Do you ever wonder what happens to your computer when you put it in sleep mode? When Windows goes to sleep, it essentially turns off the monitor and puts the computer into a low-power state. This saves energy and keeps your computer running smoothly. In this blog post, we will discuss what happens when Windows goes into sleep mode and why it is more beneficial than shutting down the PC.
What Does Sleep Mode Do?
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume full-power operation (typically within several seconds) when you want to start working again. When you put your computer into sleep mode, Windows saves your current work and then turns off the monitor and other unneeded hardware devices. The next time you wake up your computer, Windows restores your work from where you left off.
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The sleep standard that most Windows PCs use today was established in 1996 with the introduction of the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) standards. The ACPI standard supports four distinct levels of sleep states, but you don’t have to understand them. Your PC will select the best sleep state for your components automatically.
How to Put Your Computer Into Sleep Mode?
Sleep mode is easy to use. If you’re using a laptop, by default you can switch to sleep mode by just closing the lid.
For a desktop PC, click the Start button, then click Power -> Sleep.
Other than that, you can also schedule Sleep on your system. Windows will automatically go into Sleep mode after a set period of time if you have it configured that way.
To enable automatic sleep, follow these steps:
- Open Windows Settings.
- Switch to the System settings from the left, and select Power & battery on the right.
- Now, under the Power heading, expand the Screen and sleep.
- Select when you want to put your device to sleep while plugged in or while on battery.
Why Should You Put your System to Sleep Rather than Shutdown?
Almost everyone shuts down their PC/laptop at the end of the day after completing their work. But did you know this isn’t actually the best way to turn off your computer?
When you shut down your PC, it closes all active programs and windows, signs you out of your account, and then turns off the PC. That means when you start your PC back up again, it has to boot up from scratch, which can take a while.
Instead of shutting down your PC, you should put it into sleep mode. Sleep mode is a low-power state where your PC/laptop saves the state of your open documents and programs and then goes into a low-power state. When you’re ready to start working again, you can just wake up your PC and pick up right where you left off.
Benefits of Sleep Mode Instead of Shut Down
There are a few benefits to using sleep mode over shutting down your PC.
For one, it’s much faster to wake up your PC from sleep mode than it is to boot up your PC from scratch. That means you can get back to work more quickly and avoid any frustration.
Sleep mode also uses less power than leaving your PC on all the time, which can save you money on your energy bill. And if you have a laptop, putting it into sleep mode will help preserve your battery life.
So next time you’re ready to call it a day, don’t shut down your PC. Put it into sleep mode instead. Your PC will thank you for it!
Rounding Up
We hope this blog post has helped you understand what happens when Windows goes to sleep mode and why it’s beneficial to put your PC into sleep mode instead of shutting it down. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below!
Peter is an Electrical Engineer whose primary interest is tinkering with his computer. He is passionate about Windows 10 Platform and enjoys writing tips and tutorials about it.
