The next PowerToys tool will keep your PC awake

Martin Brinkmann
Jun 21, 2021
Windows software
|
13

Work on Microsoft's open source tools collection for Windows continues. The next tool that the developers plan to integrate is called Awake, and as the name suggests, can be used to keep the PC from changing its power state.

Microsoft released the first preview of "the new" PowerToys for Windows 10 in 2019. The initial version supported just two features: a shortcut guide and FancyZones, a tool to create windows layouts to improve productivity. New tools were added to the collection regularly, and the latest version includes tools to rename files, a keyboard manager and application launcher, image resizer, color picker, microphone muter, and more.

Awake, formerly called Espresso, is a new tool that will soon be integrated into the collection. Windows users may use third-party tools to keep their PC from entering sleep mode. To name just a few, which we reviewed in the past: Caffeine, Sleep Blocker, Don't Sleep, or Stand-Bye.

Issue 4246 on GitHub describes the functionality of the tool:

This feature would prevent the OS from going to sleep with the options to set a timer for when it can go back to sleep

A screenshot was published that highlights some of the functionality of the tool (under its previous name Espresso).

You can enable or disable the tool, just like any other main tool in PowerToys. When enabled, options are provided to keep the display active and to keep the PC awake permanently or for a specified period. The developers may also add a system tray icon so that users may control the functionality right from the system tray icon. Additionally, options to invoke awake from the command line may also be added.

Closing Words

Awake will keep the PC and the display awake when it is enabled. While there are plenty of other tools and options available to keep the PC from entering Sleep mode or turning off the monitor, users of PowerToys may appreciate the addition. No one has to use it, but if it is integrated well, it may replace some of the other tools on user systems that are used for the purpose.

Now You: How are your devices configured in regards to sleep/awake states? (via Deskmodder)

Summary
The next PowerToys tool will keep your PC awake
Article Name
The next PowerToys tool will keep your PC awake
Description
Microsoft's open source tools collection PowerToys will soon feature the new Awake tool, which keeps the display and the PC awake when it is enabled.
Author
Publisher
Ghacks Technology News
Logo
Advertisement

Tutorials & Tips


Previous Post: «
Next Post: «

Comments

  1. Maarten said on June 22, 2021 at 3:26 pm
    Reply

    Bad day?

    I look at this in a different way:
    Having an option to temporarily overrule my default power state options, allows me to have a much stricter default power policy. And that saves energy in the end, among other things.

    Those applications run temporarily; they are not running all the time. At least in a sensible setup.

    They are very useful when you have – for example – a large download that you have to complete as soon as possible, without worrying if a powersave could stop that.

    I wrote a simple 4-lines .vbs script for that. It ‘presses’ the CapsLock key twice every minute to simulate keyboard activity. That is what I use most of the times.

    If in doubt I use Don’t Sleep. No specific reason for that; it was the first tool I came across and it does what I want.

    1. owl said on June 23, 2021 at 11:33 am
      Reply

      @Maarten,

      I agree with your comment.

      I used to use system (PC and display) power saving features such as “sleep” mode, but I have experienced corruption of files that were in the process of being completed because the power saving feature (system shutdown, standby, hibernate, turnoff, reboot) was activated during large download files or while applying background updates.
      Even if I’m careful, I sometimes forget to enable/disable the power save feature, and I stopped using the power save feature in favor of risk aversion.

      The “Don’t Sleep” you mention is good, I liked it.
      https://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Microsoft/DontSleep
      Thanks for the mention.

  2. Jojo said on June 21, 2021 at 10:58 pm
    Reply

    Woahhhh, I stressed not long ago cuz my PC would NOT got to sleep, and my screen would stay lit nonstop unless i manually turn it off! SO annoying! and I suspect a windows update caused it, but thank g-d it got fixed… =]
    MS may shove this tool where the sun don’t shine as much as I care ;)

  3. Dart Knee said on June 21, 2021 at 7:52 pm
    Reply

    Yeah because this is soooooooo hard to manually set in any modern OS today, an app is needed.
    It is so hard to right click on the windows logo, power options and change if you want your computer to stay awake or turn or screen off etc.
    This is ridiculous to imagine someone who supposedly is so tech that needs their pc to stay awake, that needs an app for this that will run in the background and then they complain when their windows break or something if they install these kind of stuff to do simple stuff that they don’t need to change every 3 seconds.

    Funny how the supposed protectors of the environment, the ridiculous knights with shiny armor and a shield that says “climate change is real and you will all die soon” somehow are adding stuff so PCs can “stay awake” forever even if they aren’t being used for hours and hours and hours which should be the opposite of what they tell you all the time, like the propaganda and BS when they talk about “green energies”, even if those supposedly green solar and wind energies are the opposite of clean and efficient and green and environment friendly.

    1. matthiew said on June 22, 2021 at 4:21 am
      Reply

      Do you need somebody to talk to?

    2. Terafugia said on June 21, 2021 at 11:33 pm
      Reply

      You have won the Jackass of the week award! :)

  4. Harro Glööckler said on June 21, 2021 at 7:13 pm
    Reply

    Seems nice. My pc is set to turn off screen after 30 mins and lock itself after 31 mins (so i still have a minute to move the mouse or press any key to prevent it). That thing kinda becomes a nuisance if you, for example, have frequent commutes between bed and desk while forgetting the time…sometimes i needed to re-log into Windows even 10+ times per day. It could be easily fixed by turning that off, but then i lose security and always pressing Win+L when leaving the room becomes annoying too. As a temporary fix i’m currently using a little program called “MouseJiggle” that keeps my pc awake and logged in if i decide my back pain is too much and move to the bed that’s located in the same room.

  5. Mark said on June 21, 2021 at 4:07 pm
    Reply

    I have never had my computer go to sleep after disabling the feature in power settings.

  6. jNizM said on June 21, 2021 at 1:39 pm
    Reply

    Will rewrite this for AHK :P

    1. Anonymous said on June 21, 2021 at 7:37 pm
      Reply

      Please do and with a proper desktop interface.

      1. jNizM said on October 21, 2021 at 4:07 pm
        Reply

        After weeks of ignoring and not much testing I finished it. Can be found on my GitHub Account / AHK-Forum

  7. Yuliya said on June 21, 2021 at 1:22 pm
    Reply

    My computers are set to never go to sleep. Portables too, except while on battery, then they go to sleep in 5 minutes and turn off the display in 1 minute – this is somewhat aggressive, but my SP7 wakes up really fast, it does it in about two seconds.

    1. Plants said on June 23, 2021 at 7:32 am
      Reply

      Ye I don’t see the point of this one tbh. Seems extremely niche (i.e. against the spirit of PowerToys which is a couple select actually useful tools) at best.

Leave a Reply

Check the box to consent to your data being stored in line with the guidelines set out in our privacy policy

We love comments and welcome thoughtful and civilized discussion. Rudeness and personal attacks will not be tolerated. Please stay on-topic.
Please note that your comment may not appear immediately after you post it.