Why doesn't my screen go to sleep when Audacity is loaded?

[Emerogork]

I do not want to lock the screen. I just want the screen to go blank/sleep after five minutes or so until I touch a key.

Is there a switch to change which will allow the monitor to sleep while the program is loaded?

[NancyB]

I loaded Audacity 3.7.1 on my Windows 10 computer and left it on top while I did other things. When I came back, the screensaver was running. I don’t see anything in the Audacity preferences that would affect this. Hmm, sometimes when I come back to my computer the screen saver is not running, but the computer looks just like I left it. This can happen even if I’ve been away for an hour or more. I’ve always assumed that the vibration as I walked across the floor (and I’m not a heavy walker) woke up the computer.

Some relevant questions:

1. Does this happen every time you’ve been working in Audacity and leave the computer, or just part of the time?
2. What version of Windows are you using?
3. Is your computer plugged in or running on its battery?
4. What version of Audacity are you using?
5. When you leave, is Audacity working on something or sitting idle?

[Emerogork]

.1) Every time, I have yet to see sleep mode when Audacity loaded.
.2) Windows 10
.3) Desktop is plugged in.
.4) version 3.7.3. I have seen this in earlier versions.
.5) idle or recording.

[Emerogork]

Sleep mode also does not activate when playing music.

[NancyB]

Hmm, your computer is a lot like mine, and I haven’t had this problem. My instinct is that this is a Windows setting somewhere, but I haven’t found anything that seems likely. To be clear, does this happen with other programs, or just Audacity? Most Windows settings apply to everything, but there are a few that apply to specific programs.

[Emerogork]

I have seen it only with Audacity.

[NancyB]

I’m afraid you’ve got me on this one; I don’t know. Though I did find this thread in my searches; looks like you’re not the only one who’s had this problem. Audacity prevents computer from going into screensaver, and prevents monitor from going to sleep

[Wrecks0]

You don’t mention which operating system you are using, so I am going to assume it is Windows in this reply.

You probably have a multimedia setting enabled to prevent hibernation while media is in use. This is a Windows setting that allows you to use the screen to watch long movies without the screen saver kicking in.

[Emerogork]

Wrecks0:
I mentioned Windows 10 in a response.

I looked around the setting screen you indicated and tried many settings but I still have no screensaver kicking in when Audacity is playing or recording.