Microsoft is on the move again, testing out a fresh energy-saving mode for Windows 11. This mode takes center stage in boosting the battery life of mobile devices, but here’s the twist – it’s up for grabs even when your computer’s plugged in, as per the company’s announcement dropped just yesterday. That means it’s up for adoption on desktop PCs too, aiming to keep their energy appetite in check.
The energy-saving mode is currently in the experimental phase within the Canary Channel, bundled with the Insider Preview Build 26002 of Windows 11. Windows Insiders are the lucky ones who can get their hands on it right now.
Microsoft’s main goal is to make it a breeze for users to stretch the battery life of their laptops or tablets by cutting down on power usage. However, this could mean a trade-off with a slight drop in your system’s performance.
You’ve got options to turn this mode on – either manually or automatically, based on your battery status.
If you’re keen, you can manually activate this fresh energy-saving feature through your system settings or jump into quick settings straight from your taskbar. The system settings offer a heads-up, mentioning that the Energy Saver puts a cap on some background activities to eke out more juice from your battery.
What’s more, as per the announcement, you can tweak this energy-saving mode to kick in automatically when your device’s battery hits a certain low threshold. Microsoft’s asking those who take this feature for a spin to drop any issues or bright ideas through the Feedback Hub. As for when it’ll be ready for all Windows 11 users, well, that’s still up in the air.
But wait, there’s more!
For those not in on the new energy-saving action of Windows 11 just yet, fret not. There are a bunch of other ways to tone down your system’s energy use. Microsoft’s got your back with some handy tips in a support article. Their suggestions include tweaking existing power settings, flipping on airplane mode to shut down all radio connections, and dialing down the screen brightness and refresh rate.
