Summary
Power mode in Windows lets you choose between better battery life, better performance, or a balanced experience. Change the power mode to match what you’re doing such as working unplugged, watching videos, or running performance‑intensive apps.
To change the power mode:
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Select Start > Settings > System > Power & battery.
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Under Power mode, choose the option you want for Plugged in or On Battery:
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Best power efficiency - Saves battery life.
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Balanced - Balances performance and battery.
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Best performance - Maximizes performance.​​​​​​​
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Note: If you can’t change the power mode, a custom power plan might be selected. Open Control Panel > System and Security > Power Options, then select Balanced.
Support for Windows 10 has ended on October 14, 2025
After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Summary
Power mode in Windows lets you choose between better battery life, better performance, or a balanced experience. Change the power mode to match what you’re doing such as working unplugged, watching videos, or running performance‑intensive apps.
To change the power mode quickly, select the Battery icon on the taskbar, and then drag the slider to the power mode you want.Â
Note: This setting isn’t available on all Windows 10 PCs. It depends on your PC’s hardware and your PC manufacturer. Your PC must be running Windows 10, version 1703 or later.
