Turning off Efficiency Mode in Windows 11 isn’t exactly brain surgery, but it can be a bit tricky depending on your build or setup. This feature’s handy for squeezing more battery life outta your laptop, but if you’re keen to give your machine a bit more grunt — say, for gaming or editing — it can feel a bit restrictive. Some folks have noticed that, despite turning it on to save juice, it can throttle your CPU in the background, making things sluggish. So, if you’re hitting lag or just want that extra punch, disabling it might do the trick.
The steps look pretty straightforward on paper, but Windows 11’s got a few different ways to tweak the settings, and sometimes, parts of the menu aren’t all that obvious. Here’s what usually works (plus a few tips if things aren’t clear):
How to Disable Efficiency Mode in Windows 11
Method 1: Via Settings > System > Power & Battery
This is the easiest route, and it’s meant to be the default. When you go here, you’ll see the toggle for Efficiency Mode. But sometimes, on certain updates or builds, the toggle isn’t visible or doesn’t do much straight away.
- Open Settings: Hit Win + I, or click the Start menu and select Settings.
- Go to System: Click on System in the sidebar, then find Power & Battery.
- Find Efficiency Mode: Look for the Efficiency Mode toggle. If it’s there, switch it off. If not, no worries — there are other ways.
Heads up: On some setups, this toggle can be hard to spot or might be greyed out. If that’s the case, try the other methods.
Method 2: Using Power Settings in PowerShell
This one’s a bit more techy, but it can help when the normal GUI isn’t doing the job. Windows has hidden power plans and settings stored in system files that can influence this behaviour.
- Right-click the Start button, then select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- Type in
powercfg /Lto see your current power plans. - If you spot a plan set to power saver, you can switch to a balanced or high-performance plan with:
powercfg /S <GUID>.
It’s a bit convoluted — there’s no direct command to toggle Efficiency Mode — but keeping your plan set to balanced or high performance usually disables the power-saving features that can throttle your CPU.
Method 3: Registry Hack (If you’re comfy editing the registry)
Sometimes, Windows keeps certain settings hidden in the registry. This can be a bit risky, so back up your registry first. You can browse to these keys:
- Navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Power - Look for entries related to Efficiency Mode — but honestly, they’re not always consistent. This one’s more for the seasoned users.
More reliable ways include disabling related features via the Group Policy Editor or using third-party tools, but those can vary with updates.
If all else fails — restart or check for updates
Sometimes, Windows just needs a reboot after toggling features or installing updates. A fresh restart can apply hidden changes and get the toggle working properly. Keeping your system up-to-date might also fix bugs or add missing options.
Keep in mind, Windows isn’t always the most transparent about what’s enabled or disabled, especially in newer versions. If stuff’s acting weird, check for updates or reset your power plans.
Disabling Efficiency Mode can give your system that extra oomph, but it’s not always a walk in the park. Be ready for the odd hiccup or missing toggle — Windows can be a bit clunky with this stuff. And don’t forget, updates might reset your settings, so it’s worth checking back every now and then.
Summary
- Try Settings > System > Power & Battery to switch Efficiency Mode off directly.
- Use PowerShell commands to tweak your power plan if needed.
- Advanced users can edit the registry or change group policy settings.
- Always reboot after making changes — Windows doesn’t always apply them straight away.
Wrap-up
Turning off Efficiency Mode can be a bit more fiddly than it should be, especially when Windows leaves some menus out or keeps the toggle hidden. If performance’s your priority, give the above methods a go — and maybe have a gander at your system settings while you’re at it. Just so you know, on some devices or with certain updates, the toggle might be MIA, and you might need to go for more drastic steps or third-party tools. Fingers crossed, this helps someone finally wrangle that extra speed when it counts!