KeyRoutines
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How to turn off your screen with a hotkey on Windows

Create a KeyRoutines routine with a Hotkey trigger and a Turn the screen off step. Add Media control first if you want playback paused, or Lock the PC if you're stepping away; moving the mouse wakes the screen.

Steps

  1. 1

    Add a Hotkey trigger

    Pick a chord such as Ctrl+Alt+End.

  2. 2

    Pause if you like

    Add Media control set to Pause.

  3. 3

    Lock if you like

    Add Lock the PC if others might use it.

  4. 4

    Screen off

    Add Turn the screen off. The PC keeps running; any key or mouse movement turns the screen back on.

Questions

Is it the same as sleep?
No. The PC stays fully on: downloads, music and calls carry on.
Can I do it automatically after a while?
Use the Idle trigger with Turn the screen off, though Windows' own screen timeout already does this.

Blocks this routine uses

Trigger · HotkeysFree

Hotkey

Hotkey starts a routine when you press a keyboard shortcut or mouse button. It's the most common way to run a routine, from a single app launcher key to a whole streaming setup on one combination.

Step · MediaFree

Media control

Media control sends play, pause, next, previous or stop to whatever is playing, or to a player you name. People use it to pause music for calls, resume it after games, and give keyboards without media keys a set of their own.

Step · SystemFree

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.

Step · SystemFree

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.

More how-to guides

Build this routine in KeyRoutines

Free from the Microsoft Store for Windows 11 and 10. Pro is a one-time upgrade.

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