Question Why is my laptop dimming and going to sleep when I look away?

[MrLostProphet]

My windows 11 laptop screen will dim if I look away for more than 30 seconds and goes to sleep shortly after.

I have checked my power plan, brightness options, and even disabled Windows Hello in order to try and stop this from happening, but my chosen options and time limits set are not reflected by the systems behavior.

I've tried my hardest to use specific search queries to find an applicable solution, but they all seem to try and refer me back to the power plan and brightness. As school is starting and I often find myself looking away in order to see lecture slides or sheet music to go along with the recording I'm using, this is becoming a greater annoyance, as I then have my audio paused mid song, or take extra time to log back in, which ends up with me missing certain slides and losing focus temporarily in lectures.

While I'm not sure its relevant to finding the solution, my laptop is an XPS 13, and I'll restate I have already disabled windows hello, which was my first thought on why it would dim when I look away.

 

[USAFRet]

Put a piece of tape over the camera lens, see what happens.

 

[MrLostProphet]

Put a piece of tape over the camera lens, see what happens.

It dimed and went to sleep within a min, as would happen if I wasn't looking at the screen.

 

[USAFRet]

It dimed and went to sleep within a min, as would happen if I wasn't looking at the screen.

So it seems to be some sort of facial recognition running?

Anything evident in Task Manager?

 

[MrLostProphet]

So it seems to be some sort of facial recognition running?

Anything evident in Task Manager?

Not so far as I can tell, but I've attached my tasklist if you want to give it another look.

As I said in the original post, I disabled windows hello already which, to be best of my knowledge, is the only windows service that would make use of my webcam in that way.

System Idle Process           
System                     
Secure System                 
Registry                       
smss.exe                       
csrss.exe                   
wininit.exe                 
services.exe                 
LsaIso.exe           
lsass.exe     
csrss.exe                   
svchost.exe               
fontdrvhost.exe             
winlogon.exe               
fontdrvhost.exe             
svchost.exe               
WUDFHost.exe             
svchost.exe           
svchost.exe     
WUDFHost.exe           
dwm.exe                   
svchost.exe
svchost.exe   
svchost.exe 
svchost.exe       
svchost.exe   
svchost.exe
svchost.exe   
svchost.exe   
svchost.exe       
svchost.exe               
svchost.exe               
svchost.exe                 
svchost.exe               
svchost.exe                 
IntelCpHDCPSvc.exe         
svchost.exe               
svchost.exe                 
WUDFHost.exe               
svchost.exe                   
svchost.exe                 
svchost.exe               
svchost.exe                 
svchost.exe               
svchost.exe                 
svchost.exe               
svchost.exe                 
svchost.exe             
svchost.exe               
svchost.exe                 
svchost.exe               
svchost.exe                 
Memory Compression         
WUDFHost.exe     
svchost.exe                   
svchost.exe                   
svchost.exe       
svchost.exe               
svchost.exe       
svchost.exe           
svchost.exe         
svchost.exe         
spoolsv.exe         
wlanext.exe             
conhost.exe                   4360 Services                   0        836 K
nordvpn-service.exe           4404 Services                   0     30,340 K
svchost.exe                   4420 Services                   0      9,644 K
svchost.exe                   4636 Services                   0      2,412 K
dasHost.exe                   4656 Services                   0      8,160 K
Intel_PIE_Service.exe         4688 Services                   0      2,792 K
WUDFHost.exe                  4736 Services                   0     14,768 K
svchost.exe                   4908 Services                   0      3,752 K
svchost.exe                   4932 Services                   0     24,860 K
svchost.exe                   4940 Services                   0     20,972 K
OneApp.IGCC.WinService.ex     4952 Services                   0     10,956 K
armsvc.exe                    4964 Services                   0      1,492 K
gameinputsvc.exe              4972 Services                   0      1,276 K
IntelAudioService.exe         4996 Services                   0      4,988 K
ipfsvc.exe                    5008 Services                   0      1,536 K
svchost.exe                   5080 Services                   0      3,672 K
WUDFHost.exe                  4684 Services                   0      9,264 K
ipf_uf.exe                    2788 Services                   0      2,368 K
KillerAnalyticsService.ex     5128 Services                   0      2,980 K
jhi_service.exe               5140 Services                   0      1,032 K
OfficeClickToRun.exe          5168 Services                   0     22,624 K
gameinputsvc.exe              5200 Console                    1      7,244 K
NordUpdateService.exe         5292 Services                   0     15,488 K
RstMwService.exe              5300 Services                   0      2,220 K
RtkAudUService64.exe          5336 Services                   0      6,196 K
GoodixSessionService.exe      5356 Services                   0        944 K
svchost.exe                   5364 Services                   0      6,384 K
KillerNetworkService.exe      5572 Services                   0     19,868 K
WavesAudioService.exe         5604 Services                   0      4,656 K
WavesSysSvc64.exe             5644 Services                   0      9,316 K
MsMpEng.exe                   5724 Services                   0    143,632 K
svchost.exe                   5736 Services                   0     16,452 K
WMIRegistrationService.ex     5796 Services                   0      1,896 K
wallpaperservice32_c.exe      5808 Services                   0      2,772 K
svchost.exe                   5828 Services                   0      9,212 K
gamingservices.exe            5868 Services                   0     23,228 K
svchost.exe                   5908 Services                   0      2,260 K
svchost.exe                   5944 Services                   0      4,816 K
svchost.exe                   6076 Services                   0      3,760 K
gamingservicesnet.exe         6164 Services                   0        744 K
AggregatorHost.exe            6400 Services                   0      4,576 K
svchost.exe                   2960 Services                   0     10,804 K
svchost.exe                   7360 Services                   0      2,080 K
KNDBWMService.exe             7456 Services                   0      2,992 K
conhost.exe                   7580 Services                   0      1,420 K
KNDBWM.exe                    7660 Services                   0      6,532 K
KAPSService.exe               8128 Services                   0      2,988 K
conhost.exe                   8172 Services                   0      1,412 K
KAPS.exe                      7356 Services                   0     18,436 K
svchost.exe                   8420 Services                   0      8,596 K
svchost.exe                   8448 Services                   0     17,896 K
svchost.exe                   8600 Services                   0      5,732 K
NisSrv.exe                    9256 Services                   0      3,940 K
svchost.exe                   6480 Services                   0     12,436 K
DellSupportAssistRemedati     1904 Services                   0     19,248 K
ServiceShell.exe              2328 Services                   0     31,708 K
WmiPrvSE.exe                  4824 Services                   0      5,696 K
FusionService.exe             2476 Services                   0     17,448 K
intel_cst_support_service     2160 Services                   0      1,044 K
intel_cst_service_standal     3368 Services                   0     27,776 K
SgrmBroker.exe                2544 Services                   0      5,304 K
svchost.exe                   3344 Services                   0      3,820 K
SearchIndexer.exe             2592 Services                   0     29,084 K
svchost.exe                   5940 Services                   0     10,160 K
svchost.exe                   2580 Services                   0     15,220 K
svchost.exe                   1940 Services                   0      6,268 K
ipf_helper.exe                5496 Console                    1      4,492 K
intel_cst_helper_service.    10276 Console                    1      9,176 K
sihost.exe                   10380 Console                    1     20,752 K
svchost.exe                  10436 Console                    1      3,596 K
svchost.exe                  10448 Console                    1     14,672 K
svchost.exe                  10516 Console                    1      1,652 K
svchost.exe                  10572 Console                    1     20,376 K
taskhostw.exe                10720 Console                    1     12,744 K
explorer.exe                 11164 Console                    1    167,144 K
svchost.exe                  11400 Console                    1     17,216 K
svchost.exe                  11472 Services                   0      8,148 K
svchost.exe                  11964 Services                   0     14,076 K
ApplicationFrameHost.exe     12116 Console                    1     15,096 K
Microsoft.Notes.exe          12180 Console                    1     67,060 K
StartMenuExperienceHost.e    12204 Console                    1     28,136 K
RuntimeBroker.exe            11716 Console                    1     16,940 K
Widgets.exe                  11808 Console                    1      1,948 K
RuntimeBroker.exe            11460 Console                    1     34,508 K
RuntimeBroker.exe            12328 Console                    1     10,368 K
svchost.exe                  12548 Console                    1      8,892 K
LocationNotificationWindo    13020 Console                    1        192 K
dllhost.exe                  13120 Console                    1     11,796 K
RtkAudUService64.exe         13972 Console                    1      6,728 K
svchost.exe                  14100 Console                    1      9,960 K
ctfmon.exe                   14268 Console                    1     14,716 K
svchost.exe                  14520 Console                    1     11,480 K
SecurityHealthSystray.exe    14840 Console                    1      3,824 K
SecurityHealthService.exe    14860 Services                   0     10,684 K
WidgetService.exe            14956 Console                    1      7,080 K
unsecapp.exe                 15156 Console                    1      3,004 K
RtkAudUService64.exe         15188 Console                    1      5,752 K
WavesSvc64.exe               15308 Console                    1      9,536 K
TextInputHost.exe            15700 Console                    1     27,328 K
svchost.exe                  16260 Services                   0     14,924 K
msedge.exe                   15488 Console                    1    262,920 K
msedge.exe                   10696 Console                    1      2,296 K
msedge.exe                   12088 Console                    1    263,008 K
msedge.exe                   13048 Console                    1     51,236 K
msedge.exe                   14716 Console                    1      7,956 K
msedge.exe                   12744 Console                    1    131,348 K
msedge.exe                     896 Console                    1     65,248 K
msedge.exe                   15844 Console                    1     37,588 K
msedge.exe                   16776 Console                    1     18,032 K
msedge.exe                   16800 Console                    1     16,180 K
wallpaper32.exe              17092 Console                    1     22,132 K
msedge.exe                   18196 Console                    1      9,784 K
SDXHelper.exe                 5536 Console                    1      5,536 K
msedge.exe                   11252 Console                    1      9,052 K
RuntimeBroker.exe             8656 Console                    1      9,152 K
svchost.exe                  11852 Services                   0      6,392 K
SystemSettingsBroker.exe     17656 Console                    1        468 K
svchost.exe                   9976 Services                   0      1,368 K
svchost.exe                   9932 Services                   0      5,164 K
Acrobat.exe                  12244 Console                    1      7,708 K
Acrobat.exe                   9688 Console                    1     30,264 K
AcroCEF.exe                   5116 Console                    1     14,848 K
AcroCEF.exe                    864 Console                    1      3,624 K
AcroCEF.exe                   6320 Console                    1     12,932 K
AcroCEF.exe                  17248 Console                    1      4,088 K
AcroCEF.exe                   1736 Console                    1     14,472 K
svchost.exe                   1924 Services                   0     11,724 K
XboxPcAppFT.exe              12764 Console                    1     18,676 K
svchost.exe                  11344 Console                    1      5,496 K
dllhost.exe                  12380 Console                    1        824 K
svchost.exe                  16432 Services                   0      1,820 K
dllhost.exe                   3020 Console                    1      3,808 K
svchost.exe                  20144 Services                   0      1,616 K
svchost.exe                  20512 Services                   0     13,372 K
svchost.exe                   1724 Services                   0      4,856 K
backgroundTaskHost.exe       13528 Console                    1        292 K
RuntimeBroker.exe             5784 Console                    1      1,560 K
CptService.exe               14872 Services                   0        964 K
taskhostw.exe                15464 Console                    1     12,848 K
AcroCEF.exe                  18436 Console                    1      4,132 K
AcroCEF.exe                  10676 Console                    1      4,104 K
AdobeCollabSync.exe          20860 Console                    1      3,892 K
AdobeCollabSync.exe          21284 Console                    1      5,652 K
svchost.exe                  19268 Services                   0      1,328 K
svchost.exe                  17060 Services                   0      3,656 K
lghub_updater.exe             5664 Services                   0     24,640 K
lghub_system_tray.exe         3676 Console                    1     20,600 K
lghub_agent.exe              18544 Console                    1     54,048 K
SystemSettingsAdminFlows.    13420 Console                    1      1,652 K
SystemSettingsAdminFlows.    21372 Console                    1      1,628 K
GameBarFTServer.exe          15176 Console                    1     15,312 K
svchost.exe                   4852 Services                   0      2,020 K
svchost.exe                  22024 Services                   0      2,072 K
AcroCEF.exe                  20508 Console                    1      5,172 K
dllhost.exe                  18832 Console                    1      7,864 K
Discord.exe                  21220 Console                    1     27,584 K
Discord.exe                  19840 Console                    1      2,728 K
Discord.exe                  16188 Console                    1     28,508 K
Discord.exe                  20456 Console                    1     18,096 K
Discord.exe                   7068 Console                    1    213,604 K
Discord.exe                  17784 Console                    1      7,660 K
svchost.exe                  19396 Services                   0     13,172 K
DataExchangeHost.exe         22700 Console                    1      1,420 K
svchost.exe                  25024 Services                   0      1,104 K
ShellExperienceHost.exe      20776 Console                    1      4,384 K
RuntimeBroker.exe            27060 Console                    1     11,580 K
EpicGamesLauncher.exe         5088 Console                    1     32,620 K
EpicWebHelper.exe            25220 Console                    1     10,788 K
EpicWebHelper.exe            11132 Console                    1     10,064 K
WmiPrvSE.exe                 27340 Services                   0     23,076 K
XboxPcApp.exe                14848 Console                    1      6,460 K
RuntimeBroker.exe             7212 Console                    1      8,524 K
GameBar.exe                  14144 Console                    1      8,016 K
svchost.exe                  11984 Console                    1     14,948 K
RuntimeBroker.exe            19876 Console                    1      6,608 K
SearchHost.exe               19544 Console                    1     69,392 K
svchost.exe                  22156 Services                   0      7,204 K
backgroundTaskHost.exe       25172 Console                    1      1,628 K
LockApp.exe                   6456 Console                    1     24,436 K
RuntimeBroker.exe            18280 Console                    1     23,044 K
RuntimeBroker.exe            18560 Console                    1      8,352 K
msedge.exe                   26176 Console                    1     52,392 K
SystemSettingsBroker.exe      4612 Console                    1     13,304 K
svchost.exe                  19748 Services                   0      5,440 K
svchost.exe                  17468 Services                   0      6,864 K
msedge.exe                   24064 Console                    1      4,176 K
msedge.exe                   20360 Console                    1      9,840 K
svchost.exe                  22720 Services                   0      6,412 K
explorer.exe                  6744 Console                    1     32,676 K
svchost.exe                  12652 Services                   0      9,248 K
Clipchamp.exe                20076 Console                    1     65,628 K
msedgewebview2.exe           24520 Console                    1     64,764 K
msedgewebview2.exe           14912 Console                    1      6,892 K
msedgewebview2.exe            6604 Console                    1     81,128 K
msedgewebview2.exe           14296 Console                    1     25,964 K
msedgewebview2.exe           11856 Console                    1     15,976 K
msedgewebview2.exe         
msedgewebview2.exe         
msedge.exe                   
msedge.exe                 
msedge.exe                 
unsecapp.exe           
msedge.exe                   
Taskmgr.exe             
svchost.exe               
mspaint.exe             
smartscreen.exe             
msedge.exe             
backgroundTaskHost.exe       
msedge.exe               
cmd.exe                       
conhost.exe           
OpenConsole.exe             
WindowsTerminal.exe       
RuntimeBroker.exe           
tasklist.exe

 

[USAFRet]

best of my knowledge, is the only windows service that would make use of my webcam in that way.

I was thinking some other software, either valid or malware.

 

[MrLostProphet]

I was thinking some other software, either valid or malware.

I understand. A lot of the things in task manager have a range of meaning very little to absolutely nothing to me, which is why I figured I may as well share it and see if there's something I'm overlooking. I appreciate the thoroughness of your advice so far, as it is very easy to approach a problem from the wrong angle.

 

[Ralston18]

And I will add the suggestion to also try Process Explorer (Microsoft, free).

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer