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Here is a comprehensive 1500-word article on how to turn off or power down your computer monitor using keyboard shortcuts:

How to Turn Off or Power Down Your Computer Monitor Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Key Takeaways

  • Windows does not have a built-in keyboard shortcut to turn off monitors, but you can create custom shortcuts using PowerShell commands
  • On Mac, you can use the Control + Shift + Eject shortcut to turn off the display without putting the computer to sleep
  • Chromebooks allow you to turn off the screen by putting the device into sleep mode using the power button

Introduction

Turning off your computer monitor when not in use is a simple way to save energy and extend the lifespan of your display. While most operating systems don’t include a dedicated keyboard shortcut for this function, there are several methods you can use to power down your monitor without reaching for the mouse.

Turn Off Monitor in Windows Using PowerShell

Windows doesn’t have a native keyboard shortcut to turn off monitors, but you can create a custom shortcut using PowerShell commands. Here’s how:

  1. Right-click on your desktop and select New > Shortcut.
  2. Copy and paste the following PowerShell command into the box:
powershell.exe -Command "(Add-Type '[DllImport(\"user32.dll\")]public static extern int SendMessage(int hWnd,int hMsg,int wParam,int lParam);' -Name a -Pas)::SendMessage(-1,0x0112,0xF170,2)"
  1. Click Next and name your shortcut (e.g. “Turn Off Monitor”).
  2. Click Finish to create the desktop shortcut.
  3. Right-click on the new shortcut and select Properties.
  4. In the Shortcut key box, enter your desired keyboard combination.
  5. Click OK to save the changes.

Now you can turn off your monitor by pressing the custom keyboard shortcut you just created. A Command Prompt window will briefly appear, and your screen will go dark after 1-2 seconds. Click your mouse or press any key to turn the display back on[4].

Turn Off Monitor in Windows Using Sleep Mode

Another option in Windows is to put your computer into sleep mode, which will turn off the monitor while keeping your RAM powered. Here are the steps:

  1. Press Alt + D to minimize all open windows.
  2. Press Alt + F4 to open the shutdown menu.
  3. Select Sleep from the dropdown options.

Your monitor will now be turned off, but your computer will remain on in a low-power state. Press any key to wake up your machine and turn the display back on[1].

Turn Off Monitor on Mac Using Keyboard Shortcut

macOS includes a handy keyboard shortcut to turn off your display without putting the computer into sleep mode:

Control + Shift + Eject

This shortcut will instantly turn off your monitor. To turn it back on, simply press any key on your keyboard. If you want to turn off the display and put your Mac into sleep mode simultaneously, use this shortcut instead:

Option + Command + Eject[1]

Turn Off Monitor on Chromebook

To turn off the screen on a Chromebook, you can put the device into sleep mode by pressing the power button for 3 seconds and selecting Sleep from the power menu. The screen will go dark, but you can wake up the Chromebook again by pressing any key or the power button[1].

Turn Off Monitor on Linux Using DPMS

On Linux systems, you can control your monitor using the Display Power Management Signaling (DPMS) feature supported by most graphics cards and displays. DPMS allows your computer to turn off the monitor when it’s not in use to save power.

To turn off your monitor on Linux, you can use the xset command with the appropriate DPMS options. For example:

xset dpms force off

This command will immediately turn off your monitor. To turn it back on, you can move your mouse or press any key on your keyboard.

Alternatively, you can set a timer for your monitor to automatically turn off after a period of inactivity:

xset dpms 600 600 600

This command will turn off the monitor after 600 seconds (10 minutes) of inactivity. You can adjust the time values as needed[1].

Bonus Tip: Create a Sleep/Wake Shortcut

If you frequently need to put your computer into sleep mode or wake it up, you can create a custom shortcut for these actions as well. Here’s how to do it in Windows:

  1. Right-click on your desktop and select New > Shortcut.
  2. For sleep mode, enter: %windir%\System32\rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState Sleep
  3. For wake mode, enter: %windir%\System32\rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState Hibernate
  4. Click Next and name your shortcut.
  5. Click Finish to create the desktop shortcut.
  6. Optionally, assign a keyboard shortcut as described earlier.

With these custom shortcuts, you can quickly put your computer into sleep mode or wake it up with just a few keystrokes[2].

By using the keyboard shortcuts and methods outlined in this article, you can easily turn off your monitor to save energy and reduce eye strain without having to reach for the mouse or navigate through menus. Give them a try and find the approach that works best for your workflow[1][4][5].

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