Getting High Performance Mode Up and Running on Windows 11
Turning on High Performance Mode in Windows 11 is like swapping your car from a comfy family wagon to a sleek sports car — perfect when you’re tackling demanding tasks like gaming or video editing. This setting pushes your system settings to the max, sacrificing some battery life for blistering speed. It’s a handy trick to have in your toolkit when standard performance just isn’t enough.
How to Enable High Performance Mode
Switching to High Performance is straightforward but might require a bit of hunting through menus. Here’s a simple guide to get you there.
First up, open the Settings app. Click the Start button at the bottom left corner (or press Windows + I for a quick jump). You’ll land in Windows Settings — the control centre for customising your PC.
Next, click on System. This section offers controls for display, sound, and more. Scroll down and select Power & Battery. On some devices, this option might be tucked away behind the battery icon on the taskbar — a quick right-click there can also get you directly to power settings.
Within Power & Battery, find and click on Additional Power Settings. This opens the classic Power Options panel. To speed things up, you can also type control powercfg.cpl into the Run box (Windows + R) and press Enter. And just like that, you’re there.
You’ll see a list of power plans now. If High Performance isn’t visible right away, click on Show additional plans. Select the High Performance option — it’ll ensure your CPU and GPU run at full tilt, providing maximum speed. For the tech-savvy, you can even create a personalised plan based on High Performance settings.
Once activated, you should notice faster load times and smoother handling of intensive tasks. Just remember, running in this mode will drain your battery quicker, so it’s optimal to use it while plugged in unless you’re okay with the battery running out faster than a carton of beer on a summer afternoon.
If the transition between plans feels a bit sluggish, don’t worry — it can take a moment to kick in, especially on new or customised systems. A quick restart might also help things settle.
Helpful Tips to Keep in Mind
When boosting performance, it’s best to stay plugged in. Otherwise, your laptop might get a bit grumpy with rapid battery drain and extra heat. If you’re not doing anything intensive, switch back to Balanced or Power Saver to conserve energy. And don’t forget to keep an eye on the temperatures — overheating can shorten your device’s lifespan, especially if it doesn’t have great cooling.
In a Nutshell
Enabling High Performance Mode in Windows 11 can breathe new life into your machine when you need powerful performance for demanding tasks. Just keep an eye on power usage and switch modes as needed. With a bit of practice, toggling between settings becomes second nature. If this little tip makes a hectic project or gaming session slightly less stressful, then it’s worth the effort.
- Open Settings (Windows + I)
- Go to System
- Select Power & Battery
- Click on Additional Power Settings or run
control powercfg.cpl - Choose High Performance or activate via
powercfg /S SCHEME_MIN
Hopefully, this saves you a few headaches. If it helps speed up one critical task, then it’s a win in our books.