Add High Performance/Ultimate Performance Plan on Windows 10 / 11 if It is Missing in Power Options (2024)

by Adam Swift

Our subscriber wrote: Some time ago after I upgraded my Windows 10 computer to the next OS version (as far as I remember it was spring Creators Update) I noticed some sound issues: There were pops and clicks when I listened to music and watched videos on YouTube.

After 20 minutes of troubleshooting I found one-click workaround: I just switched to High Performance profile in Power Options and audio started to perform fine. Some days ago I decided to clean reinstall my Windows 10 pro due to some glitches.

I created the USB stick with the latest version, formatted disk C: and installed OS from a scratch. After everything such as drivers and a few programs was ready I noticed the issue with audio card again and was eager to switch the Power plan the way I did before.

How I was surprised when I saw that there is only one power plan in the settings. There are no High Performance plan any more. I see only Balanced (recommended) plan that is active of course. Tell me, please, can I manually create and activate high performance plan in power options on my Windows 10?

We don’t know for what purpose Microsoft hid the plans except Balanced but we know how to quickly get them back.

Article Contents:

  • Add High Performance Plan in Windows 10 using Control Panel
  • Add Ultimate or High Performance Plan using the command

Steps to Create High Performance Power Plan on Windows 10

  • Press Win+X.
  • Select Power Options.
  • Click on the Additional Power Settingslink in the Related settings area:Add High Performance/Ultimate Performance Plan on Windows 10 / 11 if It is Missing in Power Options (1)
  • Click on theCreate a power planlink in the left pane:Add High Performance/Ultimate Performance Plan on Windows 10 / 11 if It is Missing in Power Options (2)
  • SelectHigh performance, specify the name for your new plan and clickNext:
    Add High Performance/Ultimate Performance Plan on Windows 10 / 11 if It is Missing in Power Options (3)
  • Choose the timeouts for sleep mode and display, that are preferred for you and finally click on Create:Add High Performance/Ultimate Performance Plan on Windows 10 / 11 if It is Missing in Power Options (4)

Once you perform these steps the new power plan will be added and activated:

Add High Performance/Ultimate Performance Plan on Windows 10 / 11 if It is Missing in Power Options (5)

Now you can customize it. Click onChange plan settings link near your high performance profile and then click onChange advanced power settings.In this window you can tune all the settings you don’t like to be at default values. ClickOK when done.

In my example I set “Do nothing” when I close the lid while plugged in because I use my laptop with external monitor:Add High Performance/Ultimate Performance Plan on Windows 10 / 11 if It is Missing in Power Options (6)

What is the Ultimate Performance Power Profile in Windows 11/10?

The Ultimate Performance power plan on Windows 11 (10) is a high-performance power profile that is designed to provide the maximum performance possible from your device. This power plan is available on certain Windows 11 editions and is designed for power users who need the highest level of performance for demanding tasks, such as gaming, video editing, or other CPU-intensive tasks.

The Ultimate Performance power plan differs from other power plans in several ways, such as:

  1. Processor performance: The Ultimate Performance power plan sets the minimum and maximum processor performance to 100%, which means that your device will always be running at full performance.
  2. Cooling policy: The cooling policy is set to “active,” which means that your device’s cooling system will always run at maximum capacity to prevent overheating.
  3. System responsiveness: The Ultimate Performance power plan prioritizes system responsiveness over power consumption, which means that background processes may use more power and CPU resources.

However, the Ultimate Performance power plan may also consume more power and generate more heat, which could reduce the battery life of your device and potentially cause thermal issues if not properly managed.

It is recommended to use the Ultimate Performance power plan only when you need the maximum performance from your device and switch to a power-saving plan when you’re not performing demanding tasks. Additionally, if you’re using a laptop or portable device, make sure to monitor the temperature of your device while using the Ultimate Performance power plan to avoid overheating.

Add High Performance or Ultimate Performance Plan in Windows 10 or 11 Using the Powercfg Command

The Ultimate Performance Power Plan is a power plan introduced in Windows 10 and is also available in Windows 11. It is designed to provide the maximum possible performance on high-end systems with demanding workloads, such as high-end gaming or video editing.

Enabling the Ultimate Performance power plan will cause your computer to use more power, which can result in increased performance. This is achieved by disabling certain power-saving features, such as CPU throttling and timer coalescing, which can negatively impact performance.

It’s worth noting that the Ultimate Performance power plan is not available on all systems, as it requires certain hardware capabilities, such as a high-end CPU and cooling solution. In addition, it’s not recommended to use this power plan on laptops running on battery power, as it can drain the battery quickly and generate more heat.

If the previous method doesn’t work for you, try this one.

  1. Open command line or PowerShell.
  2. Copy the following command.
    For adding the High Performance plan:
    powercfg -duplicatescheme 8c5e7fda-e8bf-4a96-9a85-a6e23a8c635c
    If you need to add the Ultimate Performance plan:
    powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61
  3. Paste it into the command prompt window (right-click in the latest versions of Windows 10).
  4. Hit Enter on your keyboard:
Add High Performance/Ultimate Performance Plan on Windows 10 / 11 if It is Missing in Power Options (7)

The power plan will be added instantly right after your pressing the Enter key.

Wrapping Up

In such an easy way you can add high performance or energy saving plans to power options using the pre-configured templates and customize them afterwards. Did this solve your problem?

Add High Performance/Ultimate Performance Plan on Windows 10 / 11 if It is Missing in Power Options (2024)

FAQs

How do I fix missing high performance power plan Windows 11? ›

Step 1: Open Control Panel by typing it in the Search box and choosing the first result. Step 2: Go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options. Step 3: In the panel on the left-hand side of the window, click Create a power plan. Step 4: Check the High Performance box and give your new plan a name.

How to add ultimate performance power plan in Windows 11? ›

Click on Hardware and Sound and select Power Options. Step 3. In the right pane, you can see some power plans on your computer. If you don't see the Ultimate Performance option, click on Show additional plans and then tick Ultimate Performance.

Why can't I choose a high performance power plan? ›

Some Windows 10 and 11 computers do not allow the user to choose 'High Performance' as a default plan option and some critical optimization options maybe hidden under 'Change advanced power settings' - which we explicitly recommend via our PC Optimization Guide for Windows.

How to restore missing power plans in Windows 10? ›

Recover Energy saving plans
  1. Right-click Start and select Command Prompt (Administrator)
  2. Then type the following command and confirm with the Enter key: powercfg -restoredefaultschemes.

How to get back power options in Windows 11? ›

- Go to the Search icon on your Windows 11 taskbar or press the Windows key. - Right-click Command Prompt and select the Run as administrator option. - Enter the “powercfg -restoredefaultschemes” command in the Command Prompt window. - Press Enter and restart your computer.

How do I get the additional power setting on Windows 11? ›

Choose the power mode that works for you and what you want to do on your Windows 11 PC. This lets you determine what's important to you—getting the best battery life, best performance, or a balance between the two. To change the power mode, select Start > Settings > System > Power & battery.

How do I optimize Windows 11 for maximum performance? ›

To help improve performance, you can do a few things such as:
  1. Turn off Visual Effects.
  2. Disable some startup apps.
  3. Tune some notifications.
  4. Activate Storage Sense.
  5. Use Performance Power Plan.

How do I add ultimate performance to powercfg? ›

If you do not see Ultimate Performance Mode, then follow the next steps.
  1. Open a Command Prompt as administrator.
  2. In the command prompt, copy the following command, and hit Enter. powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61.
  3. You should now be able to select Ultimate Performance as power plan.
May 11, 2024

Should I use high performance power plan or ultimate performance? ›

In summary, the Ultimate Performance plan is very similar to the High Performance plan with one difference: the hard disk is set to never stop spinning in the Ultimate Performance plan. This can improve performance for some applications, but it can also consume more power and generate more noise.

How to show hidden power options in Windows 11? ›

You can check the available and missing power plans on Windows from Control Panel:
  1. Press Win + R to open Run.
  2. Type control and click OK.
  3. In the Control Panel, open Hardware and Sound.
  4. Next, click on Power Options.
  5. Expand the Show additional plans section.
Mar 16, 2023

How do I activate Windows Ultimate power plan? ›

Hit Windows+I to open the Settings app and then click the "System" category. On the System page, click the "Power & Sleep" tab on the left. On the right, click the "Additional Power Settings" link under the "Related Settings" section.

What does it mean when there are no power options available Windows 10? ›

Both Windows 10 and 11 come with an option that you can use to prevent users from using the power options on your computer. If you or someone else has enabled this option, this is the reason you're unable to see any power options in the Start menu.

How do I get high performance when plugged in Windows 11? ›

Power Settings:

Open the Power Options in Windows and check the power plan settings. Make sure the power plan is set to "High Performance" both when plugged in and on battery. Adjust the advanced power settings to ensure that the CPU and GPU performance are not limited when the laptop is plugged in.

How do I get max performance on Windows 11? ›

If you have Windows 10, see our Windows 10 speed tips.
  1. Disable programs that run on startup. ...
  2. Use Efficiency Mode. ...
  3. Use automatic Windows maintenance. ...
  4. Kill adware and bloatware. ...
  5. Turn off search indexing. ...
  6. Clean out your hard disk. ...
  7. Disable shadows, animations, and visual effects. ...
  8. Disable transparency.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Twana Towne Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 6232

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (64 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Twana Towne Ret

Birthday: 1994-03-19

Address: Apt. 990 97439 Corwin Motorway, Port Eliseoburgh, NM 99144-2618

Phone: +5958753152963

Job: National Specialist

Hobby: Kayaking, Photography, Skydiving, Embroidery, Leather crafting, Orienteering, Cooking

Introduction: My name is Twana Towne Ret, I am a famous, talented, joyous, perfect, powerful, inquisitive, lovely person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.