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Power & battery settings for screen and sleep changes itself to 'Never' (Windows 11 Pro)

Stephanie 0 Reputation points
2025-11-24T03:51:01.5866667+00:00

Hello,

I have a relatively new Lenovo Slim 7i with Windows 11 all up to date that I've barely used and yet whenever I do, I've been noticing odd, frustrating changes in my settings. I personally always set my Power & Battery settings to be at 5 mins (plugged in)/3 mins (on battery) for screen off and 10 mins (plugged in)/5 mins(on battery) for device to sleep. Yet lately it's been really annoying me as I've been noticing something is changing these settings to 'Never' for everything. It's strange because when I've been researching this issue online it seems like it's normally the other way around too, people who want to have it set at 'Never' end up with the 'Recommended' time, which is what I am trying to get instead.

These changes in settings have happened at least 5 times and whenever it does, I always change it back to how I prefer it to be. I have no idea what could be causing it, I've tried restarting my laptop and it seems to start up with the settings the way I want, but something causes my laptop to switch it by itself after I leave it alone for several days. I've also gone into Control Panel and checked the Power Options to make sure things were properly set to 'Sleep' and 'Hibernate' too. It's so confusing for me and I have no idea what could be causing it. It's also extremely annoying as it's draining my laptop battery for no reason at all.

Help would be appreciated, thank you!

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Sleep and Power on, off
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  1. Randy Baroja 18,970 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-11-24T04:31:51.4933333+00:00

    Hi,

    The issue of your Windows 11 power settings changing to 'Never' is likely caused by an interference from a third-party application (such as the Lenovo Vantage app) or a system conflict. The most common culprit is a manufacturer utility that manages system performance and battery life.

    Here are some of the recommended steps to stop the settings from changing:

    1. Disable Manufacturer Software 

    Lenovo's pre-installed software, such as Lenovo Vantage or Lenovo System Interface Foundation, often includes features that manage power modes and can override Windows' default settings. 

    • Open the Lenovo Vantage app.
    • Navigate to the Power or Smart Settings section.
    • Look for any options related to "Power Mode," "Energy Saver," or "Smart Performance" that might automatically adjust power settings. Disable any automatic or "smart" features. 
    1. Run the Power Troubleshooter 

    Windows has a built-in troubleshooter that can identify and fix common power-related issues. 

    • Open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
    • Locate the Power troubleshooter and click Run.
    • Follow the on-screen prompts and apply any recommended fixes. 
    1. Restore Default Power Schemes

    Resetting the power plans to their default settings can resolve underlying corruption or conflicts. 

    • Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
    • Type the following command and press Enter: powercfg -restoredefaultschemes.
    • Exit Command Prompt and restart your computer.
    • Once restarted, go back into Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen, sleep & hibernate timeouts and set your preferred times again. 
    1. Perform a Clean Boot 

    If the issue persists, a "clean boot" can help you identify if another third-party application is causing the conflict. A clean boot starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. 

    • Open the Start menu and search for msconfig, then select System Configuration.
    • Go to the Services tab.
    • Check the box for Hide all Microsoft services (this is crucial to avoid disabling essential system functions).
    • Click Disable all.
    • Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
    • In Task Manager, right-click on each startup item you don't need and select Disable.
    • Close Task Manager and click OK in the System Configuration window.
    • Restart your computer.
    • If the power settings remain correct in the clean boot state, you can selectively re-enable services and startup items to find the culprit. 
    1. Check for BIOS/UEFI Updates 

    Outdated BIOS or display drivers can sometimes affect power management. Check the Lenovo Support website for your specific laptop model for the latest BIOS and driver updates. 

    Following these steps should help you gain control over your power settings and prevent them from changing automatically.

    You can also check on this link for additional troubleshooting:

    Power settings in Windows 11

    Hope that this information helps.

    Kind regards,

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