5 Ways to Turn Off Display in Windows Without Putting It to Sleep

Sometimes you just want your PC’s screen to turn off without putting the whole system to sleep — maybe you’re downloading files, playing music, or running a background process. Fortunately, Windows gives you several easy ways to turn off the display while keeping everything else running. Here are five quick methods to do it.

1. Use the Power Button (With Custom Settings)

You can make your PC’s physical power button turn off the display instead of shutting down or sleeping the computer.

Here’s how:

1. Press Windows + R, type control, and hit Enter.
2. Go to Hardware and Sound → Power Options → Choose what the power buttons do.
3. Under “When I press the power button”, select Turn off the display.
4. Click Save changes.

Now, whenever you press the power button, your screen will turn off, but your PC will keep running.

2. Use a Keyboard Shortcut or Script

Windows doesn’t have a built-in shortcut to turn off the display, but you can create one using a simple script.

Option A: Use a built-in command

1. Right-click on your desktop → New → Shortcut.
2. Paste this command:
   nircmd.exe monitor off
   (You’ll need the free NirCmd utility — download it from nirsoft.net).
3. Name it “Turn Off Display” and click Finish.
4. Right-click the shortcut → Properties → Shortcut key → Assign a key combo (like Ctrl + Alt + D).

Now you can instantly turn off your monitor with a quick shortcut.

3. Use Power Options (Set Display Timeout)

If you prefer an automatic approach, adjust your power plan to turn off the display after a short period of inactivity — while keeping the system awake.

To do this:

1. Press Windows + I → System → Power & battery (or Power & sleep on older versions).
2. Under Screen, set the display to turn off after a short time (like 1 minute).
3. Make sure Sleep is set to Never.

This is a hands-free way to keep your computer awake but the screen dark when idle.

4. Use the Lock Screen Shortcut

When you press Windows + L, Windows locks your computer — and by default, it will soon turn off the display (based on your power settings).
This is ideal if you’re stepping away from your desk and want both privacy and power savings without stopping active processes.

5. Use Third-Party Tools

There are several lightweight utilities that let you control your display directly without changing system power states. Popular options include:

• Monitor Off Utility – A simple one-click solution to turn off screens.
• Display Power Off Utility (DPOF) – Works via shortcuts or hotkeys.
• Dark – A minimal command-line tool to turn off monitors instantly.

These are handy if you frequently need this feature and want something faster or more flexible than Windows’ built-in options.

Final Thoughts

Turning off your display without putting your PC to sleep is easy once you know the tricks. Whether you prefer built-in settings, a shortcut, or a quick utility, these methods help you save power, extend monitor life, and keep your work running in the background.

Quick Summary

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!