Windows has a Power Plan feature that lets users control and regulate how much power a PC or laptop uses under different scenarios. It helps users with energy conservation and increases the longevity of batteries for laptops or tablets. However, a problem that some Windows users experience is the inability to modify the Power Plan settings. After adjustments, the Power Plan change option can become greyed out or return to its initial state. So, in this article, you will learn what one can do when one can’t change or create a new Power Plan in Windows.
Can’t Change or Create a New Power Plan in Windows
Given below are four remedies to solve the issue of not being able to change or create a new Power Plan in Windows:
- Change the Custom Power Plan via Control Panel
- Run the Power Troubleshooter
- Turn Off Active Power Plan Settings Using Registry
- Reset Power Settings via Windows Terminal
- Configure via Group Policy
You will need an administrator account to execute some of these suggestions.
1] Change the Custom Power Plan to Default
If you are using a custom power plan, it is better to change to a new power plan as soon as possible. Switching to the Balanced plan and checking whether this resolves the problem is advised. We have noticed that switching to default plans fixes the issue and allows users to create new power plans or switch to another one.
- Open Windows Settings
- Navigate to System > Power
- Locate the power mode, and then select Balanced plan
After you are done, restart your laptop, and check whether you can change the power mode without any issues.
2] Run the Power Troubleshooter
Windows offers a built-in troubleshooting solution that runs scripts and fixes in the background to resolve the issue. There is one for Power, and it can scan the system for potential issues. It will alert you and recommend appropriate repairs if a problem is found in the system.
This is how you run the Power troubleshooter:
- Open Settings and click on the System option from the left pane. Click on the Troubleshoot option on the right.
- Choose the Other troubleshooters option from the next page.
- Scroll down, locate the Power troubleshooter, and click the Run button.
Check the results when the troubleshooter finishes the scan. If the troubleshooter has identified any problems, select Apply this fix to start with the appropriate fixes. If not, you can close the troubleshooter and move on to the next fix.
3] Turn Off Active Power Plan Settings Using Registry
You can enable or disable an active power plan through the Local Group Policy Editor. Once disabled, Windows will automatically fall back to the default power plans. When that happens, it will be free from anything restricting users from switching.
To turn off active power plan settings using Registry Editor, follow the instructions given below:
- Open Registry Editor and navigate to the path given below:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Power
- Right-click the Power key and choose the Delete option from the context menu.
- Click the Yes button to confirm the deletion.
Restart your PC and check whether you can create or change the power plan.
4] Reset Power Settings via Windows Terminal
powercfg is a command-line tool that helps you control power schemes from Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal. It also includes an option that restores the power scheme to default.
Here is how you reset power settings via Windows Terminal:
- Open Windows Terminal, copy and paste the command below, and press the Enter key:
powercfg -restoredefaultschemes
- Go back to Power Plan settings, and see if the option is changed to the default power plan.
5] Reset Power Settings via Local Group Policy
If the power plan changes again, you must make adjustments in the Group Policy Editor as an administrator. Here is how you do it:
- Open Group Policy Editor as an Administrator.
- Navigate to the path given below:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Power Management
- From the right pane, choose the Select an active power plan option, and double-click it.
- Click the radio button next to the Enabled option, click the drop-down menu under Active Power Plan, and choose the preferred option. Click Apply, and then OK to save the changes.
If you use the Windows Home version, you can use the registry method or enable Group Policy on your PC.
Conclusion
You ought to be able to change and create the power plan at this point successfully. However, if you still have trouble and can’t figure out a solution, you can contact the Microsoft team directly and report the problem. They will probably identify the problem’s underlying source and offer a solution. You can always clean-install Windows to give it a brand-new, error-free start if nothing else seems to work.
How Many Types Of Power Plans Are There in Windows?
Three power plans are available by default in Windows: Balanced, Power Saver, and High Performance. Performance and energy usage are balanced in the default setting’s Balanced plan. While the High-performance plan offers maximum performance but uses more energy, the Power Saver plan reduces performance while saving energy.
Does the Power Plan Affect Fps in Windows PC?
Yes, the power plan settings on a Windows PC can affect the FPS (frames per second) in specific scenarios. Power Plans decide how much power is allocated to each component, which can impact the system’s performance.
If you are running a battery-conservative power plan, then the plan will reduce the CPU and GPU clock speed to save power, which could result in lower FPS when playing games.