github / github/app

Add a "keep screen awake" toggle to prevent the display/computer from sleeping

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Description

### Feature summary

A "keep awake" toggle/button that prevents the screen and machine from sleeping while it's on.

### What problem are you trying to solve?

When I want the screen to stay on (e.g. while watching a long agent run or keeping a session visible), there is no built-in way to stop the display/computer from sleeping. My current workaround is to open a 1-hour black YouTube video fullscreen just to keep the screen awake, which is clunky and wasteful.

### Proposed solution

Add a simple toggle in the app (e.g. in the header or a tray/menu item) that keeps the screen and system awake while enabled, and releases the lock when turned off or the app closes. On macOS this is the equivalent of holding a `caffeinate` assertion (prevent display + idle sleep).

### Workflow impact

Removes the need for hacky workarounds (black YouTube video), and lets me keep a session or long-running agent visible without the screen turning off.

### Installation context

GitHub Copilot desktop app on macOS (personal machine).

### Additional context

A small always-visible state would help (so I can tell at a glance whether keep-awake is currently on).

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start by checking the desktop app's macOS integration and the proposed header or tray/menu entry points; the issue provides no file or test paths. Compare the keep-awake behavior with a macOS caffeinate assertion, then verify that enabling, disabling, and app closure release it and that the state is visible.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
macos
Domain
desktop, operating-systems
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
45/100

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