Power Options in Windows allow you to set up your computer’s power settings so that it automatically turns off, hibernates or enters sleep mode after a period of inactivity. This helps conserve resources, making your computer more efficient and saving you money on your electric bill. Setting up Power Options in Windows is simple and can help extend the life of your computer by conserving its battery.
First, open the Start menu and type control panel into the search box. This will open the Control Panel window. Select System and Security and click Power Options. You should now see a list of power plans. These are the pre-configured options you can choose from and include Balanced, Power Saver, High Performance and Always On. Depending on your version of Windows, there may be additional power plans available.
Each plan has its own set of settings for your computer. The Balanced plan is the default and provides a good balance between energy efficiency and performance. It is generally recommended for casual users. The Power Saver plan is more energy efficient than Balanced and will help conserve battery life on laptops and tablets. High Performance maximizes performance by using more power and is best for users who require more processing power. Finally, the Always On plan leaves your computer running at full power all of the time.
Once you have selected a power plan, you can customize the settings by clicking Change Plan Settings. Here you can configure when your computer should turn off the display and enter sleep or hibernation mode. By default, these settings are usually set to turn off the display after 15 minutes of inactivity and enter sleep or hibernation mode after 1 hour. You can change the times to suit your individual needs.
You can also configure advanced settings by clicking the Change Advanced Power Settings link. This opens the Power Options window. Here you can tweak numerous power settings such as hard disk sleep mode, USB selective suspend setting and processor power management. Again, you can configure these settings to suit your own individual needs and preferences.
After making any changes, remember to save them by clicking the Apply button in the bottom right corner. Now your computer is configured with the power settings that you have chosen. Windows will now follow the settings you have chosen each time it enters sleep or hibernation mode.
Setting up Power Options in Windows can help you conserve energy and save money while still getting the performance you need. Taking a few minutes to customize the settings can make your computer more efficient and help extend its life.