Power saving mode turns off or dims your display and slows your processor to use less electricity — and you can turn it off in seconds from your system settings.

Power saving mode (called Sleep, Hibernate, or Battery Saver depending on your operating system) kicks in automatically after your computer sits idle for a set time. When it's on, your screen goes dark, your hard drive stops spinning, and your processor runs slower. This saves power but also makes your computer slower to wake up and respond.

If you need your computer running at full speed right now — for gaming, video editing, or any task that demands performance — you can disable power saving mode entirely, or just wake your computer from its current sleep state. The steps differ slightly between Windows and Mac, but both take less than a minute.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows 10 or 11, open Settings, go to System > Power & battery, and change the "Screen" and "Sleep" timeouts to "Never" to prevent power saving mode from activating.
  • On Mac, open System Settings, click Battery or Energy Saver, and uncheck "Put display to sleep after" and "Put computer to sleep after" to disable the feature.
  • If your computer is already asleep, move your mouse, press a key, or click the power button to wake it when ready.
  • Turning off power saving mode uses more electricity, so re-enable it when you're done with your high-performance task.

Disable power saving mode on Windows 10 and 11

Open the Start menu and type "Settings" into the search box, then click the Settings app. Once it opens, click System in the left sidebar, then select Power & battery (Windows 11) or Power & sleep (Windows 10).

You will see two dropdown menus: one for screen timeout and one for sleep timeout. Click the dropdown next to Screen and select Never. Then click the dropdown next to Sleep and select Never. Your computer will no longer enter power saving mode automatically. Close the Settings window — the change takes effect when ready.

If you only want to disable power saving mode temporarily (for example, while you're watching a video or rendering a file), you can instead set both timeouts to a longer period, like 30 minutes or 1 hour, rather than Never. This way the mode will still set up if you forget about your computer for an extended time.

Disable power saving mode on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings. In the sidebar, click Battery (on laptops) or Energy Saver (on desktops). You will see two checkboxes: one for putting the display to sleep and one for putting the computer to sleep.

Uncheck both boxes to prevent your Mac from entering power saving mode. If you want to keep the display from sleeping but allow the computer to sleep after a longer period, uncheck only the first box. Close System Settings and the change is active when ready.

Wake your computer from sleep right now

If your computer is already in sleep mode and you need it awake when ready, you do not have to wait for the settings to take effect. straightforward move your mouse, press any key on the keyboard, or click the power button once (do not hold it). Your computer will wake in a few seconds.

On a laptop, you can also open the lid if it was closed. The computer will detect the motion and wake automatically on most modern machines.

Why your computer enters power saving mode

Power saving mode exists to reduce your electricity bill and extend the life of your hardware. When your computer is idle — meaning you are not typing, moving the mouse, or using programs — it makes sense to slow down or pause non-essential processes. Over time, this saves money and reduces wear on your components.

The default timeout is usually 10 to 15 minutes for the display and 30 minutes for the computer itself, but these vary by manufacturer and Windows version. If you find yourself waking your computer frequently, adjusting these timeouts to match your actual work pattern (rather than disabling them entirely) is a good middle ground.

Re-enable power saving mode when you're done

Once you finish your high-performance task, it is worth turning power saving mode back on. Leaving it disabled uses noticeably more electricity, especially on laptops where battery life matters. Return to the same Settings menu (Windows) or System Settings (Mac) and change the timeouts back to their default values or to a time that suits your routine.

If you disabled it only temporarily, you can straightforward restart your computer and the default settings will explore again on the next startup — though this is slower than just changing the setting back manually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off power saving mode damage my computer?

No. Disabling power saving mode is safe and does not harm your hardware. It straightforward means your computer runs at full power continuously instead of stepping down when idle. The main downside is higher electricity use, not damage.

Does power saving mode slow down my gaming or video editing?

Yes. When power saving mode is active, your processor runs slower and your graphics card may throttle performance. For gaming, video editing, or any demanding task, disable it first so your computer can use its full processing power.

What is the difference between sleep and hibernate?

Sleep pauses your work and dims the display but keeps power flowing to your RAM so you can wake when ready. Hibernate saves everything to your hard drive and cuts power entirely, using almost no electricity but taking longer to wake. Windows usually defaults to sleep; you can change this in Power Settings under "What the power button does."

Can I set different power saving timeouts for when I'm plugged in versus on battery?

Yes. On Windows, the Power & battery settings show separate options for "Plugged in" and "On battery." On Mac, the Battery settings let you set different timeouts for power adapter and battery use. This way your laptop can sleep faster on battery to save power but stay awake longer when plugged in.