Power plans · Windows 10/11

Export and Import Windows Power Plans

Windows includes powercfg commands for listing and exporting power schemes, which can simplify rollback after testing.

Quick answer

How do I back up a Windows power plan?

Windows includes powercfg commands for listing and exporting power schemes, which can simplify rollback after testing.

How to check this on your PC

  1. Open an administrator terminal and run powercfg /list
  2. Identify the GUID of the plan you intend to preserve
  3. Use the documented powercfg export function and store the file safely

How to confirm the result

Verify that you can identify the saved file and original scheme GUID.

When comparing results, use the same power scheme, similar ambient temperature and a fixed workload. Save your starting values before experimenting so you can return to them.

Important limitation

Never import an unknown plan without reviewing the changes it makes.

Frequently asked questions

How do I back up a Windows power plan?

Windows includes powercfg commands for listing and exporting power schemes, which can simplify rollback after testing.

What result should I check after this procedure?

Verify that you can identify the saved file and original scheme GUID. Compare the observation with a saved baseline before deciding whether to keep the change.

Which hardware limitation matters here?

Never import an unknown plan without reviewing the changes it makes. Save original settings so you can reverse any unexpected behavior.

Related Quick CPU guides

Sources and further reading