1. Introduction

There are situations when you might want your Windows PC screen to remain active continuously, without going into sleep mode. This is particularly useful when presenting, watching videos, or leaving your computer running processes without interruptions. By adjusting a few settings, you can ensure your screen stays on as long as needed.

2. Checking Your Settings

To begin, let's find where to adjust the screen timeout settings in Windows. Here's how to access them:

• Click on the Start menu (Windows icon) at the bottom-left corner of your screen.
• Select Settings (gear icon) from the list.
• In the Settings window, click on System.

3. Adjust Power & Sleep Settings

The Power & Sleep settings control how long your screen stays on before it turns off due to inactivity. To disable automatic screen turning off, follow these steps:

• Open Settings from the Start menu.
• Select System and then click on Power & sleep.
• Under the Screen section, set the On battery power, turn off after and When plugged in, turn off after to Never.

By setting both options to Never, your screen will remain on indefinitely, regardless of whether your device is running on battery or plugged in.

4. Adjust Advanced Power Settings

For more fine-tuned control, you can access the Advanced Power Settings:

• In the Power & sleep settings, click on Additional power settings under the Related settings section.
• In the Power Options window, click on Change plan settings next to your selected power plan.
• Click on Change advanced power settings.
• In the Advanced settings tab, expand the Display section.
• Set Turn off display after to Never for both On battery and Plugged in.

5. Using Screen Saver Settings (Optional)

If you prefer your screen to remain on with some information visible, you can use a screen saver that will show content while preventing the screen from going dark. To enable a screen saver:

• Open the Settings menu by clicking the Start menu and selecting Settings.
• Go to Personalization and click on Lock screen.
• Scroll down and click on Screen saver settings.
• Choose a screen saver from the drop-down list, and set the Wait time to a low value like 1 minute to ensure the screen saver starts quickly instead of the screen turning off.

6. Battery Life Considerations

Leaving your screen on continuously can significantly drain your battery. To help manage battery life, consider the following tips:

• Lower screen brightness: Go to Settings > System > Display and adjust the Brightness slider to a lower level to save power.
• Enable battery saver mode: If you need to save battery while keeping the screen on, you can enable Battery saver mode by clicking on the battery icon in the taskbar and selecting Battery saver.
• Close unnecessary background apps: Right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager to close any apps or processes consuming power in the background.

7. Conclusion

By following these steps, you can easily keep your Windows screen on without automatically turning off, whether for presentations, watching videos, or leaving your computer running processes. Adjusting power and sleep settings, as well as using screen savers for visual content, will help you manage how long the screen stays active. Keep in mind that continuous screen activity will consume more power, so consider managing your device's power settings accordingly.

8. FAQs

Q1: My screen still turns off even after setting it to "Never," what should I do? If your screen still turns off despite the settings, check if Battery Saver mode is enabled, as it may override screen timeout settings. Disable it by clicking the battery icon on the taskbar and turning off Battery Saver.

Q2: Can I use a screen saver instead of keeping the screen always on? Yes, you can use a screen saver that will keep the screen active with content like a clock or images, so it won't go dark while also providing some visual effect.