SOLVED Screen timeout broken with January 2023 update

[laudermi]

Since the January Windows 10 update, my desktop screen does not timeout like it has properly done for years. I've changed and toggled the proper setting in Settings/Power, but it still does not timeout ever. I've never used sleep previously, but if I set it my desktop does sleep at the set time. But the screen setting no longer seems to have any effect.

 

[wegmand]

Any chance you have Power Toys installed? It includes an "Awake" utility that can override your system setting for the screen timeout if set improperly.

PowerToys Awake utility for Windows

A tool for a Windows computer to stay awake.

learn.microsoft.com

 

[laudermi]

Thanks for your suggestion. I did not have Power Toys installed. I installed it after your suggestion and set or toggled some of the allowable parameters in Awake. Made no difference. Problem persists.

 

[wegmand]

Were you able to fix the problem? If not, maybe you have a corrupted file. To check & repair, you can run the System File Checker from a command prompt: 'sfc /scannow'
More details about this tool here: https://www.ubackup.com/windows-10/sfc-scannow-windows-10-8523.html

 

[laudermi]

I tried your suggestion and it fixed my problem -- said it found corrupt files and fixed them. Kind of magical! Thanks!!!

 

[wegmand]

Yeah, that's a pretty handy tool that can often fix a misbehaving computer.