9 Ways to Fix Computer Keeps Going to Sleep Problem

Why Your Computer Keeps Going to Sleep

If your computer is consistently going into sleep mode even when you don't want it to, it can be frustrating and disrupt your workflow. This issue can be caused by a variety of factors, including misconfigured power settings, outdated drivers, and screensaver configurations.

1. Run the Power Troubleshooter

To start resolving the issue, run the built-in Power Troubleshooter. This tool scans your system for power-related problems and attempts to fix them automatically.

• Steps:
  • Right-click on the Start menu.
  • Click on “Settings.”
  • Navigate to “Update & Security” > “Troubleshoot.”
  • Select “Additional troubleshooters” and look for the “Power” troubleshooter.
  • Run the troubleshooter and follow the prompts to resolve any issues it detects.

2. Check Your Power Settings

Misconfigured power settings are a common cause for unexpected sleep behavior. Ensure your power settings are set up correctly.

• Steps:
  • Go to “Settings” > “System” > “Power & sleep.”
  • Adjust the screen and sleep settings to your desired time intervals.
  • Click on “Additional power settings” and then “Change plan settings.”
  • Click on “Change advanced power settings” and review the settings, particularly the sleep and wake timers.

3. Disable Wake Timers and Devices

Devices connected to your computer can wake it up from sleep mode. Disable wake timers and devices that might be causing the issue.

• Steps:
  • Open “Power Options” in the Control Panel.
  • Click on “Change plan settings” for your current power plan.
  • Click on “Change advanced power settings.”
  • Expand the “Sleep” section and disable wake timers.
  • Open the Device Manager, find devices that might be waking your computer, and disable the “Allow this device to wake the computer” option in the Power Management tab.

4. Modify Sleep Timeout via Registry

If your computer is going to sleep too quickly, you can modify the sleep timeout via the registry.

• Steps:
  • Press Win + R to open the Run prompt.
  • Type regedit and press OK.
  • Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerSettings\238C9FA8-0AAD-41ED-83F4-97BE242C8F20\7bc4a2f9-d8fc-4469-b07b-33eb785aaca0.
  • Double-click on “Attributes” and change its value to 2.
  • Go back to Power Options and change the “System unattended sleep timeout” to your desired time.

5. Disable the Screen Saver

Sometimes, the screen saver can be set to activate too quickly, causing your computer to appear as if it's going to sleep.

• Steps:
  • Open the Control Panel.
  • Navigate to “Personalization” > “Screen Saver.”
  • Adjust the screen saver settings to a more reasonable time interval or disable it entirely.

6. Update Drivers

Outdated drivers, especially for network and graphics devices, can cause your computer to wake up unexpectedly.

• Steps:
  • Open the Device Manager.
  • Right-click on each device and select “Update driver.”
  • Ensure all drivers, including chipset and LAN drivers, are updated to the latest versions.

7. Disable Fast Startup

Fast Startup can sometimes interfere with sleep mode, causing your computer to wake up unexpectedly.

• Steps:
  • Go to “Control Panel” > “Power Options.”
  • Click on “Choose what the power buttons do” on the left side.
  • Click on “Change settings that are currently unavailable.”
  • Uncheck the box next to “Turn on fast startup (recommended)”.

8. Check the Compatibility of Attached Devices

Some devices, especially peripherals like keyboards and mice, can wake your computer from sleep mode.

• Steps:
  • Disconnect all peripherals and see if the issue persists.
  • If the issue is resolved, reconnect devices one by one to identify the problematic device.
  • For the problematic device, go to the Device Manager, find the device, and disable the “Allow this device to wake the computer” option in the Power Management tab.

9. Run System File Checker and DISM

Corrupted system files can also cause sleep mode issues. Running the System File Checker and DISM can help resolve these issues.

• Steps:
  • Open an elevated Command Prompt.
  • Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
  • If issues are found but not fixed, type DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /Restorehealth and press Enter.