Turning on Ultimate Performance mode in Windows 11 can give your PC a real boost when you’re running heavy-duty stuff. It’s all about cutting down any lag and squeezing out every bit of performance — perfect if you’re into gaming, video editing, or just hate lag spikes. Fair dinkum, just watch out — it’s not great for your battery, so best to do this when you’re plugged in.
Turning on Ultimate Performance in Windows 11
Here’s the rundown on how to activate that turbo mode. The process is pretty straightforward but a bit hidden in Windows’ settings. Basically, you just need to get into Power Settings, find the plan, and switch it on.
Step 1: Open Power Settings
Right-click the Start button or press Win + X and select Power Options. Or, just head to Settings > System > Power & Battery. On some setups, a quick search for “Power” in the Start menu will do the trick too. Here, you’ll see the basic power plans. Nice, but not quite enough on its own.
Step 2: Access Additional Power Settings
Click on Additional Power Settings—that’s usually a link on the right side or at the bottom of the window. This opens the classic Control Panel power menu, where you’ll find more options and plans.
Step 3: Show Additional Plans
Now, click on Show additional plans. Basically, Windows hides some of the fancy plans by default—probably to keep things simple for most users. But on some setups, the Ultimate Performance plan isn’t visible straight up, so you gotta tell Windows to show all plans.
Heads up: if it’s still not showing after that, you might need to enable it manually through Command Prompt or PowerShell — I’ll run through that in a tick.
Step 4: Enable Ultimate Performance (via Command Line if hidden)
If the plan doesn’t pop up here, don’t stress. Sometimes Windows keeps it hidden unless you run a quick command. Open PowerShell as administrator (Win + X > Windows PowerShell (Admin)) and run this:
powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749b83eThis command duplicates the Ultimate Performance plan so it appears in your list of options. Once you’ve run it, refresh the Power Settings window and it should show up among your other plans.
Some systems pick it up straight away; others might need a reboot or a quick browse through the menu again.
Step 5: Select and Apply
When it’s visible, just click on Ultimate Performance. Then hit Apply. Your PC will switch modes, and you should notice a nice bump in performance — especially when running something demanding.
Tips for Turning on Ultimate Performance in Windows 11
- Make sure your laptop’s plugged in — it’s gonna gobble more power. Not a good idea on battery.
- Keep an eye on temps — this high-performance mode can push your hardware hard, and overheating or thermal throttling isn’t fun.
- Update your drivers, especially GPU and chipset drivers. Outdated stuff can cause crashes or hiccups under full load.
- Great for high-end desktops or workstations, but maybe not worth it if your PC’s a bit on the modest side.
- And always back up your stuff, just in case. Tweaking power plans can sometimes bugger things up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ultimate Performance mode?
It’s basically a power plan designed to cut down latency and make hardware respond faster. Less lag, more grunt — perfect for heavy-duty tasks or gaming.
Can all Windows 11 PCs use it?
Nope. It’s mainly for high-end rigs. If you’re on a humble laptop or an older model, it might not even be an option, or it could cause stability issues.
Will it drain my battery faster?
Definitely. It’s best suited for desktops or plugged-in laptops. Expect your battery to run out quicker if you turn it on while running on battery power.
Can I switch back to a regular plan?
Absolutely. Just pick a different plan in the same menu. Windows makes that dead easy.
How do I check if it’s active?
Just go back to Power & Battery, and see what plan’s selected. If Ultimate Performance is showing, you’re good to go.
Summary
- Open Power Settings
- Head to Additional Power Settings
- Show extra plans if they’re hidden
- If needed, run a quick PowerShell command to unlock it
- Switch to Ultimate Performance
Hopefully that saves someone a bit of hassle. Windows can be a pain sometimes, but once you’ve got it set, you’ll notice the difference — especially when gaming or doing CPU-heavy stuff. Just be sure you’re plugged in and ready for the extra power drain. Some systems might need a reboot or a quick toggling of the plan to really lock it in — patience is key if it doesn’t show up right away.