Is your Wi-Fi feeling slow? Does your laptop battery drain too fast? The answer might be in your wireless adapter settings. Windows 11 lets you control how much power your Wi-Fi uses. This guide will show you simple steps to make the change.
What Is Wireless Adapter Power Saving Mode?
Your computer’s wireless adapter is the part that connects you to Wi-Fi. Windows lets you control how much power it uses. When you save more power, your battery lasts longer. But your Wi-Fi might slow down a bit. If you want the fastest Wi-Fi, you can tell it to use more power instead.
Power Saving Options
| Mode | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Maximum Performance | Best Wi-Fi speed, uses more power. (Default when plugged in) |
| Low Power Saving | Good balance between speed and saving power |
| Medium Power Saving | More power saving but may reduce speed. (Default on battery) |
| Maximum Power Saving | Saves the most power but Wi-Fi may slow down |
How to Change Power Saving Mode via Control Panel
Here’s how to change your wireless adapter’s power settings using the Control Panel:
- Open Control Panel: Press Windows + R on your keyboard. Type
controland press Enter. Switch the view to Small icons or Large icons. Click Power Options. - Choose your active power plan: Look for the plan you are using (like “Balanced”). Click Change plan settings next to it.
- Open advanced settings: Click Change advanced power settings.
Find Wireless Adapter Settings: Scroll down and expand Wireless Adapter Settings. Then expand Power Saving Mode.- Pick your preferred mode: Choose from the dropdown menus for On battery and Plugged in options. For example, select Maximum Performance for best Wi-Fi speed. Click OK to save your changes.
Note: Desktop computers may not have separate battery and plugged-in options.
How to Change Power Saving Mode Using Commands
Do you like using commands? Here’s how to do it with Windows Terminal (Command Prompt or PowerShell):
Open Windows Terminal as administrator: ⚠️ Admin privileges required. Right-click the Start button and select Windows Terminal (Admin) or search for “Windows Terminal” and open it as administrator.
Copy and paste a command: Choose one of the commands below based on your preferred power saving mode. Paste it into the terminal and press Enter.
For Laptop on Battery:
Maximum Performance:
powercfg /SETDCVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT 19cbb8fa-5279-450e-9fac-8a3d5fedd0c1 12bbebe6-58d6-4636-95bb-3217ef867c1a 0Low Power Saving:
powercfg /SETDCVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT 19cbb8fa-5279-450e-9fac-8a3d5fedd0c1 12bbebe6-58d6-4636-95bb-3217ef867c1a 1Medium Power Saving:
powercfg /SETDCVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT 19cbb8fa-5279-450e-9fac-8a3d5fedd0c1 12bbebe6-58d6-4636-95bb-3217ef867c1a 2Maximum Power Saving:
powercfg /SETDCVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT 19cbb8fa-5279-450e-9fac-8a3d5fedd0c1 12bbebe6-58d6-4636-95bb-3217ef867c1a 3For Desktop or When Plugged In:
Maximum Performance:
powercfg /SETACVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT 19cbb8fa-5279-450e-9fac-8a3d5fedd0c1 12bbebe6-58d6-4636-95bb-3217ef867c1a 0Low Power Saving:
powercfg /SETACVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT 19cbb8fa-5279-450e-9fac-8a3d5fedd0c1 12bbebe6-58d6-4636-95bb-3217ef867c1a 1Medium Power Saving:
powercfg /SETACVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT 19cbb8fa-5279-450e-9fac-8a3d5fedd0c1 12bbebe6-58d6-4636-95bb-3217ef867c1a 2Maximum Power Saving:
powercfg /SETACVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT 19cbb8fa-5279-450e-9fac-8a3d5fedd0c1 12bbebe6-58d6-4636-95bb-3217ef867c1a 3
Summary
- Balance speed and battery life: Choose a power saving mode that fits what you need. Do you want faster Wi-Fi or longer battery life?
- Changing settings is easy: Use the Control Panel or Windows Terminal to make changes.
- Know what each mode means: More power saving means less Wi-Fi performance.
- For laptops: You can set different modes for when on battery or plugged in.
- Learn more: Check Intel’s official guide on wireless power management.
By adjusting these settings, you can enjoy better Wi-Fi when you need it. Or save battery when you want to.
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