This tutorial will show you how to view a list of app and driver Power Requests that prevent the computer from automatically powering off the display or entering a low-power sleep mode in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
By default, Windows based platforms enable device and system power management technologies to help improve energy efficiency and reduce power consumption. Two of the most effective power management features are display power management and automatic sleep. However, in some scenarios, applications or drivers must temporarily disable these power management technologies to perform tasks as the user expects. A good example is video playback. If the computer plays a DVD for several hours, the user does not interact with the system via keyboard or mouse. The display and sleep idle timeouts must be temporarily disabled so that the DVD movie can play without interruption.
By using power availability requests, applications, services, and drivers can temporarily disable power management features to accomplish user scenarios. Availability requests can prevent the display from turning off after inactivity, and prevent the computer from automatically sleeping, enable Away Mode, and shutting down.
You can use the PowerCfg command with the /requests option to identify outstanding availability requests that prevent display power management or automatic sleep to help with troubleshooting.
References:
Powercfg command-line options
Allow system required requests
Windows Hardware Dev Center Archive - Windows 10 hardware dev
You must be signed in as an administrator to view Power Requests.
Here's How:
1 Open Windows Terminal (admin), and select either Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.
2 Copy and paste the command below into Windows Terminal (admin), and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
powercfg /requests3 You will now see if you have any active power availability requests by apps or drivers.
Display: This section lists any apps or drivers that are currently preventing the display from turning off. If there are no active requests, it will show "None."
System: This section lists any apps or drivers that are preventing the system from entering sleep or hibernation modes. If there are no active requests, it will show "None."
Awaymode: This section lists any apps or drivers that are preventing the system from entering Away Mode, which is a low-power state that allows background tasks to continue running. If there are no active requests, it will show "None."
Execution: This section lists any apps or drivers that are preventing the system from entering sleep or hibernation due to ongoing tasks or processes. If there are no active requests, it will show "None."
Perfboost: This section lists any apps or drivers that are requesting a performance boost, which can prevent the system from entering low-power states. If there are no active requests, it will show "None."
Activelockscreen: This section lists any apps or drivers that are preventing the lock screen from activating. If there are no active requests, it will show "None."
That's it,
Shawn Brink
