How to Change Screen Timeout in Windows 11

After a few minutes, Windows automatically locks the computer and turns off the screen. Here is how to change the screen timeout setting in Windows 11.

Windows will automatically lock the system and turn off the screen if you leave the computer idle for more than five minutes. This feature is called Screen Timeout or Lock Screen Timeout. Once locked, you have to enter the user password or PIN to unlock the computer. As you can guess, the main use of this feature is to protect your computer from unauthorized use.

For example, if you are gone for a short walk but forgot to lock the computer, Windows will do it for you, depending on the lock screen. Generally, five minutes is the default lock screen timeout. That means, if the system is idle for five minutes or more, Windows will lock the computer and turn off the screen.

The good thing is, if the default screen timeout is too short or long, you can change the screen timeout setting in Windows 11. If needed, you can even turn off the screen timeout feature. All you have to do is select an option from the dropdown menu, and you are good to go. If you need assistance, that is where this easy guide comes into play.

So, without further delay, let me show you how to change the screen timeout feature in Windows 11 and turn off screen timeout in Windows 11.

Table of contents:

• Change screen timeout in Windows 11
• Command to change screen timeout in Windows 11
• Turn off screen timeout in Windows 11

Change screen timeout in Windows 11

You can change the screen timeout from the Windows 11 Settings app. As I said earlier, the screen timeout, also known as lock screen timeout, is responsible for locking the computer after a specified idle time. Here is how to change the screen timeout in Windows 11 via the Settings app.

1. Use “Start + I” to launch Settings.
2. Choose “System” on the sidebar.
3. Click on the “Power & battery” option.
4. Click on the “Screen and sleep” option.
5. Select a screen timeout from the “On battery power, turn off my screen after” dropdown menu.
6. Select a screen timeout from the “When plugged in, turn off my screen after” dropdown menu.
7. Close the Settings app.
8. With that, you have successfully changed the screen timeout in Windows 11.

Same steps with screenshots and some additional info:

As always, you need to launch the Settings app. There are so many different ways to open Settings in Windows 11. You can use the “Windows key + I” keyboard shortcut or click on the pinned “Settings” icon in the Start menu. Of course, you can also search for it in the Start menu.

Once the Settings app is opened, select “System” on the sidebar. This is where you find most of the options related to your computer and its features. Here, click on the “Power & Battery” option.

On the Power & Battery page, scroll down and click the “Screen and Sleep” option under the “Power” section. As you can tell from the name, this is where all the screen timeout and sleep settings are located.

Clicking on the option will expand it to show more sub-options. Here, select the timeout time from the below dropdown menus. For example, if you want to turn off the screen after 15 minutes, choose that time in the dropdown menu. Of course, you choose different times for both options. Changes are automatically saved.

• On battery power, turn off my screen after
• When plugged in, turn off my screen after

Note: The “On battery power, turn off my screen after” option is only visible on laptops.

Finally, close the Settings app.

That is all. With that, you have successfully changed the screen timeout in Windows 11.

Command to change screen timeout in Windows 11

Along with the Settings app, you can also use the powercfg command to change screen timeout in Windows 11. All you have to do is execute the PowerShell or Command Prompt command, and you are good to go. Here is how to do it.

1. Right-click on the Start menu icon.
2. Choose the “Windows Terminal” option.
3. Make sure the PowerShell tab is opened in Terminal.
4. Paste the below command while replacing “SECONDS” with the actual timeout in seconds. (On Battery command)
   powercfg -change -monitor-timeout-dc SECONDS
5. Press Enter to execute the command.
6. Paste the below command while replacing “SECONDS” with the actual timeout in seconds. (When Plugged-in command)
   powercfg -change -monitor-timeout-ac SECONDS
7. Press Enter to execute the command.
8. Close the Terminal window.
9. With that, you have changed the lock screen timeout in Windows 11.

Same steps with screenshots:

First, we need to open the Terminal window. To do that, right-click on the Start menu and select the “Windows Terminal” option.

In the Terminal window, make sure the PowerShell tab is opened. If not, select “Windows PowerShell” from the dropdown menu on the top bar.

In the PowerShell tab, execute the below commands one after the other while replacing “SECONDS” with the actual number of seconds you want to set the screen timeout. For example, if you wish the screen timeout to be 15 minutes, set 900.

On battery command:

powercfg -change -monitor-timeout-dc SECONDS

When plugged in command:

powercfg -change -monitor-timeout-ac SECONDS

Close the Terminal window.

With that, you have successfully changed the screen timeout in Windows 11 using a simple command in PowerShell or Command Prompt.

Turn off screen timeout in Windows 11

If you don’t want Windows 11 to timeout the screen, you can turn it off pretty quickly. Here is how to do it.

1. Use “Start + I” to launch Settings.
2. Choose “System” on the sidebar.
3. Click on the “Power & battery” option.
4. Click on the “Screen and sleep” option.
5. Select “Never” from the “On battery power, turn off my screen after” dropdown menu.
6. Select “Never” from the “When plugged in, turn off my screen after” dropdown menu.
7. Close the Settings app.
8. With that, you have successfully disabled the screen timeout in Windows 11.

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That is all. It is that simple to change screen timeout in Windows 11.

I hope this simple and easy Windows 11 how-to guide helped you.

If you are stuck or need some help, comment below, and I will try to help as much as possible.