Sleep Mode doesn’t work on Windows 10 [QUICKEST METHODS]

Editor

March 26, 2019

solve Critical error Start Menu not working on Windows 10

Even though everything considerably evolved in Windows over time, Sleep mode is still something that’s there and it will be for a long time.

Its main use is to shut down HDD and computer monitor after a specified period in order to prevent unnecessary power consumption.

But, what to do when your PC just won’t go to sleep on Windows 10? You’re at the right place to find out.

In this article, we’ll list all the possible solutions to fix this problem. Make sure to take follow them in the presented order.

What can I do if my PC won’t go into Sleep mode on Windows 10?

Make sure the Sleep Mode is enabled
Scan for viruses
Remove peripheral devices
Disable Hybrid Mode
Change Advanced Power Settings

1. Make sure the Sleep Mode is enabled

Let’s start with the obvious and confirm that the Sleep Mode timeout is enabled in the first place. A lot of users are not even aware of certain, minor changes that are made after every system update.

So, if you updated Windows recently, make sure to check out your Power Plan settings. There’s a slight chance that something changed without your knowledge.

In order to do so, follow the steps below:

Press Windows key + I to instantly open the Settings app.
Choose System.
Select Power & sleep from the left pane.
Set preferred values under the Sleep section and exit.

If you’re having trouble opening the Setting app, take a look at this article to solve the issue.

You can also restore Advanced Power Settings for the active Power Plan by following the steps below:

Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
Select System.
Choose Power & sleep from the left pane.
Click on the Additional power settings in the top right corner.
Select ”Change when the computer sleeps”.
Now, click on the ”Restore default settings for this plan”.
Save changes.

You can’t find your Power Plans? Get them back by following the easy steps in this article.

2. Scan for viruses

In addition, some users reported that malicious software was preventing their computer from going into Sleep or Hibernation.

Allegedly, it was working in the background, mostly adware hidden within the Chrome browser.

In order to follow through with this step, you’ll need to perform a deep system scan with either a third-party antivirus or Windows Defender. That way you’ll be certain that the malware presence isn’t causing Sleep Mode issues.

Since the procedure varies on different third-party solutions, we’ll make sure to show you how to perform a deep, offline scan with Windows Defender:

Open Windows Defender from the Notification area.
Select Virus & threat protection.
Click on the Advanced scan section.
Choose the Windows Defender Offline Scan and then click on the Scan Now button.
Your PC will restart and the scanning procedure will commence.

Need additional info on how to perform a full system scan directly from Windows Defender? Find out more in this dedicated guide.

3. Remove peripheral devices

Another valid reason behind PC’s inability to go to sleep lies in peripheral devices. Some of them, like a mouse or keyboard, shouldn’t cause any issues. However, we can’t say the same for webcam, printer, or SD reader.

In addition, make sure to remove DVD from DVD-ROM in case it’s not in use. After you unplug peripheral devices, your problem should be resolved.

On the other hand, if you’re still stuck with an insomniac PC, make sure to continue with the steps below.

4. Disable Hybrid Mode

The Hybrid Mode is, as the name itself says, the hybrid of Sleep and Hibernate power-saving modes. Its primary use is to resemble hibernation power saving traits while keeping the loading speed of the Sleep mode.

That sounds great but not every motherboard supports this technology. Meaning, if you’re using an older PC configuration and the Hybrid mode is enabled, there’s a high possibility that your PC won’t ever go to sleep.

In order to resolve this, an obvious solution is to disable Hybrid Mode and move from there. Here’s how to do it:

Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
Select System.
Choose Power & sleep from the left pane.
Click on the Additional power settings in the top right corner.
Select the preferred Power Plan you actively use and click on ”Change plan settings”
In the next windows, click on the ”Change advanced power settings”.
In the tree-menu, expand Sleep.
Expand the ”Allow hybrid sleep” and turn it OFF.
Save changes.

Finally, if none of these solutions helped you, there’s still one thing you can do.

5. Change Advanced Power Settings

There are some minor things that are too often overlooked when it comes to Power Plans and their advanced settings. To be more precise, the Multimedia sharing option and Multimedia sharing that lies within.

This feature prevents PC to sleep when you stream something on your PC, e.g. YouTube videos. Since it’s enabled by default, we advise you to disable it and, hopefully, fix this problem once and for all.

If you’re uncertain how to do it, these steps should show you how:

Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
Select System.
Choose Power & sleep from the left pane.
Open Additional power settings from the top right corner.
Click on the ”Change plan settings” besides the preferred Power Plan.
Click on the ”Change advanced power settings”.
Expand Multimedia settings.
Set ”When sharing media” option to ”Allow the computer to sleep”.
Confirm changes.

With that, we can conclude this article. We certainly hope that it was a helpful read and that assisted you to finally put your PC to sleep.

In case you have some dilemmas, feel free to tell us in the comments section below. We’ll make sure to provide you with additional tips.

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in October 2017 and has been since completely revamped and updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.