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How to change your Computer Sleep Settings

We have all had an experience where we walk away from our computer for a few minutes and come back to a black screen or screensaver. When this happens your computer is usually in sleep or hibernation mode to conserve battery power. Learn how to adjust these settings for your laptop when it is charging and when it is running on battery that works best for your needs.

 

Microsoft Windows:

 

Put your Computer to Sleep

When you computer is asleep it uses very little power and starts up faster where you left off. In the event your battery gets too low while it is sleeping Windows automatically saves all of your work and turns off the PC. The sleep settings are best used when you stepping away from your computer for a short period of time and want to conserve some battery power while you are gone. If you set this too low, however, your computer may start to sleep while you are working if you have not been typing or scrolling for a few minutes, so make sure to choose a time period that makes sense for you.

By default most PCs go to sleep when you close your lid or press the power button. The following directions are directly from Microsoft and should help you modify your settings as needed.

To make your PC sleep:

  1. Open power options:
    • For Windows 10, select Start , then select Settings  > System  > Power & sleep  > Additional power settings.
    • For Windows 8.1 / Windows RT 8.1, swipe in from the edge of the screen, tap Search (or if you’re using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Search), enter Power options in the search box, and then tap or click Power options.
    • For Windows 7, click the Start button
      The Start button, click Control Panel, click System and Security, and then click Power Options.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • If you’re using a desktop, tablet, or laptop, select Choose what the power buttons do. Next to When I press the power button, select Sleep, and then select Save changes.
    • If you’re using only a laptop, select Choose what closing the lid does. Next to When I close the lid, select Sleep, and then select Save changes.
  3. When you’re ready to make your PC sleep, just press the power button on your desktop, tablet, or laptop, or close your laptop’s lid.

On most PCs, you can resume working by pressing your PC’s power button. However, not all PCs are the same. You might be able to wake it by pressing any key on the keyboard, clicking a mouse button, or opening the lid on a laptop. Check the documentation that came with your computer or go to the manufacturer’s website.

 

Hibernate

When you put your computer into hibernation mode it uses significantly less power than sleep, but it takes longer to start up again to where you left off. If you know you won’t be using your laptop or tablet for an extended period of time or you need to conserve battery power then you will want to turn hibernation on.

First check to see if this option is available on your PC and if it is, turn it on. Then follow the steps below provided directly from Microsoft.

To hibernate your PC:

  1. Open power options:
    • For Windows 10, select Start , then select Settings  > System  > Power & sleep  > Additional power settings.
    • For Windows 8.1 / Windows RT 8.1, swipe in from the edge of the screen, tap Search (or if you’re using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Search), enter Power options in the search box, and then tap or click Power options.
    • For Windows 7, click the Start button
      The Start button, click Control Panel, click System and Security, and then click Power Options.
  2. Select Choose what the power button does, and then select Change settings that are currently unavailable. Under Shutdown settings, select the Hibernate checkbox (if it’s available), and then select Save changes.

Now you’ll be able to hibernate your PC in a few different ways:

  • For Windows 10, select Start , and then select Power Hibernate. You can also press the Windows logo key + X on your keyboard, and then select Shut down or sign out > Hibernate.
  • For Windows 8.1 / Windows RT 8.1, move your mouse to the lower left-hand corner of the screen and right-click the Start  button or press Windows logo key + X on your keyboard. Tap or click Shut down or sign out and choose Hibernate. Or, swipe in from the right edge of the screen and then tap Settings. (If you’re using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click Settings.) Tap or click Power Hibernate.
  • For Windows 7, click the Start button
    The Start button , click the arrow next to the Shut down button, and then click Hibernate.

 


MAC:

MAC offers similar energy saving settings to conserver power and extend your battery time. Follow the directions directly from Apple below to modify you settings.

  1. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Energy Saver.
  2. Do any of the following:
    • Set the amount of time your computer or display should wait before going to sleep: Drag the “Computer sleep” and “Display sleep” sliders, or the “Turn display off after” slider.
    • Keep your Mac from going to sleep automatically: Select “Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off.”
    • Put hard disks to sleep: Select “Put hard disks to sleep when possible.”
    • Keep your Mac turned on whenever power is available: Select “Start up automatically after a power failure.”
    • Allow your Mac to wake briefly so users can access shared services (if applicable): Select any of the available “Wake for…” options, for example, “Wake for network access.”For more information, see Share your computer’s resources when it’s in sleep and the Apple Support article About Wake on Demand and Bonjour Sleep Proxy.

Note: Some of the options may not be available, depending on your Mac.