Why won’t my computer go to sleep?

Pending Windows updates can occasionally keep your computer awake. Check under Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update to ensure your system is fully updated and no updates are waiting for installation.

It could be a deeply rooted system file problem. Running the command ‘sfc /scannow’ in an administrator Command Prompt will start a system file check to identify and repair corrupted files that might be interfering with sleep functionality.

Don’t rule out malware. Viruses and malicious software can force your computer to stay awake. Run a comprehensive scan with your antivirus program to rule out this possibility.

Lastly, consider your startup programs. Some applications that run automatically at startup might include background tasks you don’t need. Open Task Manager, go to the Startup tab, and disable any non-essential programs. This might alleviate the issue.

Network activities might be the reason, especially if the wake-on-LAN feature is enabled. To disable it, go to Device Manager, expand Network adapters, right-click on your network device, choose Properties, and under the Power Management tab, uncheck ‘Allow this device to wake the computer.’ This stops network events from disturbing sleep mode.

Sometimes it’s as simple as an overly sensitive peripheral device that’s keeping your computer awake. If your mouse, for instance, is too sensitive, slight movements can interrupt sleep mode. Go to Device Manager, look for your mouse or keyboard, right-click, select Properties, and uncheck ‘Allow this device to wake the computer’ under the Power Management tab.

Event logs can be very telling. Head to the Event Viewer, navigate to Windows Logs > System, and look for events related to power or sleep issues. The details might help you pinpoint the cause of the problem.

Adjusting or resetting your system’s power plan settings might also solve the problem. Visit the Control Panel, select Power Options, and click ‘Change plan settings’ beside your selected power plan. From there, hit ‘Restore default settings for this plan.’ This step often clears out any custom settings preventing sleep.

It might be that there’s a background process or software that’s preventing the computer from sleeping. Some programs, like media players or system monitors, often send requests to keep the system awake. Running ‘powercfg -requests’ in the Command Prompt can reveal if any applications are sending such requests. Once identified, you can close or configure those programs to fix the issue.

Your problem could be linked to outdated device drivers. When these aren’t updated, they may cause problems with how the hardware interacts with the OS, including sleep modes. Updating all drivers, with a focus on network and display adapters, should be your next step. You can do this via Device Manager or by directly visiting the manufacturer’s website.