Keep a computer awake without installing software

Decision path

1. Is it your own computer? Change the screen and sleep timeouts in the system settings (Windows, Mac). Done.
2. Is it a work computer where you can change your own settings? Change them for the plugged-in state only, and switch back afterwards.
3. Are the settings locked? Use a temporary method that changes nothing: a browser wake lock, or a built-in command such as caffeinate on Mac.
4. Do you need real input, not only a lit screen? Without installing anything, the options are the phone jiggler with an optical mouse or a mechanical device. Read the detection guide first on work equipment.

Option 1: a browser tab

Open the keep-awake tool and press Start. It uses the Screen Wake Lock API, which keeps the display from dimming or locking while the tab is visible^[1]. Nothing is installed and no admin rights are needed. Keep the tab in front: hidden tabs lose the lock^[2].

Option 2: built-in commands and settings

• Mac: caffeinate -d in Terminal keeps the display on until you press Control-C; add -t 3600 for one hour.
• Windows: your own timeouts under Settings > System > Power & battery^[3]. Changing them usually does not need admin rights unless a policy blocks it.
• Presentations: slideshow modes often keep the display on by themselves; on Windows, powercfg /requests shows whether an app is holding a display request^[4].

Option 3: a second device

A phone or tablet can show a moving pattern for an optical mouse. The phone jiggler includes a sensor check, because this does not work with every mouse. It needs no software on the computer at all.

On a restricted work laptop

If a policy locks the screen after a fixed time, no browser tab or setting you can reach will change it; that is the purpose of the policy. Ask IT whether an exception is possible for presentations or dashboards. Remember that websites you open are visible to the company network, as explained in what your employer can see.