How to change the sleep timer on your Windows 10 computer to save power and prevent screen burn-in

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How to change the sleep timer on your Windows 10 computer to save power and prevent screen burn-in
It's easy to set your sleep timer in Windows 10.Crystal Cox/Business Insider
  • To set the sleep timer on Windows 10, you'll need to open the "Power & Sleep" menu.
  • The sleep timer in Windows 10 controls how long your PC needs to sit idle before it'll go into its power-saving "Sleep" mode.
  • If you're concerned with saving battery life, you should be sure to set a short sleep timer.
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The sleep timer in Windows 10 controls when your PC goes into "Sleep" mode. This helps prevent screen burn-in, and keeps your computer from using more power than it needs to.

This is especially useful if you're on an unplugged laptop, and want to keep your PC alive for as long as possible.

By default, most Windows 10 computers will only go to sleep after two hours spent idle. Luckily, you can change this at any time.

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How to set the sleep timer on a Windows 10 computer

1. Press the Windows key + Q to bring up the search menu, and type "Sleep" into it.

2. When "Power & sleep settings" appears in the results, click it.

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How to change the sleep timer on your Windows 10 computer to save power and prevent screen burn-in
Open the "Power & sleep menu."William Antonelli/Business Insider

3. In the "Power & Sleep" menu that opens, scroll down to "Sleep." The drop-down menus there let you control when the PC goes to sleep. If you're on a laptop, there may be separate options for when the computer is charging and unplugged.

How to change the sleep timer on your Windows 10 computer to save power and prevent screen burn-in
You can also choose how long you'd like the screen to stay on before going dark.William Antonelli/Business Insider

4. Click on the drop-down menus to open them, and select how long you want your computer to sit idle before going to sleep.

How to change the sleep timer on your Windows 10 computer to save power and prevent screen burn-in
The shorter the time, the sooner your PC will go to sleep.William Antonelli/Business Insider

Once you close this window, your settings will be saved. You've now set your sleep timer.

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