How to make a shortcut to put windows 10 in sleep mode

I would like to have a shortcut to put my computer to sleep or, is it Windows? ( like the option in Start button> Power)

How can I make that shortcut?

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Instead of creating a shortcut, here’s an easier way to put your computer into sleep mode: Press Windows key + X, followed by U, then S to sleep.

We hope this helps.

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Thanks John, it really solved my problem. And quickly, too.

Now, if there were a way to «Wake up» from sleep with a shortcut, too.

what do you think?

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I appreciate your sharing.

I can’t wake up my computer by hitting a key or moving the mouse. I tried it. I have to push the start button on the computer tower to awaken it.

Maybe I need to do a settings tweak but couldn’t find where or how.

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I did go to properties on the Device Manager and clicked on the «Use mouse for wake up» check box.

It works only when the computer goes asleep on its own, after the time allotted but not when put to sleep using Windows Key+ ‘X’ and then ‘U’ follow by ‘S’.

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Play a Computer Game in Windowed Mode

Multitask while you play

Most computer games take over the whole screen when you play. But, depending on whether or not the developer allows it, you might be able to play in a window instead.

The process to window a game takes just a few seconds, however, some games don’t natively support windowed mode. So, you may have to take some more involved steps to prevent those games from taking up the whole screen.

This guide applies to Windows 10 and later.

Check for the Easy Button

Some games explicitly allow the application to run in a windowed mode. Go into the Settings menu and you’ll see options listed using varying language. If you don’t see the below options there, you might access them from the game’s launcher.

• Windowed Mode: Runs the game in a resizeable window just like any other application.
• Borderless Window Mode: Runs the game as a window, which may be full screen or not, but without the usual chrome (borders, toolbars, etc.) normal apps enjoy.
• Fullscreen (Windowed) Mode: Runs the game full-screen, but full-screen view is just a maximized window, so you can run other apps atop the game.

Make Windows Work for You

The Windows operating system supports command-line switches to adjust certain start-up parameters of programs. One way to «force» an application like your favorite game to run in a windowed mode is to create a special shortcut to the program’s main executable, then configure that shortcut with the applicable command-line switch.

Right-click or tap-and-hold the shortcut for the computer game you want to play in windowed mode.

If you don’t see the shortcut on the desktop, you can make one yourself. To make a new shortcut to a game or program in Windows, either drag it to the desktop from the Start menu or right-click (or tap-and-hold if you’re on a touchscreen) the executable file and choose Send to > Desktop.

Select Properties.

In the Shortcut tab, in the Target: field, add -window or -w at the end of the file path. If one doesn’t work, try the other.

Select OK.

If you receive an «Access Denied» message, you may need to confirm you’re an administrator on that computer.

If the game doesn’t support Windowed Mode play, adding a command-line switch won’t work. But, it’s worth trying. Many games, officially or unofficially, allow the Windows operating system to control how they render.

Alternative Ways to Window a Game

Here are some additional methods to try if you want to play games in windowed mode:

Keyboard Shortcuts

Some games can be recomposed into a window by pressing the Alt + Enter keys together while in the game, or by pressing Ctrl + F.

Modify the .INI File

Some games store full-screen mode settings in an .INI file. They might use the line «dWindowedMode» to define whether to run the game in windowed mode or not. If there’s a number after that line, make sure it’s 1. Some may use True/False to define that setting.

Use DxWnd

If the game relies on DirectX graphics, programs like DxWnd serve as «wrappers» offering custom configurations to force full-screen DirectX games to run in a window. DxWnd sits between the game and the Windows operating system; it intercepts system calls between the game and the OS and translates them into an output that fits into a resizable window. But again, the game must rely on DirectX graphics for this method to work.

If Your Game Is Really Old.

Some very old games from the MS-DOS era run in DOS emulators like DOSBox. DOSBox and similar programs use configuration files that specify full-screen behavior through customizable toggles.

Virtualization

Another option is to run the game through virtualization software like VirtualBox or VMware, or a Hyper-V virtual machine. Virtualization technology lets an entirely different operating system run as a guest OS within your existing operating system’s session. These virtual machines always run in a window, although you can maximize the window to get a full-screen effect.

Run a game in a virtual machine if it can’t be run in a windowed mode. As far as the game is concerned, it’s functioning like normal. The virtualization software governs its appearance as a window in its host operating system, not the game itself.

Some Considerations

There are a few things to keep in mind when attempting to modify your games:

How to Fast-Switch to Your Windows Desktop

Use Windows key shortcuts to become a power user

What to Know

• Easiest: Use the Win+D shortcut to display and hide the desktop.
• Alternatively, enable the Task View button to display thumbnails of windows and virtual desktops.
• Also easy: Right-click the taskbar and select Show Desktop.

This article explains several ways to quickly access the desktop in Windows 10 and how to create virtual desktops.

How to Display and Hide the Windows 10 Desktop

Use the Win+D shortcut to display and hide the desktop. This command forces Windows to switch to the desktop immediately and minimize all open windows to the taskbar. Use the same shortcut to bring back those open windows.

This shortcut works on all versions of Windows back to at least XP.

How to Create Virtual Desktops

Windows 10 includes virtual desktops, which offer more than one version of your workspace. One good use of virtual desktops is to separate professional and personal work.

Press Win+Ctrl+D to add a new virtual desktop. Repeat the button command to create more. Press the Win+Ctrl keys plus the left and right arrow keys to switch between screens.

How to Display the Task View to See All Virtual Desktops

Press the Task View button on the toolbar to open a full-screen overlay that displays thumbnails of each virtual desktop and apps that support timeline history. This feature was new in the Windows 10 18.09 release.

If you don’t see the Task View button, right-click the taskbar and select Show Task View button.

The Task View button looks like a filmstrip next to the Cortana icon on the taskbar by default. In Task View, you can find apps and web pages you previously browsed. You can also delete, move items to, and add new virtual desktops.

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How to Shutdown or Sleep Windows 10 With a Keyboard Shortcut

Looking for a Windows 10 sleep shortcut? Here’s how to shut down or put your computer to sleep with just the keyboard.

Have you ever found yourself looking to turn your computer off or put it to sleep without a mouse? Maybe you’re in search of a Windows sleep shortcut because your mouse isn’t working, or perhaps you just want to work more efficiently.

We’ll show you how to put your computer to sleep with only the keyboard or shut it down just as easily.

Method 1: Use the Power User Menu Shortcut

The most reliable Windows 10 sleep shortcut isn’t a true keyboard shortcut—rather, it’s a quick sequence of keys. However, because it works without any setup and while using any app, it’s the best method in most cases.

Press Win + X to open the Power User Menu. You’ll notice underlined characters corresponding to shortcut keys for those actions. Press U, then use one of the following keys to shut down, sleep, or perform other power actions:

• Press U again to shut down Windows.
• Hit the R key to restart.
• Press S to put Windows to sleep.
• Use H to hibernate.
• Hit I to sign out.

Method 2: Alt + F4 Sleep Mode Shortcut

As you might know, pressing Alt + F4 closes the current window, just like clicking the X in the top-right corner. However, if you don’t have a window currently selected, you can use Alt + F4 as a shortcut for sleep in Windows 10.

To make sure you don’t have any apps in focus, press Win + D to show your desktop. From there, tap Alt + F4 and you’ll open the Shut Down Windows dialog box.

Depending on your system, you’ll likely see Shut down or Sleep in the dropdown box by default. If you’re happy with this, just hit Enter to confirm the selection. Otherwise, use the arrow keys to switch to other options, then hit Enter when you’re ready.

If you didn’t know this trick, have a look at other tips for enhancing the Windows 10 shutdown process.

Method 3: Create Your Own Shortcut to Sleep Windows 10

While there’s no built-in sleep shortcut for Windows 10, you can make your own keyboard shortcut pretty easily.

Creating a New Shortcut

To do this, start by right-clicking an empty spot on your desktop and choosing New > Shortcut.

In the resulting box, you’ll need to enter different text depending on whether you want a sleep shortcut key or one to shut down the computer. Use the following:

• To shut down Windows immediately and force-close any open programs:
  • shutdown.exe -s -t 00 -f
• To create a sleep shortcut:
  • rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState 0,1,0

Unfortunately, there’s a small caveat with the sleep shortcut. If you have hibernation enabled on your computer, this command will cause the computer to sleep instead of hibernating. See our explanation of hibernation in Windows to learn how to disable this.

After you enter the command, click Next, give the shortcut a name, and click Finish.

Assign a Keyboard Shortcut to the Command

Now that you have a shortcut to the option you want, you just need to assign it a key combination. To do this, right-click your new shortcut on the desktop and choose Properties. Select the Shortcut tab at the top and in the Shortcut key, enter a combination that you’d like.

You should pick something that’s not already in use by other programs. In addition, make sure the shortcut combination you set isn’t easy to hit by accident, as you won’t want to suddenly shut down your system in the middle of working.

When you’re done, click OK and your Windows sleep keyboard shortcut or shutdown shortcut will be active. If you ever decide you don’t want it, just delete the shortcut file.

Sleep or Shut Down With Ease

Now you know several sleep mode shortcuts to easily shut down or put Windows to sleep. This makes it easy to access power options without fiddling around in menus.

If you’re looking for a non-keyboard method, check out how to customize the power button in Windows 10. We’ve also shown how to fix issues with Sleep Mode on Windows if you’ve run into problems.

If you need desktop PC performance in a space-saving unit, consider one of these best mini PCs for your home.

Ben is a Deputy Editor and the Onboarding Manager at MakeUseOf. He left his IT job to write full-time in 2016 and has never looked back. He’s been covering tech tutorials, video game recommendations, and more as a professional writer for over six years.

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