System Change Sleep Button Action in Windows 11


  • Staff
Sleep_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to change the default action to take when pressing the sleep button in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

The sleep button action setting lets users specify the default action to take when the system hardware sleep button (if available) on the PC is pressed.

Users can specify one of the following actions to take:
  • Do Nothing = No action is taken when the sleep button is pressed.
  • Sleep = The system enters sleep when the sleep button is pressed. This is the default setting.
  • Hibernate = The system enters hibernate when the sleep button is pressed.
  • Shut Down = The system shuts down when the sleep button is pressed.
  • Turn off the display = All displays will be turned off when the sleep button is pressed.

Contents

  • Option One: Change Sleep Button Action for Current Power Plan in Settings
  • Option Two: Change Sleep Button Action for Current Power Plan in Power Options
  • Option Three: Change Sleep Button Action for Specific Power Plan in Advanced Power Options
  • Option Four: Change Sleep Button Action for Current Power Plan in Windows Terminal
  • Option Five: Change Sleep Button Action for Specific Power Plan in Windows Terminal
  • Option Six: Specify Sleep Button Action for All Power Plans in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Seven: Specify Sleep Button Action for All Power Plans using REG file


EXAMPLE: Sleep button on keyboard

Sleep_button.jpg





Option One

Change Sleep Button Action for Current Power Plan in Settings


This option is only available starting with Windows 11 build 25309.


1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on System on the left side, and click/tap on Power & battery on the right side. (see screenshot below)


Power_button_action_Settings-1.png

3 Click/tap on Power button controls to expand it open. (see screenshot below step 4)

4 Select Do nothing, Sleep, Hibernate, Shut down, or Display Off for what you want in the Pressing the sleep button will make my PC drop menus for Plugged in and On battery. (see screenshot below)

Power_button_action_Settings-2.png





Option Two

Change Sleep Button Action for Current Power Plan in Power Options


1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Power Options icon.

2 Click/tap on the Choose what the power buttons do link in the left pane. (see screenshot below)

Sleep_button_action_Power_Options-1.png

3 In both the On battery and Plugged in drop menus for the When I press the sleep button setting, select Do nothing, Sleep (default), Hibernate, or Turn off the display for what you want, and click/tap on Save changes.

Desktop computers will not have separate On battery and Plugged in options available unless it has a data connection to a UPS.


Sleep_button_action_Power_Options-2.png





Option Three

Change Sleep Button Action for Specific Power Plan in Advanced Power Options


1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Power Options icon.

2 Click/tap on the Change plan settings link for the power plan (ex: "Balanced") you want to apply this to. (see screenshot below)

Sleep_button_action_Advanced_Power_Options-1.png

3 Click/tap on the Change advanced power settings link. (see screenshot below)

Sleep_button_action_Advanced_Power_Options-2.png

4 Expand open the Power buttons and lid and Sleep button action settings. (see screenshot below step 5)

You can add Sleep button action to Power Options if you do not have it available.


5 In both the On battery and Plugged in drop menus for the Power button action setting, select Do nothing, Sleep (default), Hibernate, or Turn off the display for what you want, and click/tap on OK.

Desktop computers will not have separate On battery and Plugged in options available unless it has a data connection to a UPS.


Sleep_button_action_Advanced_Power_Options-3.png





Option Four

Change Sleep Button Action for Current Power Plan in Windows Terminal


1 Open Windows Terminal, and select either Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.

2 Copy and paste the command below you want to use for when on battery and/or plugged in into Windows Terminal, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

 On battery
(Do nothing)​
powercfg -setdcvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 96996bc0-ad50-47ec-923b-6f41874dd9eb 0

OR​

(Sleep - default)​
powercfg -setdcvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 96996bc0-ad50-47ec-923b-6f41874dd9eb 1

OR​

powercfg -setdcvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 96996bc0-ad50-47ec-923b-6f41874dd9eb 2

OR​

(Turn off the display)​
powercfg -setdcvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 96996bc0-ad50-47ec-923b-6f41874dd9eb 4

AND/OR​

 Plugged in

You would use this option for a desktop computer, since desktop computers will not have separate On battery and Plugged in options available unless it has a data connection to a UPS.

(Do nothing)​
powercfg -setacvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 96996bc0-ad50-47ec-923b-6f41874dd9eb 0

OR​

(Sleep - default)​
powercfg -setacvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 96996bc0-ad50-47ec-923b-6f41874dd9eb 1

OR​

powercfg -setacvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 96996bc0-ad50-47ec-923b-6f41874dd9eb 2

OR​

(Turn off the display)​
powercfg -setacvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 96996bc0-ad50-47ec-923b-6f41874dd9eb 4

current_sleep_button_action_command.png





Option Five

Change Sleep Button Action for Specific Power Plan in Windows Terminal


1 Open Windows Terminal, and select either Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.

2 Copy and paste the powercfg /L command into Windows Terminal, and press Enter. Make note of the GUID number (ex: 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e) of the power plan (ex: "Balanced") you want to apply this to. (see screenshot below)

The power plan (ex: "Balanced") with an asterisk (*) to the right of it is your current active power plan scheme.


specific_sleep_button_action_command-1.png

3 Type the command below you want to use for when on battery and/or plugged in into Windows Terminal, and press Enter.

 On battery
(Do nothing)​
powercfg -setdcvalueindex GUID 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 96996bc0-ad50-47ec-923b-6f41874dd9eb 0

OR​

(Sleep - default)​
powercfg -setdcvalueindex GUID 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 96996bc0-ad50-47ec-923b-6f41874dd9eb 1

OR​

powercfg -setdcvalueindex GUID 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 96996bc0-ad50-47ec-923b-6f41874dd9eb 2

OR​

(Turn off the display)​
powercfg -setdcvalueindex GUID 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 96996bc0-ad50-47ec-923b-6f41874dd9eb 4

AND/OR​

 Plugged in

You would use this option for a desktop computer, since desktop computers will not have separate On battery and Plugged in options available unless it has a data connection to a UPS.

(Do nothing)​
powercfg -setacvalueindex GUID 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 96996bc0-ad50-47ec-923b-6f41874dd9eb 0

OR​

(Sleep - default)​
powercfg -setacvalueindex GUID 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 96996bc0-ad50-47ec-923b-6f41874dd9eb 1

OR​

powercfg -setacvalueindex GUID 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 96996bc0-ad50-47ec-923b-6f41874dd9eb 2

OR​

(Turn off the display)​
powercfg -setacvalueindex GUID 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 96996bc0-ad50-47ec-923b-6f41874dd9eb 4

Substitute GUID in the command above with the actual GUID (ex: "381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e") from step 2 above for the power plan (ex: "Balanced") you want to apply this to.

For example:

powercfg -setacvalueindex 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 96996bc0-ad50-47ec-923b-6f41874dd9eb 3



specific_sleep_button_action_command-2.png





Option Six

Specify Sleep Button Action for All Power Plans in Local Group Policy Editor


You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.

The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education, editions.

All editions can use Option Seven below to configure the same policy.


1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).

2 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Power Management > Button Settings.​

Sleep_button_action_gpedit-1.png

3 In the right pane of Button Settings, double click/tap on the Select the Sleep button action (plugged in) and/or Select the Sleep button action (on battery) policy you want to edit. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (default), step 6 (hibernate), step 7 (shut down), step 8 (sleep), or step 9 (Take no action) below for which default action you want to specify.

5 Default User Choice for Sleep Button Action

This will allow users to use Option One, Option Two, Option Three, Option Four, and Option Five.


A) Select (dot) Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 10 below. (see screenshot below step 9)​

6 To Specify "Hibernate" for Sleep Button Action

This will override and gray out Option One, Option Two, Option Three, Option Four, and Option Five.


A) Select (dot) Enabled, select Hibernate in the Power Button Action drop menu under Options, click/tap on OK, and go to step 10 below. (see screenshots below step 9)​

7 To Specify "Shut down" for Sleep Button Action

This will override and gray out Option One, Option Two, Option Three, Option Four, and Option Five.


A) Select (dot) Enabled, select Shut down in the Power Button Action drop menu under Options, click/tap on OK, and go to step 10 below. (see screenshots below step 9)​

8 To Specify "Sleep" for Sleep Button Action

This will override and gray out Option One, Option Two, Option Three, Option Four, and Option Five.


A) Select (dot) Enabled, select Sleep in the Power Button Action drop menu under Options, click/tap on OK, and go to step 10 below. (see screenshots below step 9)​

9 To Specify "Take no action" for Sleep Button Action

This will override and gray out Option One, Option Two, Option Three, Option Four, and Option Five.


A) Select (dot) Enabled, select Take no action in the Power Button Action drop menu under Options, click/tap on OK, and go to step 10 below. (see screenshots below)​

Sleep_button_action_gpedit-2.png
Sleep_button_action_gpedit-3.png

10 When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.




Option Seven

Specify Sleep Button Action for All Power Plans using REG file


You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.


1 Do step 2 (default), step 3 (hibernate), step 4 (shut down), step 5 (sleep), or step 6 (Take no action) below for which default action you want to specify.


 2. Default User Choice for Sleep Button Action

This will allow users to use Option One, Option Two, Option Three, Option Four, and Option Five.


A) Click/tap on the Download button you want below to download the plugged in AND/OR on battery file below, and go to step 7 below.​

Default_user_choice_for_sleep_button_action-plugged-in.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Power\PowerSettings\96996BC0-AD50-47EC-923B-6F41874DD9EB]
"ACSettingIndex"=-

AND/OR​

Default_user_choice_for_sleep_button_action-on-battery.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Power\PowerSettings\96996BC0-AD50-47EC-923B-6F41874DD9EB]
"DCSettingIndex"=-


 3. To Specify "Hibernate" for Sleep Button Action

This will override and gray out Option One, Option Two, Option Three, Option Four, and Option Five.


A) Click/tap on the Download button you want below to download the plugged in AND/OR on battery file below, and go to step 7 below.​

Specify_hibernate_for_sleep_button_action-plugged-in.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Power\PowerSettings\96996BC0-AD50-47EC-923B-6F41874DD9EB]
"ACSettingIndex"=dword:00000002

AND/OR​

Specify_hibernate_for_sleep_button_action-on-battery.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Power\PowerSettings\96996BC0-AD50-47EC-923B-6F41874DD9EB]
"DCSettingIndex"=dword:00000002


 4. To Specify "Shut down" for Sleep Button Action

This will override and gray out Option One, Option Two, Option Three, Option Four, and Option Five.


A) Click/tap on the Download button you want below to download the plugged in AND/OR on battery file below, and go to step 7 below.​

Specify_shut_down_for_sleep_button_action-plugged-in.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Power\PowerSettings\96996BC0-AD50-47EC-923B-6F41874DD9EB]
"ACSettingIndex"=dword:00000003

AND/OR​

Specify_shut_down_for_sleep_button_action-on-battery.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Power\PowerSettings\96996BC0-AD50-47EC-923B-6F41874DD9EB]
"DCSettingIndex"=dword:00000003


 5. To Specify "Sleep" for Sleep Button Action

This will override and gray out Option One, Option Two, Option Three, Option Four, and Option Five.


A) Click/tap on the Download button you want below to download the plugged in AND/OR on battery file below, and go to step 7 below.​

Specify_sleep_for_sleep_button_action-plugged-in.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Power\PowerSettings\96996BC0-AD50-47EC-923B-6F41874DD9EB]
"ACSettingIndex"=dword:00000001

AND/OR​

Specify_sleep_for_sleep_button_action-on-battery.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Power\PowerSettings\96996BC0-AD50-47EC-923B-6F41874DD9EB]
"DCSettingIndex"=dword:00000001


 6. To Specify "Take no action" for Sleep Button Action

This will override and gray out Option One, Option Two, Option Three, Option Four, and Option Five.


A) Click/tap on the Download button you want below to download the plugged in AND/OR on battery file below, and go to step 7 below.​

Specify_do_nothing_for_sleep_button_action-plugged-in.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Power\PowerSettings\96996BC0-AD50-47EC-923B-6F41874DD9EB]
"ACSettingIndex"=dword:00000000

AND/OR​

Specify_do_nothing_for_sleep_button_action-on-battery.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Power\PowerSettings\96996BC0-AD50-47EC-923B-6F41874DD9EB]
"DCSettingIndex"=dword:00000000

7 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

8 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

9 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

10 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


 

Attachments

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  • Default_user_choice_for_sleep_button_action-on-battery.reg
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  • Default_user_choice_for_sleep_button_action-plugged-in.reg
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  • Specify_do_nothing_for_sleep_button_action-on-battery.reg
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  • Specify_do_nothing_for_sleep_button_action-plugged-in.reg
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  • Specify_hibernate_for_sleep_button_action-on-battery.reg
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  • Specify_hibernate_for_sleep_button_action-plugged-in.reg
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  • Specify_shut_down_for_sleep_button_action-on-battery.reg
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  • Specify_shut_down_for_sleep_button_action-plugged-in.reg
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  • Specify_sleep_for_sleep_button_action-on-battery.reg
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  • Specify_sleep_for_sleep_button_action-plugged-in.reg
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Last edited:
Tutorial updated to add new option one. :alien:
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
Brink,
We used to use the following on older version of windows to force it to shutdown on sleep button press:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Power\PowerSettings\4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347\96996bc0-ad50-47ec-923b-6f41874dd9eb\DefaultPowerSchemeValues\8c5e7fda-e8bf-4a96-9a85-a6e23a8c635c]
"DcSettingIndex"=dword:00000003
"AcSettingIndex"=dword:00000003
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Power\PowerSettings\4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347\96996bc0-ad50-47ec-923b-6f41874dd9eb\DefaultPowerSchemeValues\a1841308-3541-4fab-bc81-f71556f20b4a]
"DcSettingIndex"=dword:00000003
"AcSettingIndex"=dword:00000003
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Power\PowerSettings\4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347\96996bc0-ad50-47ec-923b-6f41874dd9eb\DefaultPowerSchemeValues\381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e]
"DcSettingIndex"=dword:00000003
"AcSettingIndex"=dword:00000003




I remember we used to use a command like this to force it to shutdown on sleep button press.
powercfg.exe -setacvalueindex 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 96996bc0-ad50-47ec-923b-6f41874dd9eb 3

Do these no longer work in windows 11 or windows 10 21H2?

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 11
Brink,

I remember we used to use a command like this to force it to shutdown on sleep button press.
powercfg.exe -setacvalueindex 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 96996bc0-ad50-47ec-923b-6f41874dd9eb 3

Do these no longer work in windows 11 or windows 10 21H2?

Thanks

Hello jgarizona, and welcome. :alien:

It's essentially what option four does. Since a value of "3" is invalid, it will act the same as "0".

You could use option 6 or 7 to specify with a GPO that gets applied to all power plans, and cannot be changed.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
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