Evie Summers
There are several ways to keep a work computer from sleeping. One way is to open Windows Media Player and play a picture as a slideshow. Another way is to use a Mouse Jiggler, which is a plug-in device that moves the mouse by a few pixels to prevent the computer from sleeping. Additionally, you can change your power settings in Windows to keep your PC awake or download a program like Caffeine that simulates key presses to keep the computer awake.
Methods to keep a work computer from sleeping
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Use a third-party tool | Caffeine, Mouse Jiggler |
| Adjust power settings | Select "Never" from the "Sleep" or "Screen" menu |
| Adjust screensaver settings | Uncheck "Display Logon Screen" box |
| Open a word document | Place a remote or any tool on any key to keep it pressed down |
| Open Windows Media Player | Play a picture as a slideshow |
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What You'll Learn
Download Caffeine to simulate key presses
If you want to keep your work computer from sleeping, you can download an app called Caffeine. This app is available for both Windows and Mac. It works by simulating a keypress once every 59 seconds by default, so your machine thinks you are still working at the keyboard and won't lock the screen or activate the screensaver. You can also use command-line switches to set a custom number of seconds between simulated keypresses.
Caffeine does not actually need to be installed, which is useful if your work computer is locked down to prevent unauthorised software installations. To enable or disable the program, simply double-click the icon — double-clicking the icon empties the coffee pot (that's the icon), and temporarily disables the program, while double-clicking it again refills the pot and will keep your machine awake.
Caffeine also has several other command-line switches you can use to alter its behaviour:
- -key:xx — simulate using virtual key code xx. Note that the codes on the linked page are in Hex, so convert them to decimal for use with this parameter.
- -keypress — simulate a full keypress, not just a key-up event.
- -activeperiods:xxxx-yyyy — only be active during the times specified, e.g. 0900-1659 or 0730-1200,1300-1500,1530-1800.
- -onac — only be active when the computer is on AC power (plugged in).
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Use Windows Media Player to play a picture
To keep your work computer from sleeping, you can use Windows Media Player to play a picture. This will play the picture as a slideshow and prevent your computer from going into sleep mode.
- Open Windows Media Player on your computer.
- Locate and select the picture you want to play. You can do this by clicking on the "Picture" library on the right panel or by dragging and dropping the image file into the Windows Media Player window.
- Once the picture is selected, click on the "Play" button on the bottom right corner of the window. This will start the slideshow.
- To keep the computer from sleeping, ensure that the slideshow is running. You can minimize the Windows Media Player window and continue working on other applications while the slideshow plays in the background.
- If you want to stop the slideshow, simply click on the "Stop" button or close the Windows Media Player application.
By following these steps, you can use Windows Media Player to play a picture and keep your work computer from sleeping. This method is simple and effective, allowing you to keep your computer active without having to change any system settings or install additional software. It is a handy workaround when you need to keep your computer awake for work or other purposes.
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Change power settings to 'Never'
To keep your Windows computer awake, you can change your power settings. Here's how to do it:
Step 1: Open Control Panel
You can do this by searching for it from the taskbar.
Step 2: Select System and Security
If you see a bunch of icons instead of categories, you can skip this step.
Step 3: Select Power Options
Step 4: Select Change Plan Settings
You will see this option next to the plan that is currently selected. Alternatively, you can quickly get to this menu by searching Windows for 'Edit power plan'.
Step 5: Select 'Never' from the 'Sleep' menu
Here, you will be able to determine how long your computer stays on until it goes into sleep mode. If you are using a laptop, you will have separate menus for when your device is running on battery power and when it is plugged in. By selecting 'Never', your computer will not go into sleep mode.
Remember to change your settings back when you have finished your task. Keeping your computer awake for extended periods may not be the most economical choice.
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Use a Mouse Jiggler
Mouse jigglers are small devices that can be connected to a computer via a USB port. They simulate mouse movements by randomly moving the cursor, preventing the computer from going to sleep. This is particularly useful for people who work from home and need to keep their computers awake while they are away from their desks.
One example of a mouse jiggler is the EAXBUX Covert Mouse Jiggler, a 2-in-1 device that functions as both a regular mouse and a jiggler. It is easy to use, with a simple on/off button to activate the jiggler function. When activated, the device moves the cursor randomly, keeping the computer awake. The EAXBUX jiggler is also said to be undetectable by IT as it appears to be a normal mouse.
Another option is the AUEDROT Mouse Jiggler, a small, black USB device with three buttons and an automatic wiggler function. This jiggler is also said to be undetectable and can be purchased for less than $25.
While mouse jigglers can be a convenient solution to keep a work computer awake, they may not be allowed in certain workplaces. Some companies may have policies restricting the installation of external software or hardware, so it is important to check before using one.
As an alternative to mouse jigglers, there are several low-tech solutions to keep a computer awake. These include placing an object on a keyboard key to generate repeated letters, opening a PowerPoint presentation in full-screen mode, or playing a video or song on repeat.
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Adjust your screensaver settings
To adjust your screensaver settings and prevent your Windows computer from sleeping, you can use the PowerToys Awake utility. This tool is designed to keep a Windows computer awake without requiring manual adjustments to its power and sleep settings. PowerToys Awake can be downloaded from the Microsoft App Store. Once downloaded, open the PowerToys application, go to Settings, and select Awake. Here, you can enable the Awake option, which will keep your computer awake indefinitely until you decide to manually close the application or put the computer to sleep.
You can also access PowerToys Awake directly from the PowerToys installation folder by executing PowerToys.Awake.exe. This will allow you to keep your computer awake without changing any of your Windows power plan settings.
Additionally, you can adjust your screensaver settings through the Control Panel. Press the Windows key on your keyboard, then type "Control Panel" and press Enter. In the Control Panel window, find and click on the Hardware and Sound category. In the Hardware and Sound menu, select Power Options. On the left side of the Power Options screen, click on the option to Change when the computer goes to sleep. This will allow you to modify your sleep settings and prevent your computer from sleeping.
For more control over your power settings, go to the Power Options main menu and click on Change advanced power settings. Here, you can fine-tune specific aspects, such as disabling sleep mode when the lid is closed (for laptops) or adjusting the hard drive sleep timer. You can also consider switching to a high-performance power plan, which prioritizes keeping your computer active over power-saving features.
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Frequently asked questions
Windows has a built-in option to keep your PC awake, and there are also third-party tools available. You can download a freeware program called Caffeine, which simulates a keypress once every 59 seconds so your computer thinks you're still working and won't go to sleep.
Download the Caffeine program. This is a portable program, so there's nothing to install; just extract the program from the ZIP file. Open the program and it will start pressing the F15 key in the background, repeating this every minute to keep your computer awake.
Yes, there is a Mouse Jiggler plug-in device that will stop your computer from going to sleep. This won't be detected by employee monitoring software or network personnel because there's no software involved; it acts as a pointer device.
Yes, you can change your power settings at any time to keep your PC awake while you're not using the computer. Go to Settings > System > Power & Sleep and select 'Never' from the 'Sleep' menu.
