Microsoft is working on improving the energy saving mode of Windows 11 in order to increase the autonomy of laptop PCs. A development which would even reduce the electricity consumption of desktop computers.
In a a blog post published on November 29, 2023, the Microsoft teams announce that they are working on a new energy saving mode for Windows 11. Soberly titled Energy saverit would improve the battery saver already present on laptop PCs, with the aim of increasing their autonomy but also extending the life of their battery, by reducing the overall energy consumption of the system, in return for some concessions on computer performance.
Currently, Battery Saver is an option only available on laptops when they are not plugged into an electrical outlet. With the arrival of the energy saver, this operating mode can be activated permanently on a laptop, whether it is running on battery or connected to the mains. Better yet, it will also become available on a desktop computer, again to reduce its energy consumption – although, in this case, the saving should remain anecdotal if not symbolic.
Without giving many details on how this new mode works, Microsoft explains that it allows you to reduce or even stop the activity of certain processes running in the background – tasks that consume energy without any problems. ‘we always realize this – and dynamically adjust other hardware-related parameters to lower their consumption – we are obviously thinking of the processor, but other components are not excluded -, which could logically reduce performance of the PC.
This new energy saving mode can also be activated or deactivated on the fly via the quick settings menu, located to the right of the Windows taskbar. Practical for quickly adapting the consumption of your PC according to uses, and saving a few precious battery points if necessary.
This welcome improvement is currently in development and only available to members of the Windows Insider program, in the Preview Build 26002 (see our article on this program which allows you to test pre-versions of Windows). As always, there is no indication that this feature will ultimately be adopted in its current form. Microsoft has not yet announced a date for the finalization and definitive integration of the energy saver in Windows 11, but it is appreciable to note that the Redmond firm has attached increasing importance in recent years to questions of efficiency and energy sobriety in its operating system. The publisher has already made efforts in this direction recently by improving energy management in updates via Windows Udpate.