5 Ways to Keep Your Computer Awake (No Sleep or Screensavers)

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Keep your Windows, Mac, or Chromebook computer from sleeping

Co-authored by Travis Boylls Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: January 28, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Using Windows Power Settings
|
• Using Microsoft PowerToys
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• Using a Mac
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• Using a Chromebook
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• Using a Web Browser
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• Video
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• Tips

|Show more |Show less

By default, when you are inactive, your computer goes to sleep to save energy after a certain period of time. However, there are times when you might want to keep your computer awake. Maybe you are compiling software, rendering video, or downloading a large file. Keeping your computer awake can also be helpful if you work from home and your employer is monitoring your activity. Luckily, Windows, Mac, and Chromebook allow you to change the power settings to keep your computer awake. You can also use a web browser to keep your computer from sleeping. This wikiHow article teaches you multiple ways to prevent your computer from entering sleep mode.

Keeping Your Computer from Sleeping

• Windows: Go to Settings > System > Power & Battery > Screen, sleep, & hibernate. Set screen and sleep options to “Never.”
• Mac: Go to System Setting > Lock Screen. Set all display options to “Never.”
• Chromebook: Go to Settings > System Preferences. Select “Keep display on” for all options.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Using Windows Power Settings

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1. 
   1
   Open your Windows Settings

   

   . You'll find this gear icon in the Windows Start menu. You can easily change your power settings any time you want to keep your PC awake while you're not using the computer.

   • Windows recently released a tool called Awake as a part of Microsoft's Power Toys app. This tool is designed to make it easy to keep your computer awake as needed without changing a bunch of settings. If you don't want to change any settings indefinitely, check out the Using Windows Power Toys method to try Awake.
2. 
   2
   Click the System icon. It's the first option at the top of the menu bar to the left.

   • On Windows 10, it’s the first option in the main Settings window. It has an icon that resembles a laptop.
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3. 
   3
   Click Power & battery. It’s in the large menu panel in the middle of the screen. This displays Power settings.

   • On Windows 10, click Power & sleep in the menu bar to the left.
   • You may want to make a note of your current settings so you can easily change them back in the future.
4. 
   4
   Click Screen, sleep, & hibernate timeouts. It’s the second option in the menu.

   • If you are using Windows 10, skip this step.
5. 
   5
   Select “Never” next to “Turn my screen off after.” This prevents your screen from turning off after a set time. If you are using a laptop, you will see this option listed below “Plugged In” and “Battery.” This allows you to select a different setting for when your laptop is using a battery, versus when it is plugged in and charging.
6. 
   6
   Select “Never” next to “Make my device sleep after.” This prevents your computer from going to sleep after a set time period. If you are using a laptop, you will see this option listed below “Plugged In” and “Battery.” This allows you to select a different setting for when your laptop is using a battery, versus when it is plugged in and charging.
7. 
   7
   Change your settings back when you're finished with your task. Unless the computer really needs to be up and running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, you'll want to change your settings back to something more economical at some point. Don't forget to return to Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen, sleep, & hibernate timeouts to change "Never" to a finite period of time.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Using Microsoft PowerToys

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1. 
   1
   Install Microsoft PowerToys. PowerToys is an app that contains a set of tools for Windows power users, including the Awake tool. Awake is a tool that runs in your system tray (near the clock) and allows you toggle "permanent" awake mode on and off as needed. This is handy if you don't want to change your regular power settings. You can download PowerToys for free from the Microsoft Store or from GitHub.
2. 
   2
   Open PowerToys. If it doesn't open automatically, you can launch it by clicking PowerToys (Preview) in the Windows Start menu or by clicking Open in the Microsoft Store when it is finished downloading.
3. 
   3
   Click the Awake tab. It's in the menu bar to the left.
4. 
   4
   Click Open Settings. It's the option with a gear at the bottom of the window.
5. 
   5
   Toggle "Enable Awake" to On

   

   . Now you'll see a blue coffee cup icon in the system tray area (near the clock). This indicates that Awake mode is on.

   • If you don't see the icon, click the up-arrow (^) in the system tray to expand more icons.
6. 
   6
   Select Keep awake indefinitely. This is under the "Mode" header. Selecting this option means that your computer will not shut down as long as Awake mode is enabled.

   • If you'd rather this mode end automatically, choose Keep awake temporarily and choose how long you would like the computer to stay awake.
7. 
   7
   Check the box next to "Keep screen on" (optional). Your monitor may still go to sleep after a period of idle time, even if the computer stays awake. If you want the screen to stay active as well, check this box.

   • Keeping the monitor from going to sleep can shorten its lifespan, so try not to use this feature for an extended period of time.
8. 
   8
   Toggle Awake mode on and off. If you set Awake to run indefinitely, your computer will stay awake until you shut it down. When you're ready to turn off Awake mode, here's how you can do it:

   • Right-click the Awake icon on your system tray—it's the blue coffee cup. Click the up-arrow near the system clock if you don't see this icon.
   • Select Mode.
   • Select Off to turn off Awake mode, or choose how long you want to keep the computer awake (if turning the feature on).
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Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Using a Mac

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1. 
   1
   Open your System Settings. You'll find this option in the Apple menu at the top-left corner of the screen.
2. 
   2
   Click Lock screen. It’s in the menu panel to the left. This menu option allows you to control your lock screen options.
3. 
   3
   Select “Never” for all display options. If you are using a MacBook, you will see two options for when your Mac is on battery and when it is connected to a power adapter. Select “Never” next to both “Turn display off on battery when inactive” and “Turn display off on power adapter when inactive.”
4. 
   4
   Click Battery. It’s in the menu bar to the left.
5. 
   5
   Click Options. It’s at the bottom of the Battery menu.
6. 
   6
   Toggle on “Prevent automatic sleeping on power adapter when the display is off.” This prevents your Mac from going to sleep when this display is off.

   • This option may not be available on all versions of macOS.
7. 
   7
   Toggle off “Put hard disk to sleep when possible.” This prevents your hard disk from going to sleep.

   • This option may not be available on all versions of macOS.
8. 
   8
   Select “Always” next to “Wake for network access.” This allows your Mac to receive network traffic while your Mac is asleep,

   • This option may not be available on all versions of macOS.
9. 
   9
   Click Done. This saves your battery settings.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Using a Chromebook

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1. 
   1
   Click the clock. It's at the bottom-right corner of the screen.
2. 
   2
   Click Settings. It's the gear icon on the menu.
3. 
   3
   Click System preferences. It’s towards the bottom of the menu bar on the left.

   • Menu options may be different from one Chromebook model to the next.
4. 
   4
   Select “Keep display on” next to “When inactive and plugged in.” This prevents your Chromebook from going to sleep when it is plugged in.
5. 
   5
   Select “Keep display on” next to “When inactive on battery” (optional). This prevents your Chromebook from going to sleep when it is on battery.
6. 
   6
   Toggle off “Sleep when lid is closed” (optional). This prevents your Chromebook from going to sleep when you close this display.
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Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Using a Web Browser

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1. 
   1
   Go to a website that keeps your computer awake. There are many websites you can use that will keep your computer awake as long as the website is active in your web browser. The following are some you can choose:

   • Nosleep.page
   • www.stayawakeclub.io
   • www.keepscreenon.com
   • Keep Awake (Google Chrome extension).
2. 
   2
   Click the option to keep your computer awake. There is usually a button in the middle of the screen that you can click to keep your computer awake. Once this option is activated, it will prevent your computer from going to sleep.

   • This will only work if the web page is active in your web browser. If you switch to a different website or tab, it will not be able to keep your computer awake.
3. 
   3
   Select a time interval (optional). Most of these websites have the option to select a specific time to keep your computer awake. You can keep your computer awake for half an hour or a couple of hours. Click a time interval to keep your computer awake for a specific time period.
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Tips

• Keeping your computer up and running constantly can utilize a lot of energy, as well as degrade the quality of your hardware. Only prevent your computer from going to sleep when you need to complete certain tasks, such as lengthy downloads or installations.
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• If you're using a laptop, consider allowing the screen to sleep even if your computer stays awake. This can help conserve battery power when you're not connected to a power source, and it shouldn't interrupt any downloads or installations running in the background.
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