Windows 11 halts when Mac turns screen off

[whwang]

Hi,

I run Windows 7 and Windows 11 with Parallels (17.1.6). The Mac is a 2019 MacBook Pro and the OS is 12.6.1.

I have used Win7 for quite some years and there were no problems. Recently I installed Win11 and try to see if I can migrate to it. Then I found a weird problem. That is, when there are no activities for a while (current set to 20 minutes) and Mac turns off its screen (but not sleeping), everything running under Win11 seems also stopped. Win11 seems to put everything to rest, including USB communication with external devices.

Previously with Win7, this was not the case. Even if Mac turns of the screen, everything running under Win7 keeps running. Only the screen is off. The computer does not sleep and Win7 runs as if nothing happens. Not the case with Win11. If I want to keep everything running under Win11, I cannot let Mac to turn its screen off.

I checked every power management setting under Win11 and disabled everything that can potentially halt apps, including every power saving feature. This doesn't seem help. So far the only solution is either to keep the screen on, or to use Win7.

Anyone has similar experience? Any suggestions?

 

[bobcomer]

Hi,

I run Windows 7 and Windows 11 with Parallels (17.1.6). The Mac is a 2019 MacBook Pro and the OS is 12.6.1.

I have used Win7 for quite some years and there were no problems. Recently I installed Win11 and try to see if I can migrate to it. Then I found a weird problem. That is, when there are no activities for a while (current set to 20 minutes) and Mac turns off its screen (but not sleeping), everything running under Win11 seems also stopped. Win11 seems to put everything to rest, including USB communication with external devices.

Previously with Win7, this was not the case. Even if Mac turns of the screen, everything running under Win7 keeps running. Only the screen is off. The computer does not sleep and Win7 runs as if nothing happens. Not the case with Win11. If I want to keep everything running under Win11, I cannot let Mac to turn its screen off.

I checked every power management setting under Win11 and disabled everything that can potentially halt apps, including every power saving feature. This doesn't seem help. So far the only solution is either to keep the screen on, or to use Win7.

Anyone has similar experience? Any suggestions?

It's not Windows doing it, it's Parallels. In the settings for the VM, Options tab, startup and shutdown, Pause Windows. Just untick the box.

 

[whwang]

It's not Windows doing it, it's Parallels. In the settings for the VM, Options tab, startup and shutdown, Pause Windows. Just untick the box.

Hi,

It has been unchecked since day 1, for both Win7 and Win11. And yet only the Win11 VM is doing this.

 

[bobcomer]

Hi,

It has been unchecked since day 1, for both Win7 and Win11. And yet only the Win11 VM is doing this.

Interesting. Do you have it set to autolock the screen? (In Windows 11). Anyway, I don't have any idea if that was unchecked. Mine doesn't do that.

 

[whwang]

There doesn't seem to be any screen lock. I could push any button to bring the screen back without a password. Everything looks normal, except for signs that it has been inactive.