Win11, how to manually turn laptop Screen Off / On when I just need it, while all programs keep running ?

Hi,
In Win11, how to manually turn laptop Screen Off / On when I just need it with Win11 onboard function ?, while all programs keep running ? I dig this now google wise since an hour with no success.
Is it even possible to do that without running another program in the background and without creating a timing for screen off in the power options ?

Regards Frank

This happens automatically when you use the Power Options to shut off the screen after a certain idle period. See Start --> Settings --> Power & battery --> Screen & sleep, then On battery power, turn off my screen after (my default shows 3 minutes); When plugged in, turn off my screen after (my default shows 5 minutes -- I sometimes raise this, or change it to "Never").
HTH,
--Ed--

Hello Frank, and welcome.

If you like, the tutorial below will add a context menu allowing you to turn off the display on demand.

Oooh, good one @Brink! I have to echo and endorse the gratitude expressed for your unstinting efforts on behalf of the Windows community. Thanks for all the great tutorials. I refer to them regularly for my own benefit, and recommend them to others all the time. Keep up the good work.
--Ed--

I just Copied 11GB of data from one drive to another and using the WinKey + L to Lock the screen did not interfere with the process. Coming out of Lock did require logging in but no issue.

Frank,

Frank1000 said:

how to manually turn laptop Screen Off / On when I just need it

Click to expand...

First you need to check that you do not have S0 Modern standby [aka S0 Low power idle] by using the command
powercfg -a

If you do not have S0 then you can turn off the screen by using
- a shortcut to NirSoft's NirCmd in the form
...\NirCmd.exe monitor off
- a shortcut to a blank screensaver e.g. C:\Windows\System32\scrnsave.scr
Enable or Disable Screen Saver - TenForumsTutorials
- - I didn't like this because the screen still glowed a bit even though it was a blank screensaver.
- - I tried several apparently jet black screensavers with the same result but eventually adopted the NirCmd solution instead.
- - Screensavers from earlier Windows versions work in Windows 11. But even with those I didn't find any that suited me. They all glowed to some extent.

If you have S0 then all user-desired activity grinds to a halt when the screen goes off, which is when S0 kicks in.
- I eventually disabled S0.
- Before then, I tried a workaround by setting Power options to keep my display on all the time [so that S0 would not kick in & my applications would therefore be able to carry on] but setting a blank screensaver to start after a minute or so.

Best of luck,
Denis

Check the device manual or web site. Most (All?) laptops have function key options to manually turn on/off at least sound and screen. Usually done by Fn key+ and F key. Some have separate Fn+Fkeys for on and off, some (like my Acer) have the one Fn+Fkey as an on/off switch.

idgat said:

Most (All?) laptops have function key options to manually turn on/off ... screen.

Click to expand...

I've never seen a laptop that has a function key to turn off the screen.
I have three in front of me right now and none of them have such a key.
I've always had to make my own arrangements.
Please would you post a photo or diagram of your keyboard and indicate which key is the screen on/off switch. I'd like to make a note of it for future reference.

All the best,
Denis

There is sort of a screen Off or On key, it's the one or combination of two used to select between the LCD panel, a projector/external monitor or both at the same time.

Note that you can also go into the power settings in Control Panel to turn off the screen if you tap the power button. That's what I do.

Yes, it is possible to turn off the laptop screen in Windows 11 without running another program in the background or creating a timing for screen off in the power options. Here's how to do it:

Press the Windows key + P on your keyboard.
This will open the Project menu.
Select the "Second screen only" option to turn off the laptop screen.
To turn the laptop screen back on, simply press any key on the keyboard or move the mouse.
This method will keep all programs running, and you can easily turn the laptop screen off and on as needed.