Switch off the screen with the keyboard - it's that easy
In Windows you can turn off the screen using the keyboard. Depending on the keyboard, you can use preset key combinations or set up a shortcut yourself that deactivates the monitor. In this practical tip, we will show you three ways to switch off your PC display using the keyboard.
Switch off the monitor using the key combination
Two simple ways to switch off the screen using a shortcut are the function keys and the nirCMD software. In our picture gallery we show you how you can set up your individual key combination to switch off the PC monitor without additional software.
- Laptops in particular often have function keys with "fn" on them. These are in the bottom line in the area of [Ctrl], [Windows], [Alt] and [Alt Gr].
- A common key combination for switching off the monitor is [fn] + [F6].
- For some keyboards, [fn] + [F4] or [fn] + [F7] is the correct key combination.
- Depending on the driver settings, the [fn] key is also activated by default. In this case, just press [F6] or [F7].
- Alternatively, you can help with free software: Download the free tool NirCmd from CHIP and install it as admin by clicking on "Copy to Windows Directory".
- Create a shortcut on the desktop and enter "C: \ Windows \ nircmd.exe monitor off" as the path.
- Click with the right mouse button on the shortcut, open the "Properties" and enter your desired key combination to switch off the screen. Confirm with a click on "OK".
- By the way: If you use the on-screen keyboard, it stays on the display. Only the background turns black.
Similarly, you can create a shortcut for hibernation. With other key combinations you can rotate the screen, create a new folder or start the Task Manager.
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Navigate to the desktop (a) in Explorer, right-click on it and select "New" -> "Shortcut".
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Enter "c: \ windows \ system32 \ scrnsave.scr" as the location of the element and press "Next".
Give the shortcut a name - such as "Monitor off" - and confirm by clicking on "Finish".
Right-click on the shortcut you have just created and select "Properties" at the bottom.
Enter a key combination. You can use the keys [F1] to [F12] as a shortcut. Alternatively, enter any other character, which then functions as a key combination with the [Alt Gr] key or the [Ctrl] + [Alt] keys to switch off the monitor. Exceptions are the characters [Del] and [Esc], which cannot be entered as a shortcut. Confirm your combination by clicking "OK".
If you now press the key combination you have defined, the screen goes out until you move the mouse or press a key. By the way, keys like [2], [3], [7], [0], [ß], or [m] are unsuitable as key combinations because they are already used for writing characters.
