How to Enable or Disable Ultimate Performance Mode in Windows 11
Ultimate Performance mode in Windows 11 is a hidden power plan that removes tiny system delays to get the highest speed out of your hardware. Microsoft originally built it for powerful workstations and high-end servers.
Standard power plans focus on saving battery life or electricity. Ultimate Performance mode takes off the brakes, so your processor and drives stay ready to run at full speed instead of slowing down when idle. It is a power plan, not a performance boost. It doesn’t add speed your hardware doesn’t have. It only stops Windows from holding that speed back.
Open Terminal or Command Prompt as administrator and run powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61 to add the hidden Ultimate Performance power plan. Then go to Control Panel Hardware and Sound Power Options, click Show additional plans, and select Ultimate Performance. No restart is needed, and the plan can be removed again later.
Balanced Mode Does a Great Job Overall
The Balanced power plan is the default and handles everyday tasks like web browsing and office work. It saves energy when your computer is idle and speeds up the hardware as soon as you open a demanding app.
That short ramp-up is what Ultimate Performance removes. For most people the delay is too small to notice. It only matters in a few cases, which are covered further down.
Why Microsoft Hides the Ultimate Performance Plan
Microsoft hides the Ultimate Performance plan by default because it forces the hardware to stay at top speed all the time. That has three costs:
- Higher electricity use, which shows up on the bill if you run a desktop all day.
- A battery that drains very quickly on a laptop.
- A machine that runs much hotter than normal.
The plan is not removed from Windows, only hidden. You can add it back with one command and take it out again just as easily.
The Ultimate Performance Power Plan Is Easy to Unlock
You can unlock the hidden Ultimate Performance plan with a single command in an elevated Command Prompt or Terminal window. You don't need any extra software or advanced technical skills. The command adds a copy of the hidden plan to your list of power plans, and nothing else on your system changes.
If your account is a standard user account, an administrator will need to run the command for you. This works on both Home and Pro editions.
Step-by-Step Guide to Enable Ultimate Performance Mode
- Click the Start button on your taskbar.
- Type Terminal or Command Prompt into the search box. The matching app appears at the top of the results.
- Right-click the Terminal or Command Prompt result. A menu opens.
- Select Run as administrator. If a security prompt asks whether you want to allow this app to make changes to your device, click Yes. A dark command window opens. In Terminal, it may be PowerShell by default, and the command works there too.
- Type or copy and paste this exact text into the window:
powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61 - Press Enter.
- Check the output. You should see a long string of letters and numbers (the plan's identifier) followed by the words "Ultimate Performance". That means the plan was added.
If you get an error instead, the most common cause is that the window is not running as administrator. Close it and repeat the steps above. On some laptops and tablets the command may return an error, or the plan may never appear, because the device doesn't allow it. See the laptop sections below.
Running the command adds the hidden power scheme to your list of power plans, so you can select it like any other plan. Windows 11's Settings app only offers a Power mode choice, not a full list of plans, so you pick the plan in Control Panel.
- Click the Start button, type Control Panel, and press Enter.
- Go to Hardware and Sound Power Options You should see your current power plans, such as Balanced.
- If you don't see Ultimate Performance, click Show additional plans (the small arrow). Windows hides some plans in this collapsed list.
- Click the circle next to Ultimate Performance to select it. The change takes effect immediately and you don't need to restart.
If you open Settings System Power & battery, you will find a Power mode setting there. It is separate from the plan list, and it is not where you choose Ultimate Performance.
Gaming Performance and Real-World Results
Ultimate Performance mode rarely increases frame rates (the number of images your screen shows per second) for most users. If you switch to it hoping for a big jump in FPS, you will probably be disappointed.
What it can help with is micro-stutter, the split-second pauses that freeze the screen during fast-paced games. On the Balanced plan, your computer already ramps up its speed when you launch a big game. Sometimes the processor drops back and speeds up again at the wrong moment, and you feel it as a hitch. Ultimate Performance keeps the processor fully awake and ready, so those pauses often disappear. Fast-paced action games can feel much smoother, even if the maximum frame rate stays about the same.
The benefit also shows up in some heavy work apps, such as video editors or 3D tools, where short bursts of activity matter. If you notice no difference after trying it, switch back.
How to Disable Ultimate Performance Mode
You can disable Ultimate Performance mode at any time by switching your active power plan back to Balanced or Power saver. This stops your processor from running at maximum speed constantly, which saves power and reduces heat. Switching plans takes effect right away and needs no restart.
- Click the Start button, type Control Panel, and press Enter.
- Go to Hardware and Sound Power Options
- Click the circle next to Balanced. On a laptop you can pick Power saver instead if you want to stretch the battery. If you don't see the plan you want, click Show additional plans.
If you want to remove the option entirely so nobody else can select it by accident, open Terminal or Command Prompt as an administrator the same way you did before. Type powercfg -delete e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61 and press Enter. You must switch away from the Ultimate Performance plan to a different plan before you try to delete it, or the delete will fail. After it is removed, you can add it again later by repeating the unlock steps.
Unique Tips for Laptop Users and Custom Builders
Running Ultimate Performance mode on a laptop drains the battery much faster. The processor runs at maximum speed all the time and never scales down to save power. Laptop users should usually stay on the Balanced plan, unless the computer stays plugged into a wall outlet all the time.
If you do use it on a laptop, switch back to Balanced before you unplug, so you don't come back to a nearly empty battery.
Why Laptops Usually Do Not Show This Plan
Laptops usually do not show the Ultimate Performance plan, because battery safety and heat management matter more in a small case. Forcing maximum power into the processor all the time wears the battery down faster and can overheat the machine. Windows and the manufacturer hide the plan on battery-powered devices for that reason.
If the plan doesn't show up on your laptop even after you run the command, that is normal on many models. Don't try to force it. Use the Balanced plan, or the Power mode setting in Settings System Power & battery, instead.
Monitoring Your System Temperatures
Keep an eye on your system temperatures when you use Ultimate Performance mode. The processor fans spin faster and louder to push out the extra heat. Take these steps to keep the hardware safe:
- Keep the computer's vents and fans clean and free of dust.
- Leave space around the case so air can flow, and don't use a laptop on a soft surface like a bed.
- Check temperatures with a hardware monitoring tool, such as one from your PC maker.
- If the machine gets very hot or the fans stay loud, switch back to Balanced.
Summary
Windows 11 includes a hidden Ultimate Performance power plan. It can remove minor stutters in games and heavy apps by keeping your hardware at top speed constantly. It also increases power use and heat, so it is best to unlock it only when you need it, and to switch back to Balanced when you are done.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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