How to Configure powercfg /requestsoverride to Prevent Sleep in Edge on Windows 11

How to Configure powercfg /requestsoverride to Prevent Sleep During Music Playback in Microsoft Edge on Windows 11

To configure powercfg /requestsoverride to prevent your computer from sleeping while playing music in Microsoft Edge on Windows 11, you need to set up an override for audio drivers rather than the browser itself, as it’s specifically the audio drivers that prevent the system from entering sleep mode.

Table of Contents

• Main Problem and Correct Solution
• Step-by-Step Configuration Guide
• Diagnosing Current Power Requests
• Advanced Parameters and Alternative Methods
• Troubleshooting Common Issues
• Conclusion

Main Problem and Correct Solution

The issue is that Windows audio drivers by default send requests to prevent system sleep when audio is playing. Your approach of overriding msedge.exe is incorrect because the browser itself doesn’t block sleep - it’s the audio drivers that the browser uses that perform this function.

The correct solution is to use the powercfg /requestsoverride command for audio drivers, specifying SYSTEM as the request to override.

Step-by-Step Configuration Guide

Step 1: Identify Your Audio Driver Name

First, run the following command in an elevated Command Prompt:

powercfg /requests

You’ll see a list of processes and drivers preventing sleep. Look for the [DRIVER] section and find your audio driver there. It typically looks like:

[DRIVER]
Realtek High Definition Audio (HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0282&SUBSYS_103C8074&REV_1000\4&209dcc63&0&0000)

Step 2: Override the Driver Requests

Use the driver name you found in the following command:

powercfg /requestsoverride DRIVER "Realtek High Definition Audio (HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0282&SUBSYS_103C8074&REV_1000\4&209dcc63&0&0000)" SYSTEM

Step 3: Alternative Method Using Wildcards

If the driver name is too long or might change, use a pattern with * characters:

powercfg /requestsoverride DRIVER "*Realtek*" SYSTEM

This command will ignore all requests containing the word “Realtek”.

Step 4: Verify the Result

After running the command, verify the result:

powercfg /requests

Now, in the [DRIVER] section for your audio driver, there should be no message about blocking sleep.

Diagnosing Current Power Requests

The powercfg /requests command shows three types of requests:

1. [DISPLAY] - requests related to display operation
2. [SYSTEM] - requests preventing the system from entering sleep mode
3. [AWAYMODE] - requests preventing transition to Away Mode

For your issue, focus on the [SYSTEM] section, as it’s the system preventing sleep due to audio drivers.

Important: Driver names may vary depending on your sound card. Note that powercfg /requests may display different drivers for different audio devices.

Advanced Parameters and Alternative Methods

Using DISPLAY Instead of SYSTEM

If you want to prevent not only sleep but also display shutdown:

powercfg /requestsoverride DRIVER "*Realtek*" DISPLAY

Combined Approach

You can specify multiple parameters at once:

powercfg /requestsoverride DRIVER "*Realtek*" SYSTEM DISPLAY AWAYMODE

Override for Specific Edge Processes

If the issue persists, you can try overriding specific Edge processes:

powercfg /requestsoverride process msedge.exe SYSTEM

However, research shows this typically doesn’t solve the audio playback issue.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue 1: Command Doesn’t Work

Solution: Ensure that:

1. You’re running Command Prompt as an administrator
2. The driver name is specified exactly, including case sensitivity and special characters
3. There are no typos in the command syntax

Issue 2: Driver Changes After Reboot

Solution: Some drivers may get different identifiers after reboot. In this case, use a pattern with *:

powercfg /requestsoverride DRIVER "*Audio*" SYSTEM

Issue 3: Problem Persists After Running Command

Solution: Check:

1. Whether another application is blocking sleep
2. If the driver name is correctly specified
3. Whether other power settings are conflicting

Issue 4: Computer Sleeps During Audio but Not During Video

Solution: This is typical behavior, as video playback uses different APIs and drivers. To solve the audio-specific issue, use the methods described above.

Conclusion

Configuring your computer to prevent sleep during audio playback in Microsoft Edge on Windows 11 requires the correct approach:

1. Use powercfg /requestsoverride for audio drivers, not the browser itself
2. First diagnose using powercfg /requests to identify the exact driver name
3. Use patterns with * for more flexible overriding
4. Verify the result after running commands
5. Note that video and audio may use different sleep prevention mechanisms

The primary reason your computer sleeps during audio playback but stays awake during video playback is that video playback typically uses GPU and other APIs that don’t block sleep, while audio drivers actively send requests to prevent sleep.

Sources

1. USB Audio Device Preventing Sleep (Windows 10) - Super User
2. Audio Keeps Computer From Sleeping (Solved) | Windows 11 Forum
3. FIX: Audio Stream is currently in use is preventing Windows 11 from going to sleep
4. How To Fix the “An Audio Stream Is Currently in Use” Error on Windows
5. Allow Windows 10 to auto sleep when an audio device is in use — VEG.BY
6. An audio stream is currently in use? Here’s How to Fix
7. Windows 11 Pro goes to sleep while Multimedia Playback since 2 years - Microsoft Q&A