When you’re not using your Windows PC, it’s a good idea to put it to sleep. There are a number of methods to do it in Windows 10 or 11, but we’ll show you a couple of the quickest ways in both versions of Windows.
Use a dedicated button or key
Most Windows PCs and tablets include a dedicated sleep button located on the device’s body. Consult the manual for your device, or look for a keyboard key with a little “Z” or moon icon on it. If you press the power button, your computer will go to sleep immediately. Simply hit the power button, tap the trackpad, or use a keyboard key to wake it up again later.
Use a Keyboard Sequence or Shortcut
If your computer or keyboard lacks a dedicated sleep button (as some desktop PCs do), a reader named John G. reminded us that you can tell your computer to “turn out the lights” with a short keyboard sequence.
To do so, press Windows+X on your keyboard at the same time (which opens the Power User menu). Then hit “U,” then “S” to put your computer to sleep. So keep this in mind: Win+X, U, S.
Alternately, you might use Microsoft PowerToys to assign the sleep function to a rarely used key on your keyboard (such as Scroll Lock, for example). To do so, download PowerToys, open the Keyboard Manager and map a key to “Sleep,” which will put your PC to sleep when you press it.
Close Your Lid
If you’re using a laptop or notebook PC, closing the lid will usually put it to sleep immediately. If you close the clamshell monitor, it’s likely that your laptop will go to sleep automatically. If this does not occur, you can examine your settings and decide what should happen when the lid is closed.