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Find out what's stopping your PC from sleeping

Use powercfg /requests to see exactly which programs or drivers are currently blocking Windows sleep mode.

WindowspowercfgPower & SleepDiagnosticsLow risk
Open Command Prompt as administrator and run: powercfg /requests

01Command

Command
$ powercfg /requests

02What it does

When Windows refuses to sleep, some app, service, or driver is holding a 'power request'. The powercfg /requests command lists all active requests grouped by Display, System, and Audio. Typical culprits are browsers playing video, audio apps, or network drivers. Close or reconfigure the offending program and sleep will work again.

03Risk

RiskLow risk
RequirementsRun in an elevated (Administrator) Command Prompt or Terminal
!Warning: Run it in an elevated prompt; in a normal prompt the output may be empty or show an access error.

04Undo

✓No undo needed — this command does not change persistent state.

05Sources

  • Powercfg - Control power settings
    SS64.com · technical · 2026-09-17
    Evidence: Lists the -requests (display) parameter: 'List all power requests, which prevent the computer from sleeping' and notes the hiberfil/sleep context.
  • powercfg Command-Line Options
    Microsoft Learn · vendor-doc · 2026-09-17
    Evidence: Documents the /requests switch: queries the current power request list and shows which applications, services and drivers are preventing the system from entering sleep.

Last verified: 2026-09-19 · Category: System & Settings

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