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How to make a bedtime routine that dims your screens and sleeps the PC

Build a KeyRoutines routine with an At a time trigger, Set brightness for every monitor, Set volume for the master output, and Ask with buttons with "Sleep now" and "Not yet". Sleep runs only on "Sleep now", with its usual countdown and Cancel button.

Steps

  1. 1

    Schedule it

    Add At a time at 23:00 on the days you choose.

  2. 2

    Wind down

    Add Set brightness at 20 with the monitor left empty for every monitor, and Set volume at 0.2.

  3. 3

    Ask first

    Add Ask with buttons with "Sleep now" and "Not yet", defaulting to Not yet.

  4. 4

    Sleep

    Add an If on the clicked button; inside it, add Sleep with a 60-second countdown.

Tips

  • External monitors need DDC/CI turned on in their own menu for Set brightness to reach them.
  • Add an At a time trigger in the morning with Set brightness back at 80 for the other half.

Questions

Will it sleep while I'm in a game?
Only if you click Sleep now. Ask with buttons shows a Windows notification and uses the default, Not yet, if nobody answers.
Is it free?
Yes. All of these blocks are free.

Blocks this routine uses

Trigger · ScheduleFree

At a time

At a time starts a routine at a time of day, every day or only on the days you pick. Classic uses are a work setup at 09:00 on weekdays and an end-of-day routine in the evening.

Step · DisplayFree

Set brightness

Set brightness changes how bright a screen is, from 0 to 100. It works with laptop and tablet panels and with external monitors that accept brightness commands, so you can dim everything at night or brighten up for daytime work.

Step · AudioFree

Set volume

Set volume changes the level of the master output, the microphone, one device or one app. Use it to set a quiet level at night, a louder level for speakers, or a steady mic level before you record.

Step · NotificationsFree

Ask with buttons

Ask with buttons shows a Windows notification with up to three buttons and waits for a click. It's the lightest way to let a routine ask you something, even while you're in a game.

Step · SystemFree

Sleep

Sleep puts the PC to sleep after a short countdown you can cancel. It's the last step of most good-night routines.

More how-to guides

Build this routine in KeyRoutines

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