Windows settings and power
Power plans, theme, Focus assist, lock, sleep, shutdown, environment and other everyday Windows settings.
Triggers (8)
Battery low
Battery low starts a routine when your laptop's battery drops below the percentage you set while it is running on battery. Use it to save power or save your work in time.
Going to sleep
Going to sleep starts a routine as the PC is going to sleep or hibernating. It's for quick last-moment tidy-ups, like pausing media so it doesn't resume at full volume.
Plugged in or unplugged
Plugged in or unplugged starts a routine when the charger is connected, removed, or either. It's the trigger for laptops that should behave differently at the desk and on the go.
Woke up
Woke up starts a routine when the PC comes back from sleep or hibernation. It's the place to fix the things that never quite come back right on their own.
Back at the PC
Back at the PC starts a routine when you return after being away for at least the time you set. It's the welcome-back counterpart of the Idle trigger.
Idle
Idle starts a routine after you've gone a set time without keyboard or mouse input. It's the trigger for "I've stepped away": lock, pause, save, or tidy.
PC locked
PC locked starts a routine when the PC is locked, whether you pressed Win+L or the lock screen came on by itself. It turns locking into your "leaving the desk" signal.
PC unlocked
PC unlocked starts a routine when you unlock the PC. It's the natural place for "I'm back" steps such as resuming music, restoring settings or opening the day's apps.
Steps (10)
Hibernate
Hibernate saves everything to disk and powers the PC down, so it uses no power but comes back with your apps where you left them. People put it at the end of an evening routine or after a long download.
Keep awake
Keep awake stops Windows from going to sleep, and can keep the screen on as well. It's for downloads, renders, presentations and anything else that shouldn't be cut off by a sleep timer.
Lock the PC
Lock the PC shows the lock screen, just like pressing Win+L. It's most useful when something else decides the moment, such as being idle, a time of day, or leaving your desk.
Restart
Restart reboots the PC from a routine. A countdown with a Cancel button comes first, so a scheduled restart never surprises you mid-task.
Turn the screen off
Turn the screen off powers down your displays right away while the PC keeps running. Moving the mouse or pressing a key turns them back on.
Set power mode
Set power mode changes the Windows 11 power mode you find under Settings, System, Power: best power efficiency, balanced or best performance. Gamers flip it to performance for a session and back afterwards.
Set power plan
Set power plan switches the classic Windows power plan, such as Balanced, High performance, Power saver or Ultimate performance. Gaming routines usually switch to High performance and back to Balanced afterwards.
Shut down
Shut down powers off the PC from a routine, after a countdown you can cancel. It's the classic end of a bedtime routine or of a long overnight job.
Sign out
Sign out ends your Windows session and goes back to the sign-in screen, closing your apps. It suits shared or family PCs where each person should leave the computer signed out.
Sleep
Sleep puts the PC to sleep after a short countdown you can cancel. It's the last step of most good-night routines.
Conditions (4)
Idle for
Idle for is true when nobody has touched the keyboard or mouse for at least the time you set. It's the check for "only do this if I've stepped away".
Battery level
Battery level passes when your battery is at least the percentage you choose. Routines use it to skip or delay power-hungry steps when the laptop is running low.
Plugged in or on battery
Plugged in or on battery checks whether the PC is running on mains power or on its battery right now. It lets one routine choose between a full-power and a battery-saving setup.
PC is unlocked
PC is unlocked is true while you're signed in and the lock screen isn't showing. Put it in front of anything that needs you at the PC, like sounds, prompts or keystrokes.
How-to guides
- How to mute sound and pause music when you lock your PC
- How to switch dark mode on a schedule on Windows 11
- How to switch to High performance automatically when gaming
- How to close apps, tidy files and sleep the PC at end of day
- How to make a presentation mode that undoes itself after
- How to schedule a shutdown with a countdown you can cancel
- How to keep your PC awake while a specific app is running
- How to save battery automatically when the laptop is unplugged
- How to turn off your screen with a hotkey on Windows
- How to restart apps and fix windows after the PC wakes up
Build this routine in KeyRoutines
Free from the Microsoft Store for Windows 11 and 10. Pro is a one-time upgrade.