Change Power Mode in Windows 11 Tutorial

Staff

Power mode allows you to optimize your Windows 11 device based on power use and performance.

Choose the power mode that works for you and what you want to do on your Windows 11 PC. This lets you determine what’s important to you—getting the best battery life, best performance, or a balance between the two.

You can choose between the Best power efficiency, Balanced (default), or Best performance power mode.

Best power efficiency = Saves power by reducing PC performance and screen brightness. If you're using a laptop, this mode can help you get the most from a single battery charge.
Balanced = Offers full performance when you need it and saves power when you don't. This is the best mode for most people.
Best performance = Maximizes screen brightness and might increase PC performance. This mode uses a lot more energy, so your laptop battery won't last as long between charges.

You can choose a separate power mode for when you are running on AC and battery (DC) power. The power mode will automatically change to what you set when you change between running on AC and battery power.

See also:

Change the power mode for your Windows PC - Microsoft Support

Learn how to change the power mode on your Windows PC to preserve your battery, limit notifications, and background activity.

support.microsoft.com

This tutorial will show you how change the power mode for your account in Windows 11.

Power mode is only available when you are using the Balanced power plan on a PC with a battery.

Game mode operates independently of power mode.

Here's How:

1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on System on the left side, and click/tap on Power & battery on the right side. (see screenshot below)

Open Power & battery settings

3 Select Best power efficiency, Balanced (default), or Best performance in the Power mode drop menu for what you want. (see screenshot below)

The Power Mode setting is saved to the ActiveOverlayAcPowerScheme string value (REG_SZ) in the protected registry key below:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\User\PowerSchemes

961cc777-2547-4f9d-8174-7d86181b8a7a = Best power efficiency
00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000 = Balanced
ded574b5-45a0-4f42-8737-46345c09c238 = Best performance

4 You can now close Settings if you like.

That's it,
Shawn Brink

squanchy

New member

Mar 1, 2023

#2

Hi, I have two questions?
1. How to set power mode by scripts so that I can change it by autohotkey quickly?
2. How to make it possible to switch power mode to Best power efficiency automatically while the computer sleeps (modern standby)?