When you lock a Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC, the monitor turns off after about one minute because Windows uses a separate, hidden “console lock” display timeout of 60 seconds, and the normal “Turn off the display” setting does not change it. You can change it with the powercfg VIDEOCONLOCK setting, or unhide it in Advanced power settings. If your real problem is the screen sleeping while you are still using the PC, that is a different timeout, and StayGreen from Automata Labs handles it with per-app and timed keep-awake that releases as soon as you lock.
Keep your screen awake while you work, and let Windows lock and sleep normally when you leave.
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Why does the screen turn off so quickly when the PC is locked?
Microsoft documents this in Monitor powers off after 1 minute when PC is locked, originally KB 2835052, which applies to Windows 8, 8.1, 10 and 11. The cause section says:
“This behavior is by design in Windows. By default, when the console is locked, Windows waits for 60 seconds of inactivity before powering off the display.”
It also explains why changing your power plan seems to do nothing. The “Choose when to turn off the display” setting “can be used to adjust the display timeout used when a user is logged in and idle but does not affect the timeout used when the PC is locked.”
So Windows has two display timeouts:
| Setting | When it applies | Default behavior | Where to change it |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIDEOIDLE, “Turn off the display” | PC unlocked and idle | Your power plan value | Settings or Power Options |
| VIDEOCONLOCK, “Console lock display off timeout” | PC at the lock screen | 60 seconds | powercfg, or unhide in Advanced power settings |
How do I change the lock screen display timeout with powercfg?
Open Command Prompt or Windows Terminal as administrator and run, replacing 300 with the number of seconds you want:
powercfg.exe /setacvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT SUB_VIDEO VIDEOCONLOCK 300
powercfg.exe /setactive SCHEME_CURRENTMicrosoft notes that /setacvalueindex only changes the current power plan when plugged in. For battery, use /setdcvalueindex instead:
powercfg.exe /setdcvalueindex SCHEME_CURRENT SUB_VIDEO VIDEOCONLOCK 300
powercfg.exe /setactive SCHEME_CURRENTThe same commands with VIDEOIDLE in place of VIDEOCONLOCK set the unlocked display timeout. Because the change applies to the current scheme, switching to a different power plan later can bring the one-minute behavior back.
How do I show the setting in Power Options instead?
On Windows 10 and Windows 11 you can expose the setting so you can change it with a dropdown. From an administrative prompt, Microsoft gives this command:
powercfg.exe -attributes SUB_VIDEO 8EC4B3A5-6868-48c2-BE75-4F3044BE88A7 -ATTRIB_HIDEThen open Control Panel, Power Options, select Change plan settings for your plan, then Change advanced power settings, and look under Display for Console lock display off timeout. To hide it again, run the same command with +ATTRIB_HIDE instead of -ATTRIB_HIDE.
How do I check the current value?
Microsoft’s powercfg command-line reference lists /query, which “displays the contents of a power scheme.” To see the display settings of your current plan, run:
powercfg /query SCHEME_CURRENT SUB_VIDEOLook for the Console lock display off timeout entry. Powercfg shows the plugged-in and battery values as hexadecimal numbers of seconds, so 0x0000003c is 60 seconds and 0x0000012c is 300 seconds.
Why does my monitor still turn off after one minute?
If the change does not stick, check these in order:
- You changed only one power source. A laptop on battery uses the DC value, so run both the AC and DC commands.
- You switched power plans. The commands change SCHEME_CURRENT, the plan active at the time. Another plan keeps its own value.
- You did not reapply the plan. Run the /setactive SCHEME_CURRENT command after changing the value.
- Your PC is managed. On work or school PCs, power settings may be set by your organization, and a local change can be overridden. Ask your IT team rather than working around it.
- The monitor has its own power saving. Some displays have an eco or auto-standby option in their on-screen menu that acts independently of Windows.
Should I keep the screen on while the PC is locked?
Think about why you want it. A longer lock screen timeout is useful when a locked PC shows something you want to see, such as a lock screen slideshow, or when the monitor takes a long time to wake. But a locked screen that stays lit uses power and does nothing for your work, and on a shared desk it advertises that the PC is unattended.
If instead your screen goes dark while you are reading, watching a long render or presenting, the lock screen timeout is not the culprit. That is the unlocked display timeout, or something else putting the display to sleep. Our explainer on Windows 11 screen, sleep and hibernate timeouts untangles which setting does what, and powercfg /requests shows what is holding the PC awake.
How does StayGreen fit in?
StayGreen is a keep-awake app for the time you are at the PC, built to step aside when you leave. It does not change the lock screen timeout, by design. According to its Microsoft Store listing:
- Smart keep-awake prevents screen sleep and system sleep, with a choice of display and system or system only.
- Per-app targeting activates only when the apps you choose are in focus, such as a video call, a dashboard or a long-running build.
- Timed sessions keep the PC awake for a set duration with a live countdown.
- Session Lock Guard “instantly drops power requests” when the system locks, so Windows can turn off the display and sleep as normal.
- Hardware interlock auto-pauses when on battery or when the laptop lid is closed, with clamshell support when external monitors are connected.
Stay awake for the apps that need it, with keep-awake released the moment you lock.
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That split works well with the lock screen setting. Leave VIDEOCONLOCK short so a locked PC goes dark quickly, and use StayGreen to stop the screen sleeping while you are actually working. For presentations specifically, Windows also has built-in options; see Windows presentation settings to keep awake.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn’t changing “Turn off the display” fix the lock screen timeout?
Because it controls a different timeout. Microsoft says it applies when you are logged in and idle, not when the PC is locked.
What value should I use for VIDEOCONLOCK?
It is in seconds. 300 is five minutes, and 600 is ten minutes. Pick the shortest value that solves your problem.
Do I need admin rights?
Microsoft’s instructions use an administrative command prompt, so run Command Prompt or Windows Terminal as administrator.
Does the change apply on battery?
Only if you also run the /setdcvalueindex version of the command. The /setacvalueindex version covers plugged-in power.
Will StayGreen keep my screen on at the lock screen?
No. According to its listing, StayGreen drops its power requests when the system locks, so Windows’ lock screen and sleep behavior apply as normal.
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Get StayGreen from the Microsoft Store. It is a one-time purchase with no subscription, and the Store listing shows the current price.
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Last updated 23 October 2026. Published by Automata Labs, a software company in Canada.