The powercfg command allows users to view and modify their Windows computer’s power plans and settings. Using powercfg provides similar control over the power settings as does the Windows Power Options utility.
Availability
Powercfg is an external command available for the following Microsoft operating systems as powercfg.exe.
Availability
Powercfg syntax
Powercfg examples
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows 8
Windows 10
Windows 11
Powercfg syntax
Windows 10 and Windows 11 syntax
POWERCFG /COMMAND [ARGUMENTS]
Options:
- Windows 10 and Windows 11 syntax.
- Windows Vista, 7, and 8 syntax.
- Windows XP syntax.
Windows Vista, 7, and 8 syntax
powercfg [/a] [/aliases] [/changename scheme_GUID scheme_name scheme_description] [/d scheme_GUID] [/deletesetting sub_GUID setting_GUID] [/devicedisablewake device_name] [/deviceenablewake device_name] [/devicequery query_flag] [/duplicatescheme scheme_GUID destinationGUID] [/energy [/output filename] [/xml] [/duration sec] [/trace] [/d filepath]] [/export filename scheme_GUID] [/getactivescheme] [/getsecuritydescriptor GUID|Action] [/h on|off] [/import filename scheme_GUID] [/l] [/lastwake] [/q scheme_GUID sub_GUID] [/requests] [/requestsoverride caller_type caller_name request] [/s scheme_GUID] [/setacvalueindex scheme_GUID sub_GUID setting_GUID setting_index] [/setdcvalueindex scheme_GUID sub_GUID setting_GUID setting_index] [/setsecuritydescriptor GUID|action SDDL] [/waketimers] [/x scheme_setting setting_value] [/?]
Windows XP syntax
powercfg [/a] [/b low|critical settings] [/change scheme_settings setting_value] [/c scheme_name] [/d scheme_name] [/devicedisablewake device_name] [/deviceenablewake device_name] [/devicequery flagquery} [/export scheme_name [/file filename]] [/g on|off] [/h on|off] [/import scheme_name [/file filename]] [/l] [/n integer] [/option flag] [/q scheme_name] [/s scheme_name] [/?]
Powercfg examples
Display a list of all power schemes on the computer.
powercfg /l
Display all settings for the power scheme with GUID of 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e.
powercfg /q 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e
Change the timeout value to 10 minutes for the monitor-timeout-ac setting of the currently active power scheme.
powercfg /x monitor-timeout-ac 10
Enable hibernate mode on the computer.
powercfg /h on
Set the power scheme with GUID of 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e to be the active power scheme.
powercfg /s 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e
Delete the power scheme with GUID of 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e.
powercfg /d 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e
Related information
- MS-DOS and Windows command line overview.
- How to adjust power, standby, and sleep settings.
- Is it better to leave the computer on or turn it off?