Power Plan - Select

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    Power Plan - Select

    Power Plan - Select

    How to Select a Power Plan Scheme in Windows 7 and Windows 8
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Select a Power Plan Scheme in Windows 7 and Windows 8


       Information
    A power plan is a collection of hardware and system settings that manages how your computer uses power. Power plans can help you save energy, maximize system performance, or achieve a balance between the two.

    This tutorial will help show you how to select either a Balanced, Power Saver, High Performance, or Custom power plan as active for your user account in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

       Tip
    You may also have a custom power plan available from your computer manufacturer (OEM) that may also appear by default on the battery meter on a mobile PC (laptop), or as one of the preferred power plans (step 7 below) on a desktop computer.





    OPTION ONE

    To Select Power Plan Scheme as Active in Power Options


    1. Open the Control Panel (icons view) in Windows 7 or Windows 8, click/tap on the Power Options icon.

    2. To see alll of your available power plans, you will need to click on the drop down arrow to the right of Show additional plans, and do step 3, 4, 5, or 6 below for the power plan you want. (See screenshots below)
    Power Plan - Select-select1.jpg

    Power Plan - Select-select2.jpg
    3. For the Balanced Power Plan Scheme
    NOTE: Offers full performance when you need it and saves power during periods of inactivity. This power plan balances energy conservation with performance.
    A) Select (dot) Balanced (Recommended), and go to step 7 below. (See screenshots below step 2)
    4. For the Power Saver Power Plan Scheme
    NOTE: Saves power by reducing system performance. This plan can help mobile PC users get the most from a single battery charge. This power plan conserves energy.
    A) Select (dot) Power saver, and go to step 7 below. (See screenshots below step 2)
    5. For the High Performance Power Plan Scheme
    NOTE: This power plan maximizes system performance and responsiveness. Mobile PC users may notice that their battery doesn't last as long when using this plan.
    A) Select (dot) High Performance, and go to step 7 below. (See screenshots below step 2)
    6. For a Custom Power Plan Scheme
    NOTE: To be able to select a custom power plan, either the OEM will have one listed or you must have created a custom power plan.
    A) Select (dot) an available custom power plan, and go to step 7 below. (See screenshots below step 2)
    Power Plan - Select-create-4.jpg
    7. Close the Power Options window. (See screenshots below step 2)

    8. You can also change the Advanced Power Plan Settings in Windows 7 or Windows 8 for this selected power plan if you like.



    OPTION TWO

    To Select Power Plan Scheme as Active in Command Prompt


    1. Open a command prompt in Vista/Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1.

    2. In the command prompt, copy and paste the command below, and press Enter to see a list of existing power plan schemes.
    powercfg /List


    Power Plan - Select-powercfg_list.png

       Note
    The power scheme that has an asterisk * to the right of it is the current active power plan scheme.

    3. In the command prompt, type the command below, press Enter to set a power scheme as active. (see screenshot below)
    powercfg /S SCHEME_GUID


    Power Plan - Select-powercfg_set_active.jpg

       Note
    Substitute SCHEME_GUID in the command with the actual GUID number of the power plan scheme you want from step 2 above.

    For example, I would type this below to make the High performance power plan scheme the active power scheme.

    powercfg /S 8c5e7fda-e8bf-4a96-9a85-a6e23a8c635c

    4. You can now close the command prompt if you like.
    That's it,
    Shawn





    Related Tutorials




  2. Mushu
    Posts : 7
    Windows 7 7264 64-bit
       New #1

    Is it possible to set it to automatically change from High Power plan to the Power Saver plan when you use the battery on Windows 7 like you could with 3rd Party programs on Vista?
      My Computer
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  4. Brink
    Posts : 72,507
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #2

    Hello Mushu,

    No, but since you have separate On Battery and Plugged In settings, you can set how you want it be in the Advanced Power Plan Settings for that power plan for when you are on battery instead to basically run that way.

    Hope this helps,
    Shawn
      My Computer
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  5. DarkDavil
    Posts : 434
    7 x64/ Back-Track 4
       New #3

    Thanks Brink :) Im not really noticing a big difference in speed, but im sure its their :)
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  6. Brink
    Posts : 72,507
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    Hello DarkDavil,

    This may help some more with that.

    https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...ndows-7-a.html
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  7. ratePV
    Posts : 524
    Windows 7 SP1 x64
       New #5

    Using High performance on all desktops and balanced/power saver
    on my laptop.
    Sure can feel the difference between HP and Balanced(especially
    when closing windows(faster responce time)!
    the only flaw is that in HP mod power consumption a generation of heat is
    bigger!
    Luv your tutorials! Very useful!
      My Computer
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  8. CarlTR6
    Posts : 11,990
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
       New #6

    I use a modified balanced plan. My rig is old so I am not worried about high performance. My computer runs 24/7 so I have my wireless run all of the time. My HD's turn off after one hour and my monitor after ten minutes. I have sleep disabled.
      My Computer
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  10. typ911411and718
    Posts : 18
    windows 7 | Vista
       New #7

    changing power plan display


    hi, the way i'm seeing my power plans display is always by two, and "balance" is always there, i want to know how i can change that to showing either three or "high" and "power save".

    thanks
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  11. Brink
    Posts : 72,507
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #8

    Hello Typ, and welcome to Seven Forums.

    If you mean the power plans that are displaying on the taskbar notification "Power" icon, then you cannot change the what is displayed. However, you can use the tutorial below to create your own custom shortcut to switch between the power options of your choice, and be able to pin them to the taskbar to make using them easier if you like.

    Power Plan - Create Shortcut to Change Power Plan

    If this is not what you meant, then please let me know.

    Hope this helps,
    Shawn
      My Computer
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  12. typ911411and718
    Posts : 18
    windows 7 | Vista
       New #9

    thanks


    oh great, this is pretty cool, i'll check it out. thanks.

    though it sucks that the display can't be changed, this might be better....
      My Computer
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