Power plans: FAQ

A power plan is a collection of hardware and system settings (like display, sleep, etc.) that manages how your PC uses power. The power plans you can use depend on the kind of PC you have.

PCs that support InstantGo

InstantGo allows your PC to wake up instantly from sleep with your apps and data up to date. PCs that support InstantGo include all Windows RT 8.1 and certain Windows 8.1 PCs. To find out if your PC supports this, check the info that came with your PC or go to the manufacturer's website.

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Which power plans are available?

The only power plan that Windows provides for PCs with InstantGo is Balanced. This plan offers full performance when you need it and saves power when you don't. You can customize this further to meet your needs or create your own plan (using Balanced as a starting point). Your PC manufacturer might also provide additional power plans.

Can I create a power plan?

Yes. You can create and customize your own power plans.

  1. Tap or click to open Power Options.

  2. Tap or click Create a power plan and follow the instructions.

Can I delete a power plan?

The only power plans you can delete are the ones you create and those provided by the PC manufacturer—you can't delete the Balanced plan, or the plan that you're currently using.

Also, you might not have the required permissions to delete a plan because your system admin has restricted access to it.

To delete a power plan

  1. Tap or click to open Power Options.

  2. If the plan you want to delete is currently selected, select another plan and then tap or click Change plan settings next to it.

  3. Tap or click Delete this plan and then tap or click OK.

Why can't I change power settings?

Restrictions imposed by your system admin, or your PC's hardware configuration might limit which settings you can change. For example, if your PC is part of a network at an organization—such as a school or business—your system admin might have turned off or even removed certain settings. In that case, ask your administrator for help.

If you're connected to a PC using Remote Desktop Connection, you must be signed in as an administrator on the remote PC to change its power settings.

What is fast startup?

Fast startup is turned in by default in Windows and is a setting that helps your PC start up faster after shutdown. Windows does this by saving system info to a file upon shutdown so when you start your PC again, Windows uses that system info to resume your PC instead of restarting it.

Notes

Notes

The fast startup setting doesn’t apply to Restart. You need to shut down and then start your PC again for fast startup to take effect.

All other PCs

Here are answers to some common questions about power plans for all other PCs.

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Which power plans are available?

Windows provides the following plans:

  • Balanced. Offers full performance when you need it and saves power when you don't. This is the best power plan for most people.

  • Power saver. Saves power by reducing PC performance and screen brightness. If you're using a laptop, this plan can help you get the most from a single battery charge.

  • High performance. Maximizes screen brightness and might increase PC performance. This plan uses a lot more energy, so your laptop battery won't last as long between charges.

    Note

    Note

    High performance doesn't appear on the battery meter by default. To turn on High performance, open Power Options by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Search (or if you're using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Search), entering Power Options in the search box, tapping or clicking Settings, and then tapping or clicking Power Options. Tap or click Show additional plans, and then choose High performance.

If these plans don't meet your needs, you can create your own, using one of these plans as a starting point. Your PC manufacturer might also provide additional power plans.

How do I choose a different power plan?

If you're using a laptop, click the battery icon Battery icon in the notification area, at the far right of the taskbar, and then choose one of the power plans—Balanced or Power saver—that appear on the battery meter by default. Your PC manufacturer might provide additional plans and might customize the battery meter.
Battery meter showing power plansBattery meter showing power plans

If you aren't using a laptop, or if you want to use a power plan that isn't on the battery meter, do the following:

  1. Tap or click to open Power Options.

  2. Choose the one you want to use.

    If you don't see the power plan you want, tap or click Show additional plans.

Can I create a power plan?

Yes. You can create and customize your own power plans.

  1. Tap or click to open Power Options.

  2. Tap or click Create a power plan and follow the instructions.

Can I change the default power plans that appear in the battery meter?

Windows chooses the two power plans that appear on the meter, but you can change them.

To change the power plans that appear on the battery meter

  1. Tap or click to open Power Options.

  2. Do one of the following:

    • Tap or click Additional plans, and then select a plan.

    • Create a new power plan. For more info, see the "Can I create a power plan?" question in this topic.

    By default, the power plan that you select or create becomes the active plan and it then appears on the battery meter.

Can I delete a power plan?

The only power plans you can delete are the ones you create and those provided by the PC manufacturer. You can't delete the Balanced, Power saver, or High performance plans, or the plan that you're currently using.

Also, you might not have the required permissions to delete a plan because your system admin has restricted access to it.

To delete a power plan

  1. Tap or click to open Power Options.

  2. If the plan you want to delete is currently selected, select another plan and then tap or click Change plan settings next to it.

  3. Tap or click Delete this plan and then tap or click OK.

Why can't I change power settings?

Restrictions imposed by your system admin, or your PC's hardware configuration might limit which settings you can change. For example, if your PC is part of a network at an organization—such as a school or business—your system admin might have turned off or even removed certain settings. In that case, ask your administrator for help.

If you're connected to a PC using Remote Desktop Connection, you must be signed in as an administrator on the remote PC to change its power settings.

What is fast startup?

Fast startup is turned in by default in Windows and is a setting that helps your PC start up faster after shutdown. Windows does this by saving system info to a file upon shutdown so when you start your PC again, Windows uses that system info to resume your PC instead of restarting it.

Notes

Notes

The fast startup setting doesn’t apply to Restart. You need to shut down and then start your PC again for fast startup to take effect.

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