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

  • 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?