How to Disable Power Saving Mode in Windows Devices
Power saving mode is a useful Windows feature designed to reduce energy consumption and help extend battery life. However, it can sometimes reduce system performance, limit background activity, dim the display, lower performance, or cause connected devices such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth adapters to behave differently.
If you are using a laptop for gaming, video editing, demanding software, large downloads, or other performance-intensive tasks, you may prefer to keep Windows from automatically applying aggressive power-saving settings. The exact controls depend on whether you are using Windows 11 or Windows 10, and some settings also depend on your device manufacturer and hardware.
In this guide, you will learn how to disable power saving mode in Windows devices and adjust related power-management settings.
Understanding Power Saving Mode in Windows
Before changing anything, it is important to understand what Windows means by power saving. Windows has several different features that can reduce power consumption, rather than one universal switch called “power saving mode.”
In Windows 11, the main feature is called Energy saver. It can reduce background activity and adjust other system behavior to conserve energy. Microsoft also provides Power mode, which controls the balance between performance and energy efficiency. These settings are available through Settings > System > Power & battery.
In Windows 10, the comparable feature is generally called Battery saver. It can restrict certain background activities and other power-consuming functions when the battery reaches a specified level.
There is also another type of power saving that affects individual hardware devices. For example, Windows can allow a Bluetooth adapter to be turned off to save power. Similar power-management controls can appear for other devices depending on the hardware and driver.
Because of this, simply turning off Energy Saver or Battery Saver may not completely disable every power-saving feature on your PC. The following steps cover the most important settings.
Disable Power Saving Mode in Windows Devices
Step 1: Turn Off Energy Saver in Windows 11
If you are using Windows 11, start by checking whether Energy saver is currently enabled. This is the first setting you should change because Energy saver can automatically reduce power consumption when your system meets certain conditions.
Go to Start > Settings > System > Power & battery. Look for Energy saver. Depending on your Windows 11 version, you may see an option that lets you turn Energy saver off or configure when it activates. If it is currently enabled, switch it Off.
You can also check the taskbar’s Quick Settings area. Select the battery or network and volume area on the taskbar to open Quick Settings, then look for the Energy saver control. If it is active, select it to turn it off.
If Energy saver keeps coming back automatically, expand its settings and check the battery-level option that controls automatic activation. Adjusting this setting prevents Windows from automatically enabling Energy saver when your battery reaches the configured level. Microsoft confirms that Windows 11 can automatically activate Energy saver based on battery level.
Step 2: Change Windows 11 Power Mode to Favor Performance
Turning off Energy saver is only part of the process. Windows 11 also has a Power mode setting that determines how the system balances performance and energy efficiency.
Go to Start > Settings > System > Power & battery > Power mode. Open the available power mode options and choose the setting that favors performance, such as Best performance, if that option is available on your device.
The exact choices can vary depending on your Windows version, hardware, and whether the computer is running on battery or connected to AC power. If Windows provides separate behavior for battery and plugged-in operation, review both situations.
This setting is particularly useful if your main goal is to prevent Windows from unnecessarily limiting performance. Keep in mind that choosing a performance-oriented mode can increase power consumption and may reduce battery runtime on laptops. Microsoft identifies Power mode as a separate control from Energy saver.
Step 3: Turn Off Battery Saver in Windows 10
If you are using Windows 10, the terminology is different. Instead of Energy saver, you will generally find Battery saver.
Go to Start > Settings > System > Battery. Look for the Battery saver section and check whether Battery saver is active. If it is enabled, turn it off.
You should also check the automatic activation setting. Windows 10 can automatically enable Battery saver when the battery drops below a selected percentage. If you do not want Battery saver to activate automatically, review the setting that controls automatic activation and disable or adjust it.
You can also check the battery icon in the Windows taskbar. Selecting the battery icon can provide quick access to battery-related controls, depending on your device configuration.
Battery saver is designed to reduce power consumption by temporarily limiting certain activities, so disabling it can restore normal background behavior.
Step 4: Adjust Screen and Sleep Settings
Sometimes people think power saving mode is still active because the screen turns off quickly or the computer enters Sleep mode sooner than expected. These behaviors are controlled separately from Energy saver or Battery saver.
On Windows 11, go to Start > Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen, sleep & hibernate timeouts. Review the available options for turning off the screen and putting the device to sleep.
If you want the display to remain active longer, select a longer duration for Turn my screen off after. If you do not want Windows to enter Sleep mode quickly, increase the duration for Make my device sleep after.
On Windows 10, go to Start > Settings > System > Power & sleep. Under the screen and sleep sections, adjust the available timers.
These settings do not technically disable Energy Saver, but changing them can prevent Windows from appearing as though it is aggressively saving power. Microsoft lists screen and sleep timers as separate power-management controls in Windows.
Step 5: Choose a Performance-Oriented Power Plan
Windows also provides traditional Power Options that can be useful when you want more control over how the computer manages power.
Go to Start > Settings > System > Power & battery > Related settings > Additional power settings. This opens the classic Power Options interface.
Depending on your Windows edition and hardware, you may see power plans such as Balanced, High performance, or other manufacturer-specific plans. If High performance is available and your goal is maximum performance, select it.
Do not worry if you do not see the same plans shown on another Windows computer. Modern Windows versions and manufacturer configurations can present different options.
Also remember that a performance-oriented power plan can consume more electricity and, on laptops, drain the battery faster. The purpose of this setting is to give Windows fewer restrictions when performance is more important than battery life.
Step 6: Stop Windows From Turning Off Certain Devices to Save Power
If your problem is specifically related to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, or another hardware device, you may need to change the device’s individual power-management setting.
Go to Start > Device Manager. Find the hardware category associated with the problem, then expand it. Right-click the affected device and select Properties.
Look for a Power Management tab. If you see the option Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power, clear the checkbox and select OK.
For example, Microsoft recommends this approach for certain Bluetooth connection problems. The setting prevents Windows from turning off the Bluetooth device specifically to save power.
Keep in mind that the Power Management tab is not available for every device. Its availability depends on the device, driver, and hardware configuration.
Step 7: Check Advanced Power Settings
For users who need deeper control, Windows provides additional power-management settings through the classic Power Options interface.
Go to Start > Settings > System > Power & battery > Related settings > Additional power settings. Select Change plan settings next to your active power plan, then select Change advanced power settings.
A window containing advanced settings will appear. Here you can review categories related to the processor, display, sleep behavior, wireless adapter, USB settings, and other hardware.
Do not randomly change every option in this window. Advanced power settings can affect system behavior, battery life, thermal performance, and hardware operation. If you are troubleshooting a specific problem, change only the setting related to that problem.
For most beginners, the previous steps are sufficient. Advanced Power Options are best used when you have identified a particular power-management behavior that needs to be changed.
Step 8: Restart Windows and Verify the Changes
After changing several power-management settings, restart your computer. This gives Windows a clean opportunity to reload the updated configuration and device drivers.
Go to Start > Power > Restart.
After Windows starts again, check whether Energy saver or Battery saver is still disabled. If you were troubleshooting a hardware issue, test the affected device as well.
For example, if your Bluetooth connection was repeatedly disconnecting, reconnect the Bluetooth device and monitor it. If Wi-Fi was being disabled unexpectedly, test the connection for several minutes.
If the problem continues even after changing Windows power settings, the cause may be a device driver, BIOS or UEFI configuration, manufacturer utility, thermal-management feature, or hardware-specific power profile rather than Windows’ main power-saving setting.
Step 9: Check Your Manufacturer’s Power Management Software
Many laptops include manufacturer-specific utilities that can override or supplement Windows power settings. These applications can provide profiles such as Quiet, Balanced, Performance, or Battery Saver.
Go to Start > All apps and look for your computer manufacturer’s management application. Open it and check for Power, Performance, Thermal, Battery, or System mode settings.
If a manufacturer has selected a battery-saving or quiet profile, switch to a Balanced or Performance profile if that better matches what you need.
This step is especially important on gaming laptops and performance-oriented systems because the manufacturer’s software may control CPU behavior, GPU performance, cooling, fan speed, and other hardware settings independently of Windows.
FAQs
Does turning off Energy saver disable all power saving in Windows?
No. Energy saver is only one part of Windows power management. Screen timeouts, Sleep settings, Power mode, hardware power management, device drivers, and manufacturer utilities can still influence power consumption.
Why does my Windows laptop still slow down after I turn off Energy saver?
Check Power mode, manufacturer performance software, thermal settings, and whether the laptop is overheating. A computer can reduce performance because of thermal throttling even when the Energy saver is completely disabled.
Can I disable power saving while keeping my battery healthy?
Yes. You can disable aggressive power-saving features while still following good battery practices. Keep the device properly ventilated, avoid unnecessary maximum-performance operation on battery, and use the manufacturer’s recommended battery-care features when appropriate.
Why can’t I find the Power Management tab in Device Manager?
The Power Management tab is not provided for every hardware device. Its availability depends on the device driver and hardware implementation. If the tab is missing, you should not assume that power management is disabled.
Does disabling power saving improve PC performance?
It can, particularly when Windows is limiting background activity or system performance to conserve energy. However, the actual improvement depends on your hardware, workload, thermal conditions, and current power configuration.
Is High performance mode safe to use?
Generally, yes. High performance is a Windows power-management profile rather than an overclocking feature. However, it can increase power consumption, heat generation, and fan activity, especially on laptops.
Does Windows 10 have an Energy saver?
Windows 10 primarily uses the term Battery saver, while newer Windows 11 versions use Energy saver. The names and available controls differ between Windows versions.
