How to Disable Efficiency Mode in Windows 11
Windows 11 introduced a range of new features to improve performance, user experience, and system efficiency. One of these features is Efficiency Mode, which is designed to reduce the power consumption of background processes and increase battery life, especially on laptops. While this can be a useful feature, there may be times when you want to disable it—especially if you’re noticing performance issues or slowdowns in certain applications.
In this post, we’ll explore what Efficiency Mode is, when you might want to disable it, and most importantly, how to do it.
What Is Efficiency Mode in Windows 11?
Efficiency Mode is a feature in Windows 11 that limits the CPU usage of specific background processes to improve overall system responsiveness and extend battery life. When a process is set to run in Efficiency Mode, Windows gives it a lower priority and limits its resource usage. This is helpful in many situations but can also cause slowdowns if it’s applied to tasks or apps that you actively need to run at full performance.
Why You Might Want to Disable Efficiency Mode
Although Efficiency Mode is intended to optimize your PC’s performance and energy usage, there are cases where you might want to disable it:
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Sluggish Application Performance: Some programs may run slower when limited by Efficiency Mode.
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Gaming or Creative Work: Power-intensive tasks like video editing, gaming, or 3D rendering require maximum performance.
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Misapplied Settings: Windows might apply Efficiency Mode to a process unnecessarily.
If you’re experiencing any of these issues, disabling Efficiency Mode might help restore performance.
How to Disable Efficiency Mode in Windows 11
There are a couple of ways to disable Efficiency Mode, but the most common and straightforward method is through the Task Manager.
Method 1: Disable Efficiency Mode via Task Manager
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Open Task Manager:
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Right-click on the Start menu and choose Task Manager, or press
Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
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Switch to the Processes tab:
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This tab shows all running apps and background processes.
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Find the Process:
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Look for the process that’s currently running in Efficiency Mode. You can recognize it by the green leaf icon next to the process name.
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Right-Click the Process:
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Right-click on the process that has Efficiency Mode enabled.
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Click “Efficiency Mode”:
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If the mode is enabled, you’ll see a checkmark. Click it to uncheck and disable Efficiency Mode for that process.
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🔴 Note: You can only disable Efficiency Mode for your own user processes. If it’s a system process or a child process of a different app, the option may be grayed out.
Method 2: Prevent Windows from Automatically Applying Efficiency Mode
Currently, Windows 11 does not provide a built-in global setting to disable Efficiency Mode entirely. However, you can:
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Manually disable it for processes you frequently use.
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Use apps in High Performance mode (e.g., via battery settings or power plans).
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Adjust settings in the app itself (if applicable) to prevent it from being treated as a background process.
For advanced users, third-party tools or group policy tweaks may help restrict Windows from applying Efficiency Mode automatically—but these are not officially recommended and could cause system instability.
Final Thoughts
Efficiency Mode is a powerful feature for saving energy and improving overall responsiveness, especially on battery-powered devices. However, it’s not always ideal—especially for power users, gamers, or professionals who need maximum performance from their hardware.
Thankfully, Windows 11 makes it relatively easy to disable Efficiency Mode for specific processes when needed. By using the Task Manager and monitoring which apps are being throttled, you can take better control of your system’s performance and tailor it to your needs.
If you find Efficiency Mode causing more harm than good, these steps should help you regain that lost performance—while still maintaining control over your battery and energy consumption when it matters.
