Power Mode on Windows is a mix of hardware and system settings that determine how and where your device will spend its power. Windows has three power modes by default; Balanced, best performance and best power efficiency.
It is quite easy to change these modes, but in some cases users may face difficulty in switching from one mode to another. So, let’s check out what could be the problem and how to fix it.
Why Can’t You Change Power Mode in Windows 11?
Several factors can prevent you from changing the power mode in Windows. Here are the most common reasons behind this problem:
You are using a custom power plan. When on the optimized power plan, Windows does not allow you to switch to a different power mode in Settings. This problem can be fixed by choosing the Balanced power plan, which is recommended for Windows.
The current power plan is faulty. In some cases, users found that the problem was caused by some restrictions related to their current power plan. This problem can be solved only by switching to a different scheme, as we will discuss below.
The issue of corruption within the system is causing problems. The best way to rule out problems like this is to run the power troubleshooter built into Windows.
Now that we know what might be causing the problem, let’s see what you can do to fix it.
1. Change Power Plan
The first thing we recommend you do is to switch to a different power plan, especially if you are using a custom power plan. We suggest shifting to the Balanced plan and see if that fixes the issue. This plan automatically optimizes performance.
This means that it will activate full performance mode when you are actively using the computer and switch to power-saving mode when you are not.
Once done, check if you can now successfully change the power mode.
2. Run Power Troubleshooter
Your system may also be dealing with some sort of corruption issue that is causing the power mode and plan to function. In this scenario, the best way to proceed is by running the Power troubleshooter.
This utility is located in the Troubleshoot section of Windows Settings and works by scanning the system for potential problems. If any problem is identified in the system, it will inform you and then suggest relevant fixes.
Wait for the troubleshooter to finish its process, and then check the result. If the troubleshooter finds any problems, click Apply this fix to proceed with the relevant solution. Otherwise, click Close the troubleshooter and move on to the next method below.
3. Reset Power Settings
If changing the power plan doesn’t do the trick for you, you can try resetting the power settings to their default state. They will come back when you start using Windows, thus fixing the error.
Hope this solves the issue.
4. Restore system to previous working state
Another way to fix the problem is to roll back the system to a state where you can change power modes without issue. This can be achieved by using the System Restore feature, one of the available PC-saving Windows tools, which periodically creates restore points on the system.
Restore points represent a point in time when the system was in a certain state, and by selecting one, you can return the system to that point in time.
In this case, you can choose a state where the current issue does not exist.
Switch power modes easily
By now, you should be able to switch power modes successfully. However, if you are still facing the issue and are unable to find a way around it, then you can contact the official Microsoft team and report the issue to them. They will likely be able to find the root cause of the problem and suggest solutions.
If nothing really works, you can always wipe clean Windows to give it a fresh, error-free start.