Windows 11 automatically manages power usage to balance battery life and performance. While this works well for most users, power-saving features can sometimes reduce CPU speed, delay hardware responses, and limit overall system performance.
The Performance Power Plan tells Windows to focus more on performance than energy efficiency. This means your processor can run at higher speeds more consistently, applications may launch faster, and demanding workloads can perform better.
On many desktop PCs, the High Performance plan is already available. However, some laptops and prebuilt systems hide it by default. In those situations, you can restore or create the plan yourself.
In this guide, I will explain the steps to add a Performance Power Plan to your Windows 11 device!
Enable & Add a Performance Power Plan in Windows 11
To enable and add a Performance Power Plan in Windows 11, open Command Prompt as Administrator, use the built-in power plan command to restore the missing plan, open Power Options, and select the newly added High Performance plan. If the plan is unavailable, you can manually create a custom performance plan through the Control Panel and customize advanced power settings for maximum speed and responsiveness.
Let’s go into detail!
Step 1: Open Windows Power Settings
The first thing you need to do is check whether the Performance Power Plan already exists on your system.
Press Windows + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. Type control and press Enter. This opens the traditional Control Panel.
Inside Control Panel, click Hardware and Sound and then select Power Options.
You will now see the available power plans installed on your computer. Some systems display only Balanced, while others may also show Power Saver or High Performance.
If you already see High Performance, simply select it, and Windows will immediately begin using that power plan. You can then skip ahead to the customization section later in this guide.
If the plan is missing, continue to the next step to add it manually.
Step 2: Open Command Prompt with Administrator Rights
Windows includes hidden power plans that can be restored using command-line tools. To access them, you need administrative privileges.
Click the Start Menu and type Command Prompt into the search box.
When Command Prompt appears in the search results, right-click it and select Run as administrator.
If a User Account Control window appears, click Yes to continue.
You should now see a Command Prompt window with elevated administrator permissions. This allows you to make system-level changes, including restoring hidden power plans.
Step 3: Add the High Performance Power Plan
Now that Command Prompt is open with administrator access, you can restore the hidden performance plan.
Type the following command and press Enter:
powercfg -duplicatescheme 8c5e7fda-e8bf-4a96-9a85-a6e23a8c635c
After running the command, Windows should display a message confirming that a power scheme has been duplicated successfully.
This command restores Microsoft’s built-in High Performance Power Plan. It does not install third-party software or modify your system files. It simply makes a hidden Windows feature available again.
Once the command completes successfully, close Command Prompt.
The performance plan should now be available within Windows Power Options.
Step 4: Select the High Performance Plan
Return to the Power Options window you opened earlier.
If necessary, click Show additional plans to reveal hidden options.
You should now see High Performance listed among the available plans.
Select the radio button next to High Performance.
As soon as you choose the plan, Windows begins using those performance-oriented settings. You do not need to restart your computer for the change to take effect.
You may notice faster responsiveness during multitasking, gaming sessions, content creation tasks, or other resource-intensive activities.
Step 5: Create a Performance Plan Manually if Needed
Some systems may still not display the restored plan due to manufacturer-specific configurations.
In this case, you can create a custom plan manually.
Inside Power Options, click Create a Power Plan from the left navigation pane.
Choose High Performance as the base template.
Click Next and enter a name such as Custom Performance Plan.
Select your preferred display and sleep settings.
Click Create to finish.
Windows will immediately add the new power plan to your list.
This custom plan behaves similarly to the built-in High Performance option and can be customized further to match your specific needs.
Step 6: Configure Advanced Performance Settings
For maximum performance, you should review the advanced settings available within the power plan.
Next to your selected power plan, click Change plan settings.
Then select Change advanced power settings.
A new window will appear containing numerous hardware and performance options.
Expand the Processor power management section.
Set the minimum processor state to 100% if maximum performance is your goal.
Set the maximum processor state to 100% as well.
Review other categories such as Hard Disk, Wireless Adapter Settings, USB Settings, and PCI Express.
Many users choose settings that prioritize performance rather than power savings.
Be aware that higher performance settings may increase power consumption and heat generation, especially on laptops.
If you use a desktop computer with adequate cooling, these settings can help maintain consistent system responsiveness.
Step 7: Verify That the Plan Is Active
After enabling the performance plan, it is a good idea to confirm that Windows is actually using it.
Open Power Options once more.
The currently active plan will have a filled selection circle next to its name.
You can also open Windows Settings, navigate to System, then Power & Battery, and review available power-related options.
When the High Performance plan is active, Windows prioritizes hardware performance over aggressive energy-saving measures.
This ensures that your CPU, storage devices, and other components can operate more freely when needed.
Additional Tips
If you use a laptop, keep in mind that the High Performance Power Plan may reduce battery life significantly. Consider using it only when plugged into a charger.
Regularly update your graphics drivers, chipset drivers, and Windows 11 updates to achieve the best overall performance.
Make sure your computer has adequate cooling. Higher performance settings can increase system temperatures during intensive workloads.
If you are a gamer, content creator, programmer, or power user, combining the performance plan with optimized startup settings can provide a noticeably smoother experience.
Avoid installing unnecessary optimization utilities that promise dramatic speed improvements. Windows 11 already includes powerful built-in performance management tools.
FAQs
What is the High Performance Power Plan in Windows 11?
The High Performance Power Plan is a Windows power profile designed to maximize system speed and responsiveness by reducing power-saving restrictions on hardware components.
Why is the High Performance plan missing in Windows 11?
Many manufacturers hide certain power plans on modern devices. Windows may also prioritize newer power management methods, causing the traditional plan to be hidden.
Is the High Performance plan safe to use?
Yes. It is an official Windows feature created by Microsoft. It is safe to use and does not harm your computer when used properly.
Does High Performance improve gaming performance?
In many situations, yes. It can help reduce power-saving limitations that may affect CPU performance during gaming sessions.
Will High Performance drain my laptop battery faster?
Yes. Because the system prioritizes performance over energy savings, battery life may decrease when using this power plan.
Can I switch back to Balanced mode later?
Absolutely. You can return to Power Options at any time and select Balanced or any other available power plan.