If you find your Windows 11 screen turning off too quickly or staying on too long, adjusting the screen timeout duration can help tailor your experience. The screen timeout setting controls how long your computer waits before turning off the display due to inactivity. Here’s a simple guide on how to change the screen timeout duration on Windows 11.
1. Open the Settings Menu
- Click on the Start button or press the Windows key on your keyboard.
- Type Settings into the search bar and select the Settings app from the results.
2. Navigate to Power & Battery Settings
- In the Settings window, select System from the left-hand sidebar.
- Scroll down and click on Power & Battery.
3. Modify Screen Timeout Settings
- Under the Power & Battery section, look for Screen and Sleep.
- Here, you’ll see options for when your screen should turn off and when the device should go to sleep. The two key options to modify are:
- When plugged in, turn off my screen after: This controls the timeout while your device is plugged into a power source.
- On battery power, turn off my screen after: This controls the timeout while your device is running on battery.
4. Change the Timeout Duration
- Click on the drop-down menus next to each option to select a new timeout duration. The available options range from 1 minute to 5 hours, or you can select Never to disable the timeout entirely.
5. Save the Changes
- After adjusting the settings, simply close the Settings window. Your changes will be automatically saved.
6. Optional: Adjust Advanced Power Settings
- For more detailed control over your power settings, you can click on Additional power settings under the Related settings section in Power & Battery.
- This opens the Control Panel where you can tweak your power plan and further adjust sleep and display settings.
Why Adjust Screen Timeout?
- Battery Life: Reducing the screen timeout can conserve battery life, especially if you often forget to lock your device.
- Prevent Screen Burn-in: For OLED or AMOLED screens, shorter timeout periods can help prevent screen burn-in.
- Customization: Tailoring the timeout to your needs ensures that your computer behaves according to your preferences.
By following these steps, you can easily customize the screen timeout on Windows 11 to suit your needs, whether you want to conserve power or extend screen-on time for specific tasks.