How to Change Power Button Action in Windows 11

This post shows students and new users steps to change their computer’s power button action settings in Windows 11. Your PC power button action settings specify the action to take when the system power button is pressed.

There are different actions one can select to specify what to do when the PC power button is pressed. These include, to do nothing, go to sleep, hibernate or shutdown when the power button is pressed.

Changing the way the power button works in Windows 11 requires that you login as administrator and to open the Control Panel app in Windows 11.

Below is how to configure one’s PC power button action in Windows 11.

Here are the different options one can specify what to do when the power button is pressed on one’s PC:

How to change power button action in Windows 11

As mentioned above, the button action settings specify the action to take when the system power button is pressed.

Below is how to configure that.

First, launch the Control Panel in Windows 11.

In the Control Panel, select the Hardware and Sound category.

In the Hardware and Sound category, locate the Power Options section and click Change what the power buttons do.

On the next page, you can choose the power settings you want for your computer. Under the Power and Sleep Button Settings, locate the power button icon next to: When I Press the Power Button.

Using the drop-down for the power button selection, you’ll have these options available to choose from:

Alternatively, use the steps below to change the settings.

In the Hardware and Sound category, select Power Options settings group as highlighted below.

windows 11 power options select

In Power Options settings pane, select Change plan settings link as highlighted below.

windows 11 power option change plan settings

Next, click Change advanced power settings link as highlighted below.

windows 11 change advanced power settings

Expand the Power buttons and lid and Power button action settings as highlighted below. Under Power button action, choose what action to take when the laptop lid close:

  • On battery:
    • Do nothing
    • Sleep
    • Hibernate
    • Shutdown
  • Plugged in:
    • Do nothing
    • Sleep
    • Hibernate
    • Shutdown

Make your selection and click OK to save your settings.

That should do it!

Conclusion:

This post showed you how to change the power button action settings in Windows 11. If you find any error above or have something to add, please use the comment form below.