Windows 7 - Power Plan Settings - Change

Information

This will show you how change the settings for the power plan that you have selected to reflect how you want your Windows 7 computer to manage power usage.

• How to Select a Power Plan in Windows 7
• How to Create or Delete a Custom Power Plan in Windows 7
• How to Change the Default Action of the Windows 7 Alt+F4 Shut Down Window
• How to Enable or Disable Hibernate in Windows 7
• How to Change the Default Windows 7 Start Menu Power Button Action
• How to Restore the Default Power Plan Settings in Windows 7
• How to Run a Windows 7 Power Efficiency Diagnostics Report
• How to Enable or Disable Require Password on Wakeup in Windows 7
• How to Create a Shortcut to Change Power Plans in Windows 7
• How to Change the Return to Sleep Timeout for a Unattended Wake Up in Windows 7

1. Open the Start Menu, and type powercfg.cpl in the search box and press enter.

A) Go to step 3.

OR

2. Open the Control Panel (All Items View).

A) Click on the Power Options icon.

3. Click on the Change plan settings link to the right of the power plan that you want to change the settings for. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: Normally you will be changing the power plan that you have selected as your default power plan.

4. To Only Change the Basic Power Plan Settings -

A) Choose how many minutes to wait for the Turn off display and Put the computer to sleep settings, or select never if you do not want to use a setting. (See screenshots below)
NOTE: If you have a computer with a battery (ex: notebook) or on a UPS, then you will see the right screenshot to adjust the options for when you are on battery or plugged in.

B) When done, click on the Save changes button. (See screenshots above)

C) Close the Power Options window. (See screenshots below step 3)

D) You're done.

5. To Change the Advanced Power Plan Settings -

A) Click on the Change advanced power settings link. (See screenshots below)

B) Click on the Change settings that are currently unavailable link. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You will need to be logged on to an administrator account for this option. This option allows you to change the power plan settings that are grayed out.

C) Make changes to the power plan settings below to suite your needs. (See screenshots below)
NOTE: If you have a computer with a battery (ex: notebook) or on a UPS, then you will see the right screenshot to adjust the options for when you are on battery or plugged in. See the tables below for some recommended settings for Sleep, Hybrid Sleep, or Hibernate. The settings that are not included in these recommendations are settings that you can set to whatever you like. These are only recommendations, you can choose to do what you want instead of course.

Recommended Settings for SLEEP -
Sleep saves any open documents and programs to memory only, and then puts the computer into a low-power state. If you lose power to the computer, you will also lose what is in memory.

CATEGORY	SETTING	RECOMMENDED SETTING
Hard Disk	Turn off hard disk after	Set to at least 1 minute before the computer is set to sleep.
Sleep	Sleep after	This is for the computer. Set to at least 1 minute after Hard disk and Display is set to turn off.
Sleep	Allow hybrid sleep	Set to Off.
Sleep	Hibernate after	Set to Never.
Power buttons and lid	Start menu power button	Set to Sleep.
Display	Turn off display after	Set to at least 1 minute before the computer is set to sleep. Usually set this as the same as the Hard disk time.
Multimedia settings	When sharing media	Set to Allow the computer to sleep to prevent it from waking up the computer.

Recommended Settings for HYBRID SLEEP -
Hybrid sleep saves your open documents and programs to memory and to the hard drive, and then puts the computer into a low-power state. After the Hibernate after time you set, it will then put the computer into hibernation.

CATEGORY	SETTING	RECOMMENDED SETTING
Hard Disk	Turn off hard disk after	Set to at least 1 minute before the computer is set to sleep.
Sleep	Sleep after	This is for the computer. Set to at least 1 minute after Hard disk and Display is set to turn off.
Sleep	Allow hybrid sleep	Set to On.
Sleep	Hibernate after	Set to at least 1 minute before the computer is set to sleep, and at least 1 minute after Sleep after is set for.
Power buttons and lid	Start menu power button	Set to Sleep.
Display	Turn off display after	Set to at least 1 minute before the computer is set to sleep. Usually set this as the same as the Hard disk time.
Multimedia settings	When sharing media	Set to Allow the computer to sleep to prevent it from waking up the computer.

Recommended Settings for HIBERNATE -
Hibernation is a power-saving state that saves your open documents and programs to the hard drive and then turns off your computer.

CATEGORY	SETTING	RECOMMENDED SETTING
Hard Disk	Turn off hard disk after	Set to at least 1 minute before the computer is set to sleep.
Sleep	Sleep after	Set to Never.
Sleep	Allow hybrid sleep	Set to Off.
Sleep	Hibernate after	Set it to at least 1 minute after Hard disk and Display is set to turn off.
Power buttons and lid	Start menu power button	Set to Hibernate.
Display	Turn off display after	Set to at least 1 minute before the computer is set to hibernate. Usually set this as the same as the Hard disk time.
Multimedia settings	When sharing media	Set to Allow the computer to sleep to prevent it from waking up the computer.

D) When done, click on OK. (See screenshot below step 5C)

E) Close the Edit Plan Settings window. (See screenshot below step 5A)

6. Change your Start menu power button to do the action that you want it to do.
NOTE: You can choose from Switch User, Log Off, Lock, Restart, Sleep, Hibernate, or Shutdown when you click on the power button in the Start menu.