First, adjust power settings by setting "Sleep after" to a specific time and disabling "Allow wake timers" in Advanced power settings. 2. Disable Fast Startup via Control Panel to prevent hybrid shutdown from interfering with sleep mode. 3. Use powercfg /requests in Command Prompt to identify apps or devices blocking sleep, then close unnecessary programs or disable wake permissions in Device Manager. 4. Update or reinstall graphics and chipset drivers from the manufacturer’s website to resolve hardware-related sleep issues. 5. Test sleep manually via the Start menu or lid closure, and check Event Viewer under Power-Troubleshooter if problems persist. The issue of a Windows 10 PC locking instead of sleeping is typically resolved by correcting power settings, disabling Fast Startup, stopping blocking applications or devices, and ensuring drivers are up to date, allowing the system to enter true sleep mode when expected.

If your Windows 10 PC isn’t going to sleep and instead just locks the screen, you're not alone — this is a common issue caused by power settings, system configurations, or background activity. The screen may turn off and show the lock screen, but the system stays powered on, fans keep spinning, and drives remain active. Here’s how to fix it so your PC actually sleeps when it should.

? 1. Check and Adjust Power & Sleep Settings

The most common cause is incorrect power settings.

Steps:

• Go to Settings > System > Power & sleep
• Under "Screen" and "Sleep", set both On battery power and Plugged in to your preferred time (e.g., 15 minutes)
• Click Additional power settings on the right
• Select your current power plan (e.g., Balanced) → Change plan settings → Change advanced power settings
• Expand Sleep and check:
  • Sleep after: Set to desired minutes
  • Hibernate after: Optional
  • Allow wake timers: Set to Disable (especially on battery)

?? If "Sleep after" is set to "Never", your PC won't sleep — even if the screen turns off.

? 2. Disable Fast Startup (Can Prevent Proper Sleep)

Fast Startup can interfere with sleep mode because it puts the system in a hybrid shutdown state.

How to disable:

• Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options
• Click Choose what the power buttons do
• Click Change settings that are currently unavailable
• Uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended)
• Save changes

After disabling Fast Startup, test sleep mode again. Some users report this alone fixes the issue.

? 3. Stop Apps or Devices from Preventing Sleep

Some programs or hardware can block sleep mode.

Check what’s preventing sleep:

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator
• Run:

  powercfg /requests

• If you see something like "DISPLAY...", "DRIVER...", or a process listed, that’s blocking sleep.

Common culprits:

• Media players (VLC, Spotify)
• Download managers
• Network drives or mapped drives
• USB devices (especially external hard drives or docks)

Fix:

• Close unnecessary apps before sleep
• Disable wake permissions for devices:
  • Open Device Manager
  • Expand Network adapters, right-click each → Properties → Power Management
  • Uncheck Allow this device to wake the computer
  • Repeat for USB controllers, Mouse/Keyboard if needed

? 4. Update or Reinstall Drivers

Outdated or faulty drivers (especially graphics and chipset) can prevent sleep.

What to do:

• Update graphics drivers (Intel, NVIDIA, AMD) from the manufacturer’s website
• Update chipset drivers via your PC/motherboard manufacturer
• Avoid generic drivers from Windows Update if better ones are available

Try putting the system to sleep manually after updates:

• Press Win X → Shut down or sign out → Sleep

? 5. Test Sleep Mode Manually

After making changes, test sleep:

• Click Start > Power button > Sleep
• Or close the lid (on laptops)
• Wait a few minutes — lights should dim, fan noise drop, and waking should require a key press or power button

If it still only locks, check Event Viewer:

• Search for Event Viewer
• Go to Windows Logs > System
• Filter by Source: Power-Troubleshooter
• Look for events showing why sleep failed

Summary

Your PC locking instead of sleeping usually comes down to:

• Incorrect sleep timer in power settings
• Fast Startup interfering
• Background apps or devices blocking sleep
• Outdated drivers or firmware

Fixing this isn’t hard — just methodical. Start with power settings and Fast Startup, then check what’s blocking sleep using powercfg /requests.

Basically, if the screen turns off but the PC stays awake, it’s not sleeping — and with a few tweaks, it can.

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