Managing Your PC Power

As computer makers continue to improve the hardware they offer, our computers and devices are becoming more energy efficient. This is good not only for our bank accounts, but also for our planet. We want the batteries in our laptops, tablets, and smartphones to last as long as possible. The more power we conserve, the more efficient our devices become, the longer our power lasts-and that's a good thing.

One thing we've learned about "green tech" is that small changes can make a big difference. Changing the brightness of your screen or turning off Wi-Fi and roaming when possible can save a lot of behind-the-scenes processing. Even reducing energy consumption on your home desktop PC can have tangible benefits, such as reducing your electric bill. Those simple techniques, added to steps such as thinking through what happens when you close your laptop cover, can add up to smarter energy use for us all.

Windows 10 is the most energy-efficient version of Windows yet, with careful attention paid to apps that are in the foreground. Apps that cycle to the background and go into suspended mode have no impact on power usage at all. And because Windows 10 boots so efficiently, you won't experience any lag time while you wait for an app to load. That's a big change from the days you could push the power button and then go to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee while waiting for your computer to boot.

Turning On the Battery Saver

The Battery Saver app in Windows 10 enables you to control how your computer or device uses power. By default, Windows 10 turns on Battery Saver mode when power gets to 20%; but you can change that if you want. You can also adjust the way your computer or device is using power on the fly-that's something new with Windows 10 Creators Update.

You can check your power status easily by clicking the Power tool in the system tray on the right side of the taskbar. If your computer is currently plugged in, the status shows 100% power. If your computer is using the battery, the status of the battery, the estimated amount of time remaining, and an active link to Battery Settings appear.

1. Click the Power tool.
2. Review the battery status.
3. Adjust the slider to reflect whether you would prefer to save battery or have better performance.
4. Click Battery Settings to see additional options.
5. Drag the Battery Saver slider if you want to change the percentage at which the battery saver goes into effect.
6. Enable the Battery Saver Status Until Next Charge setting if you want to put your computer into Battery Saver mode until the next time it is charged.
7. Uncheck the Lower Screen Brightness While in Battery Saver check box if you want to turn off the Battery Saver setting that displays a lower percentage of screen brightness. (This setting is enabled by default.)
8. Click Battery Usage by App to review how your various apps are making use of your battery power.
9. Review how much battery life your apps are using.
10. Choose whether you want to see all apps or apps that have been running within a period of time you specify.
11. Click an app that you want to change.
12. Click to remove the check in the Let Windows Decide When This App Can Run in the Background check box if you want to manually control the use of battery power.

Changing Your Power Settings

You can also manage the way your computer uses power by choosing the power settings you want Windows 10 to use. The Balanced power plan balances usage with performance, and you can change that balance as needed while you work. Making changes is as simple as pointing and clicking.

1. Click in the Search box and type power plan.
2. Click Choose a Power Plan in the results list. The Power Options window appears.
3. Click Tell Me More About Power Plans to learn more about what goes into a power plan.
4. Drag the slider to change the screen brightness. (The lower the brightness, the more power you are saving.)
5. Click Change Plan Settings to change the power settings of your current plan.
   
   Screen's So Bright
   An easy way to adjust the brightness on the fly in Windows 10 is to click the power tool in the system tray and click the Brightness control in the lower-left corner of the pop-up box. Clicking the tool cycles through brightness settings in increments of 25; for example, if you click the tool when the setting is 100% brightness, the setting drops to 25%, and then with each click it increases to 50% and 75% before returning to 100%.
   
   
6. Choose when you want Windows 10 to turn off the display when your computer is not in use. You can choose different settings for battery power or plugged-in mode.
7. Select when you want the computer to go to sleep after a period of non-use.
8. Adjust the sliders to the level of brightness you want for battery or plugged-in mode.
9. Click Save Changes.