Create a shortcut or hotkey to turn off your monitor

Let’s face it: we spend more time in front of screens than ever before in this modern digital era. That being said, it’s important to regulate your screen time and take breaks, whether you’re working, playing video games, or binge-watching your favorite shows. Making a shortcut or hotkey to turn off your monitor is a practical method to accomplish this. By doing so, this provides your eyes a well-earned rest in addition to saving electricity. We’ll walk you through the process of making a shortcut on Windows and macOS in this blog post.

Why would you want to create a “Monitor Off” shortcut?

Let’s talk about some reasons why you might want to make this hotkey before moving on to the steps:

1. Energy savings: You can conserve electricity by shutting off your monitor when you leave. This easy step promotes a more sustainable environment and lowers electricity consumption.
2. Eye strain reduction: You may easily reduce screen exposure with a single button press, giving your eyes a much-needed break and greatly reducing weariness. This simple step not only promotes comfort but also improves your general visual health, which helps you concentrate better and feel more rested after extended screen time.
3. Convenience: Using a single key to turn off your monitor provides a smooth experience, saving you the trouble of finding the power button or sifting through intricate menus. This simplified method increases your productivity and allows you to concentrate on your work uninterrupted.

Let’s now investigate how to configure this on macOS and Windows.

For Windows users

Method 1: Creating a batch file to turn off your monitor

• Open Notepad by clicking on the Start menu
• Type Notepad in the Search bar, and press Enter. This will open a new Notepad window.
• In the blank Notepad window, copy and paste the following code:

  “`

@echo off

displayoff.exe

“`

Make sure to replace @echo with your actual Windows username. You can find your username by looking at the user folder in File Explorer or the user account settings.

• Go to the top left corner of Notepad, click on File, then select Save As.
• In the Save As dialog:

1. Navigate to the folder where you want to save the file (e.g., Desktop).
2. In the File Name field, type TurnOffMonitor.bat.
3. Change the Save as Type dropdown to All Files to ensure it saves with the .bat extension.
4. Click the Save button to create the batch file.

• Locate the TurnOffMonitor.bat file you just created, double-click it to run the script, and it should execute the commands to turn off your monitor.

This batch file can be helpful if you want a quick way to turn off your monitor without going through your computer’s power settings.

Method 2: Create a power plan

• Open the Control Panel on your Windows computer. You can find this by searching for it in the Start menu or by accessing it through the Settings menu.
• Navigate to Hardware and Sound
• Select Power Options. This is where you can customize various settings related to power management on your device.
• Look for the option labeled “Create a power plan” on the left-hand side of the Power Options window.
• Choose one of the available plans, such as Balanced, Power Saver, or High Performance, depending on your usage needs.
• Click “Next” once you’ve made your selection.

You will now have the opportunity to adjust the specific settings for the selected power plan. This includes setting the time for when your computer should turn off the display or go to sleep.

Set monitor off time

• Under the section labeled “Turn off the display,” adjust the time settings to your preferred value. For example, you might choose to have your monitor turn off after 5 minutes of inactivity to save power.
• Click Create at the bottom of the window to save your new power plan.

Create a shortcut

• Right-click on an empty area of your desktop.
• From the context menu, select New, then click on Shortcut to start the process of creating a new shortcut.
• In the location field of the Create Shortcut wizard, type the following command:

C:\Windows\System32\powercfg.exe /change monitor-timeout-ac 1

Click Next, give your shortcut a name (e.g., “Monitor Timeout”)

• Click Finish to create the shortcut on your desktop.

By following these steps, you will effectively manage your power settings and create convenient access to monitor timeout adjustments.

Method 3: Third-party applications

If you prefer not to work with system commands or batch files, consider using third-party programs like HotkeyP or NirCmd. With the help of these tools, you may set up unique hotkeys for a number of functions, such as shutting off your monitor.

For macOS users

One of the easiest ways to turn off your monitor on macOS is by using Hot Corners.

• Click on the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Preferences from the dropdown menu.

In the System Preferences window, find and click on the Mission Control option. This section manages various features related to your desktop spaces and window arrangements.

Look for the Hot Corners button located in the lower right corner of the Mission Control settings.

• Click on it to open a new dialog box where you can customize the actions for each corner of your display.
  1. Assign an action: Click on the drop-down menu for the corner you’d like to assign the action to, and select Put Display to Sleep. This action will allow your monitor to turn off when you move your mouse pointer to that corner.

After you’ve assigned the action, click OK to save your changes. Now, whenever you move your cursor to that designated corner, your monitor will turn off, helping you save energy.

By following these steps, you can efficiently manage your workspace and ensure that your display is only on when needed.

Conclusion

Making a hotkey or shortcut to switch off your monitor is an easy yet powerful technique to improve your computer experience. By taking these precautions, you can better regulate the time you spend in front of a screen, save energy, and safeguard your eyes whether you’re using Windows or macOS. Your eyes will appreciate it if you take a moment to set it up.