Windows 10 Operating System _ Prevent Windows 10 machine FROM GOING TO SLEEP

 

Copilot , when you say , "the PC goes to sleep" ............. What does it mean ? Does it mean that the PC/Desktop will go BLANK or the screen goes BLANK after a certain period of time ? Is it true that if I set or activate the   "screensaver" on my Windows 10 machine , it will prevent my Windows 10 machine FROM GOING TO SLEEP ? Copilot , could you please explain ?

MICROSOFT Copilot Answer

Great question — this is one of those areas where Windows terminology can be confusing. Let’s break it down clearly:

---

🌙 What “Sleep” Means in Windows 10

• Sleep mode is a low-power state.
• The PC saves everything you’re working on in memory (RAM), then powers down most components to conserve energy.
• The screen goes blank/black, fans usually stop, and the computer looks “off,” but it can wake up quickly when you press a key or move the mouse.
• Think of it like “pausing” the computer — not shutting it down, but not fully running either.

---

🖼️ What a Screensaver Does

• A screensaver is just a visual animation (like your “Bubbles”) that runs while the PC is still awake.
• It does not prevent sleep. In fact, if your PC is set to go to sleep after a certain period, the screensaver will run for a while, then the PC will still go to sleep.
• Screensavers are mostly decorative today — they don’t serve the old purpose of protecting CRT monitors anymore.

---

⚡ Key Difference

• Screensaver = PC is awake, just showing animations.
• Sleep mode = PC is in low-power state, screen is blank, waiting to be woken up.

---

✅ How to Control This

If you want the PC to stay awake and only show the screensaver (never go to sleep):

1. Go to Settings → System → Power & sleep.
2. Under Sleep, set both “On battery power, PC goes to sleep after” and “When plugged in, PC goes to sleep after” to Never.
3. Keep your screensaver enabled — now the PC will show bubbles indefinitely instead of sleeping.

---

👉 So to answer directly:

• Yes, when the PC “goes to sleep,” the screen goes blank and the machine enters low-power mode.
• No, setting a screensaver does not stop the PC from sleeping — you must change the Power & sleep settings to prevent that.

---

Would you like me to also show you how to make the PC wake instantly without asking for a password when it comes out of sleep (similar to what we did for the screensaver)?