    It sounds like you need Sleep set to more like an hour or 90 minutes, or use Hibernate which is a deeper sleep that actually powers off.

    You could also experiment with Desktop Backgrounds, perhaps by setting one or more of WIndows 11's spectacular Themes packages which install to Personalization > Themes settings to choose from: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/themes

    These are always subject to Sleep Settings and not competing with it.

    If this is not exactly what you need, please explain a bit more so I can help you better. Otherwise feel free to ask back questions and keep me posted on your progress as I will be here to help until this is resolved.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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