Powercfg Command-Line Options
You can use the Powercfg.exe tool to control power settings and configure computers to default to Hibernate or Standby modes.
The Powercfg.exe tool is installed with Windows.
Powercfg Command-Line Options
The following command-line options are available for Powercfg.
powercfg [-l] [-q ] [-x] [-changename] [-duplicatescheme] [-d] [-deletesetting] [-setactive] [-getactivescheme] [-setacvalueindex] [-setdcvalueindex] [-h] [-a] [-devicequery] [-deviceenablewake] [-devicedisablewake] [-import] [-export] [-lastwake] [-?] [-aliases] [-setsecuritydescriptor] [-getsecuritydescriptor]
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
-list -l |
Lists all power schemes in the current user's environment. Example: powercfg -list |
-query [Scheme_GUID] [Sub_GUID] -q [Scheme_GUID] [Sub_GUID] |
Displays the contents of the specified power scheme. Usage: powercfg -query [Scheme_GUID] [Sub_GUID] SCHEME_GUID (Optional) Specifies the GUID of the power scheme to display. Can be obtained by using the powercfg -l command. SUB_GUID (Optional) Specifies the GUID of the subgroup to display. Requires a SCHEME_GUID to be provided. If neither SCHEME_GUID or SUB_GUID are provided, the settings of the current user's active power scheme are displayed. If SUB_GUID is not specified, all settings in the specified power scheme are displayed. |
-change settingvalue -x setting value |
Modifies a setting value in the current power scheme. Usage: powercfg–x setting value setting Specifies one of the following settings: -monitor-timeout-ac minutes -monitor-timeout-dc minutes -disk-timeout-ac minutes -disk-timeout-dc minutes -standby-timeout-ac minutes -standby-timeout-dc minutes -hibernate-timeout-ac minutes -hibernate-timeout-dc minutes value Specifies the value in minutes. Example: powercfg-change-monitor-timeout-ac5 This sets the monitor idle timeout value to five minutes when operating on AC power. |
-changename GUID name [scheme_description] |
Modifies the name of a power scheme and, optionally, the scheme description. Usage: powercfg–changename GUID namescheme_description GUID Specifies the GUID of the power scheme Name Specifies the name of the power scheme. scheme_description Describes the power scheme. If the description is omitted, then only the name will be changed. |
-duplicatescheme GUID [DestinationGUID] |
Duplicates the specified power scheme. The resulting GUID which represents the new scheme will be displayed. Usage: powercfg–duplicatescheme GUID [DestinationGUID] GUID Specifies a scheme GUID. Obtained by using the powercfg-l command. DestinationGUID Specifies the GUID where the scheme will be copied. If DestinationGUID is omitted, then a new GUID will be created for the duplicated scheme. |
-delete GUID -d GUID |
Deletes the power scheme with the specified GUID. Usage: Powercfg–delete GUID GUID Specifies the GUID of the scheme. Obtained by using the -list option. |
-deletesetting Sub_GUID Setting_GUID |
Deletes a power setting. Usage: powercfg–deletesetting Sub_GUID Setting_GUID Sub_GUID Specifies the subgroup GUID. Setting_GUID Specifies the power setting GUID. |
-setactive Scheme_GUID -s Scheme_GUID |
Makes the specified power scheme active on the computer. Usage: Powercfg–setactive Scheme_GUID Scheme_GUID Specifies the scheme GUID. |
-getactivescheme |
Retrieves the currently active power scheme. Usage: Powercfg-getactivescheme |
-setacvalueindex Scheme_GUID Sub_GUID Setting_GUID SettingIndex |
Sets a value associated with a specified power setting while the computer is powered by AC power. Usage: powercfg–setacvalueindex Scheme_GUIDSub_GUIDSetting_GUIDSettingIndex Scheme_GUID Specifies a power scheme GUID. Obtained by using the -l option. Sub_GUID Specifies a subgroup of power setting GUID. Obtained by using the -q option. Setting_GUID Specifies an individual power setting GUID. Obtained by using the -q option. SettingIndex Specifies which of the list of possible values this power setting will be set to. Example: powercfg–setacvalueindex Scheme_GUID Sub_GUID Setting_GUID 5 This sets the power setting's AC value to the fifth entry in the list of possible values for this power setting. |
-setdcvalueindex Scheme_GUID Sub_GUID Setting_GUID SettingIndex |
Sets a value associated with a specified power setting while the computer is powered by DC power. Usage: powercfg–setdcvalueindex Scheme_GUID Sub_GUID Setting_GUID SettingIndex Scheme_GUID Specifies a power scheme GUID. Obtained by using the -l option. Sub_GUID Specifies a subgroup of power setting GUID. Obtained by using the -q option. Setting_GUID Specifies an individual power setting GUID. Obtained by using the -q option. SettingIndex Specifies which of the list of possible values this power setting will be set to. Example: powercfg–setdcvalueindex Scheme_GUID Sub_GUID Setting_GUID 5 This sets the power setting's DC value to the fifth entry in the list of possible values for this power setting. |
-hibernate [on|off] -h [on|off] |
Enables or disables the hibernate feature. Hibernate timeout is not supported on all computers. Example: powercfg-h on |
-availablesleepstates -a |
Reports the sleep states available on the computer. Attempts to report reasons why sleep states are unavailable. |
-devicequery query_flags |
Returns a list of devices that meet the specified criteria. Usage: powercfg–devicequery query_flags query_flags Specifies one of the following criteria: wake_from_S1_supported – Returns all devices that support waking the computer from a light sleep state. wake_from_S2_supported – Returns all devices that support waking the computer from a deeper sleep state. wake_from_S3_supported – Returns all devices that support waking the computer from the deepest sleep state. wake_from_any – Returns all devices that support waking the computer from any sleep state. S1_supported – Lists devices supporting light sleep. S2_supported – Lists devices supporting deeper sleep. S3_supported – Lists devices supporting deepest sleep. S4_supported – Lists devices supporting hibernation. wake_programmable – Lists devices that are user-configurable to wake the computer from a sleep state. wake_armed – Lists devices that are currently configured to wake the computer from any sleep state. all_devices – Returns all devices present in the computer. all_devices_verbose – Returns a verbose list of devices. Example: powercfg -devicequery wake_armed |
-deviceenablewake devicename |
Enables the device to wake the computer from a sleep state. Usage: powercfg–deviceenablewake devicename devicename Specifies a device retrieved by using the powercfg-devicequerywake_programmable command. Example: powercfg-deviceenablewake"Microsoft USB IntelliMouse Explorer" |
-devicedisablewake devicename |
Disables the device from waking the computer from a sleep state. Usage: powercfg–devicedisablewake devicename devicename Specifies a device retrieved by using the powercfg-devicequerywake_armed command. |
-import filename [GUID] |
Imports all power settings from the specified file. Usage: powercfg–import filename [GUID] filename Specifies a fully qualified path to a file generated by using the powercfg-export option. GUID (optional) Represents the settings loaded into a power scheme. If not supplied, Powercfg will generate and use a new GUID Example: powercfg-importc:\scheme.pow |
-export filename GUID |
Exports a power scheme, represented by the specified GUID, to the specified file. Usage: powercfg -export filename GUID filename Specifies a fully qualified path to a destination file. GUID Specifies a power scheme GUID. Obtained by using the /l option. Example: powercfg -export c:\scheme.pow 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e |
-lastwake |
Reports information about the event that woke the computer from the last sleep transition. |
-help -? |
Displays information about the Powercfg command-line options. |
-aliases |
Displays all aliases and their corresponding GUIDs. The user may use these aliases in place of any GUID at the command prompt |
-setsecruitydescriptor [GUID|Action] SDDL |
Sets a security descriptor associated with a specified power setting, power scheme, or action. Usage: powercfg -setsecuritydescriptor [GUID|Action] SDDL GUID Specifies a power scheme or a power setting GUID. Action Specifies one of the following strings: ActionSetActive, ActionCreate, ActionDefault SDDL Specifies a valid security descriptor string in SDD format. Call powercfg -getsecuritydescriptor to see an example SDDL STRING. |
-getsecuritydescriptor [GUID|Action] |
Gets a security descriptor associated with a specified power setting, power scheme, or action. Usage: powercfg -getsecuritydescriptor [GUID|Action] GUID Specifies a power scheme or a power setting GUID. Action Specifies one of the following strings: ActionSetActive, ActionCreate, ActionDefault |