How to Create and Use a Windows 10/11 Sleep Mode Shortcut

Putting your PC in sleep mode shouldn’t be difficult, and Microsoft knows that. Whether using a Windows 10 or a Windows 11 PC, you have multiple ways to make your system enter sleep mode. In case you don’t like the default offerings, you can make your own shortcuts and put your PC to sleep.

Some ways to access Windows Sleep Mode include using an option in the Power User Menu, running a command in a Command Prompt, and making a desktop shortcut. We’ll explain how to use all these methods on your computer.

Note: This guide uses screenshots from a Windows 10 PC. However, the steps for Windows 11 should be similar.

Use Power User Menu to Enter Sleep Mode

Power User Menu is a quick way to put your PC in sleep mode. You can access this menu using a keyboard shortcut and then choose an option to enter sleep mode.

This menu also offers shortcuts to other Windows tools like Settings and Task Manager.

1. Press Windows + X at the same time to open Power User Menu.
2. Select U on your keyboard to choose the Shut down or sign out option.
3. Select the Sleep option by pressing S on your keyboard.

If you don’t prefer pressing keyboard buttons, you can choose the items in the menu using your mouse or trackpad.

Use the Alt + F4 Keyboard Shortcut to Put Your PC in Sleep Mode

Both Windows 10 and 11 offer a Shut Down Windows dialog box that you can use to put your PC in sleep mode. This dialog box opens using a quick keyboard shortcut, making entering sleep mode faster.

One minor drawback of this method is that pressing the keyboard shortcut will close your focused windows. So, you’ll want to use this method by first accessing your PC’s desktop.

1. Press Alt + F4 at the same time on your keyboard.
2. Choose Sleep from the What do you want the computer to do? dropdown menu.

3. Select OK at the bottom of the dialog box.

Access the Power Menu to Enter Sleep Mode on Windows

Windows’ Start menu hosts shortcuts to nearly all the apps and features on your PC. One of these is a Power menu shortcut that reveals various power options, including the sleep mode option.

If you prefer using the Start menu for your tasks, you’ll like this way of entering your PC’s sleep mode.

1. Access the Start menu by either pressing the Windows key on your keyboard or selecting the Start menu icon at the lower-left corner of your screen.
2. Choose the Power icon in the Start menu.

3. Select the Sleep option in the Power menu.

Make Windows Fall Asleep With a Command Prompt Command

You’re in luck if you prefer using commands to execute tasks on your PC. Windows offers a dedicated command that you can use in a Command Prompt window to put your PC to sleep.

The only drawback of this method is that the method will hibernate your PC instead of entering sleep mode if you have that feature enabled. You can turn off hibernation on your PC to avoid this situation, though.

Here’s how to disable hibernation on your PC:

1. Open the Start menu, search for Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.

2. Choose Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
3. Enter the following command in Command Prompt and press Enter: powercfg -h off

If you have hibernation disabled already, or you’ve just turned the feature off using the above steps, here’s how to make your PC sleep with a command:

1. Open Command Prompt with admin rights on your PC.
2. Enter the following command in Command Prompt and press Enter:
   
   rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState 0,1,0

3. Your PC will enter sleep mode.

Create a Desktop Shortcut for Sleep Mode

Windows lets you create a desktop shortcut for nearly every item stored on your PC. You can make a sleep mode shortcut on your desktop and double-click that shortcut each time you want to use sleep mode.

Creating this shortcut involves using a command instead of linking to a file on your PC. Optionally, you can assign the shortcut to a keyboard key to quickly place your PC in sleep mode.

1. Access your desktop by pressing Windows + D.
2. Right-click anywhere blank and select New > Shortcut.
3. Enter the following command in the Type the location of the item field. Then, select Next.
   
   rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState 0,1,0

4. Enter your shortcut’s name in the Type a name for this shortcut field. This can be any name of your choice. Then, select Finish.

5. Your sleep mode shortcut is now ready on your desktop. Double-click this shortcut each time you want your PC to sleep.

You can now assign a keyboard shortcut to the sleep mode shortcut, so your PC enters sleep mode with a keystroke:

1. Right-click your sleep mode shortcut and select Properties.
2. Choose the Shortcut tab at the top.
3. Select the Shortcut key field.
4. Press the keys on your keyboard you’d like to assign to the sleep mode shortcut.

5. Select Apply followed by OK at the bottom.
6. Press the keyboard shortcut you just specified to make your PC enter sleep mode.

Use Your PC’s Power Button as a Sleep Button

Some computers offer a dedicated Sleep button that you can use to put your PC in sleep mode. If you haven’t got that, you can turn your keyboard’s Power button into a Sleep button.

You don’t have to take your key off your keyboard or anything else. You just have to change your PC’s power settings, and your Power key will act as a Sleep key.

1. Launch Control Panel by accessing the Start menu, searching for Control Panel, and selecting the tool in the search results.
2. Choose System and Security in the Control Panel.
3. Select Change what the power buttons do beneath Power Options.

4. Choose Sleep from both the On battery and Plugged in dropdown menus next to When I press the power button.

5. Select Save changes at the bottom.
6. Press your PC’s Power button to enter sleep mode.

Use the Sleep Mode to Take Breaks From Your PC

If you’re someone who often needs to put their PC in sleep mode, Windows’ sleep mode shortcuts are real-time-savers for you. You can use both built-in shortcuts and your own shortcuts to ensure entering sleep mode on your PC isn’t a hassle.