If your Wi-Fi feels slow or your laptop battery drains quickly, adjusting the power saving settings for your wireless adapter might help. This guide will show you easy steps to change these settings on Windows 11.

What Is Wireless Adapter Power Saving Mode?

Windows lets you control how your wireless (Wi-Fi) adapter uses power. When you save more power, your battery lasts longer, but your Wi-Fi might slow down a bit. If you want the best Wi-Fi speed, you can set it to use more power.

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

Follow these simple steps to change your wireless adapter’s power settings:

1. Open Control Panel:
   
   Press Windows + R, type control, and press Enter.
   
   Then, switch the view to Small icons or Large icons and click Power Options.
2. Choose your active power plan:
   
   Click Change plan settings next to the plan you are using (like “Balanced”).
3. Open advanced settings:
   
   Click Change advanced power settings.
4. Find Wireless Adapter Settings:
   
   Scroll down, expand Wireless Adapter Settings, then expand Power Saving Mode.
5. 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 changes.

Note: Desktop computers may not have separate battery and plugged-in options.

How to Change Power Saving Mode Using Commands

If you like using commands, here’s how to do it with Windows Terminal (Command Prompt or PowerShell):

1. Open Windows Terminal: Right-click the Start button and select Windows Terminal (Admin) or search for “Windows Terminal” and open it as administrator.
2. Copy and paste one of the commands below depending on your preferred power saving mode, then press Enter.

For Laptop on Battery:

• Maximum Performance:
  
  powercfg /SETDCVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT 19cbb8fa-5279-450e-9fac-8a3d5fedd0c1 12bbebe6-58d6-4636-95bb-3217ef867c1a 0
• Low Power Saving:
  
  powercfg /SETDCVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT 19cbb8fa-5279-450e-9fac-8a3d5fedd0c1 12bbebe6-58d6-4636-95bb-3217ef867c1a 1
• Medium Power Saving:
  
  powercfg /SETDCVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT 19cbb8fa-5279-450e-9fac-8a3d5fedd0c1 12bbebe6-58d6-4636-95bb-3217ef867c1a 2
• Maximum Power Saving:
  
  powercfg /SETDCVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT 19cbb8fa-5279-450e-9fac-8a3d5fedd0c1 12bbebe6-58d6-4636-95bb-3217ef867c1a 3

For Desktop or When Plugged In:

• Maximum Performance:
  
  powercfg /SETACVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT 19cbb8fa-5279-450e-9fac-8a3d5fedd0c1 12bbebe6-58d6-4636-95bb-3217ef867c1a 0
• Low Power Saving:
  
  powercfg /SETACVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT 19cbb8fa-5279-450e-9fac-8a3d5fedd0c1 12bbebe6-58d6-4636-95bb-3217ef867c1a 1
• Medium Power Saving:
  
  powercfg /SETACVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT 19cbb8fa-5279-450e-9fac-8a3d5fedd0c1 12bbebe6-58d6-4636-95bb-3217ef867c1a 2
• Maximum 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 — faster Wi-Fi or longer battery.
• Changing settings is easy: Use the Control Panel or Windows Terminal to make changes.
• Know what each mode means: More 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.