Suppose you need to run a high-priority process on your computer that can't be interrupted by things like a spontaneous suspension. Configuring power options in Windows isn't complicated, and its advanced section has all the customization parameters we might need, but the process still tends to be inconvenient, with repeated visits to the Control Panel. The small utility Don’t Sleep reduces blocking hibernation and/or suspension to a couple of clicks, and even includes a timer for more precise control.
Few things are as annoying in Windows as a scheduled task that catches the user by surprise and interrupts their work. The web is full of examples where Windows 10 starts installing automatic updates without warning, and the problem became so serious that Microsoft had to implement an “active hours” mechanism to reduce the number of incidents. However, that's not the only thing that can happen.
Some actions require the computer to stay awake and not enter sleep. Saving energy is important, but not when it harms the user. Manually disabling power management becomes tedious in record time, and to avoid that, we have Don’t Sleep.
Block sleep and hibernation
As its name suggests, Don’t Sleep blocks suspensions, hibernation, automatic shutdown, and screen saver activation. The program has extensive options to modify its behavior, starting with a timer that helps us specify when to interrupt the block and what to do immediately after.
It also provides the opposite function, which is to enter sleep after a certain number of minutes if it doesn't detect activity from the mouse, keyboard, or both. The Computer and System sections enable shortcuts to special areas of the operating system (Task Manager, User Accounts, etc.), and shortcuts to shut down, restart, hibernate, suspend, or log off.
Don’t Sleep works with all versions of Windows from XP onward, including Windows 11, doesn't need a classic installation, its developer offers 32 and 64-bit builds, and VirusTotal reports a perfect 0 out of 64. The program was recently updated on June 28, 2021.
