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How to install PowerToys Awake on Windows

What you end up with

PowerToys Awake installed like any other app on your Windows PC. It is free, and it stays free — there is no account, no trial and no subscription at the end of this.

Time
About 8 minutes
Steps
8
Cost
Free

Before you start

These are one-time installs. If you have used PowerShell before, you may have them already — the first step checks.

  1. Install Git

    Run the installer, then reopen PowerShell.

    Open installer

    You know this worked when: Git responds with a version number

  2. Install Node LTS

    Run the LTS installer, then reopen PowerShell.

    Open download

    You know this worked when: Node responds with a version number

Install PowerToys Awake

  1. Open PowerShell

    Keep it open beside this page.

    You know this worked when: PowerShell is open

  2. Install PowerToys

    Microsoft's own signed build, from winget. Awake ships inside it — nothing extra to add.

    Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

    winget install --id Microsoft.PowerToys --source winget --accept-package-agreements --accept-source-agreements

    You know this worked when: winget reports PowerToys installed

  3. Turn Awake on, keep awake

    PowerToys ▸ Awake: enable it, choose Keep awake indefinitely, and turn on Keep screen on.

    Open Microsoft's Awake docs

    You know this worked when: Awake is enabled and set to keep awake indefinitely

  4. Make the lid do nothing

    Awake never changes the lid action, so set it here — on the charger and on battery.

    Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

    powercfg /SETACVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT SUB_BUTTONS LIDACTION 0
powercfg /SETDCVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT SUB_BUTTONS LIDACTION 0
powercfg /SETACTIVE SCHEME_CURRENT

    You know this worked when: The commands finish with no output

  5. Keep running while locked

    Awake stops holding the machine awake at the lock screen, so zero out the sleep timers too.

    Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

    powercfg /change standby-timeout-ac 0
powercfg /change standby-timeout-dc 0

    You know this worked when: Both sleep timeouts are set to never

  6. Close the lid and watch

    The tray shows Awake's cup. Close the lid on a long job — it keeps running underneath.

    You know this worked when: The machine keeps running with the lid closed

If something goes wrong

Nothing here can damage your computer, and every step can be run again safely. If a command fails, the usual cause is the step before it not having finished.

Still stuck? Tell us what happened and we will fix the guide. Include the step number and we can usually reproduce it.

Have a different setup?