You can change how long Windows 11 waits before turning off the display from the power settings. On current Windows 11 versions, these controls are under Settings > System > Power & battery, with screen and sleep timeout options grouped together.
How to Change the Windows 11 Screen Timeout
- Open Settings.
- Select System.
- Select Power & battery.
- Expand Screen, sleep & hibernate timeouts or the equivalent screen-and-sleep section shown on your version.
- Choose how long Windows should wait before turning off the screen.
- If the PC is a laptop, set separate plugged-in and battery values when Windows provides them.
Screen Timeout and Sleep Are Different
Turning off the screen only powers down the display while the PC can continue running. Sleep puts the computer into a low-power state. You can therefore set the display to turn off after a few minutes while allowing the PC to stay awake longer.
What Timeout Should You Use?
A shorter display timeout can save battery power and reduce unnecessary screen-on time. A longer timeout can be useful while reading, presenting, or monitoring something without frequent input. On a laptop, a shorter battery timeout and longer plugged-in timeout often provide a useful balance.
Why Are My Timeout Options Different?
The wording and available choices can vary with the Windows 11 version, device type, Modern Standby support, manufacturer power software, and organization policy. Managed work or school computers can have settings enforced by an administrator.
What If the Screen Still Turns Off Too Soon?
Check both the display-off and sleep settings. Also check manufacturer power utilities, battery-saver behavior, screen savers, and organization policies if they apply. An application can sometimes request that Windows keep the display awake, so actual behavior can also vary while video or presentations are running.
Summary
Open Settings > System > Power & battery and adjust the screen timeout in the screen/sleep timeout section. Remember that turning off the display is separate from putting the entire PC to sleep.