Activators

Windows can leave the System on a Chip (SoC) in the active power state during sleep while app background tasks are executing or critical system tasks are executing. Windows components that are allowed to leave the SoC in the active power state are called activators because they are registered with the power manager as capable of blocking the transition back to the idle power mode.

The most common activator is called Background Infrastructure (BI). BI is the system component that is responsible for managing and executing background tasks for Microsoft Store apps. BI enables its activator reference whenever a background task is executing during standby. As soon as all background tasks have stopped executing, or they are forced to stop executing, BI will release or clear its activator reference and the SoC can go back to the idle power mode.

Whenever an activator has an outstanding reference, the SoC will remain in the active power mode and will not enter the idle (DRIPS) power mode. There are a number of activators in Windows. The following activators are the most common.

Activator name	Activator description	Reference enabled when...	Reference cleared when...	Notes
BI	Background Infrastructure. This activator manages background tasks for Microsoft Store apps.	Any background task for a Microsoft Store app is running.	When all background tasks for Microsoft Store apps have completed.
WU	Windows Update. This activator is part of the built-in Windows Update service.	Windows Update is scanning for critical downloads or installing critical updates.	Windows Update is not performing any activity.
WNS	Windows Notification Service. This activator manages the system connection to the WNS service in the cloud.	Windows is connecting to WNS. When the system needs to deliver a push notification to a Windows component or Microsoft Store app.	When there is no WNS activity or active push notifications.	This component is shared with the Image Download Manager. WNS supports delivery of notifications to many built-in Windows system services.
PLM	Process Lifetime Manager. This activator manages the execution and scheduling of Microsoft Store apps.	The PLM is waiting for a Microsoft Store app to suspend.	All Microsoft Store apps are suspended.	The longest typical duration is five seconds. The PLM reference will be enabled when a Microsoft Store app is playing music with the screen off.
NCSI	The Network Connectivity Status Indicator activator manages system-wide Internet availability.	Underlying network connectivity has changed. For example, the reference will be briefly enabled after Wi-Fi loses connectivity to an access point.	No network state changes are occurring.
Group policy	This activator manages application of group policy settings configured by the IT administrator.	When group policy settings are being applied.	When there are no group policy settings to apply.	This activator will only be enabled if the system administrator or IT administrator has applied new group policy settings to this system.
Audio Service	Takes a timer request in PDC to make sure when there is any active audio stream that the system maintains regular timer resolution.	Any App playing Audio.	App stops playing Audio.
TCPIP	Activator for the TCP/IP stack in Windows.	The TCP/IP stack is performing Router Solicitation or Duplicate Address Detection.	The TCP/IP stack is finished performing Router Solicitation or Duplicate Address Detection.
DHCP	Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Client. This activator handles dynamic IPv4 address acquisition on the local network.	The device has connected to a new network and needs to acquire a new lease for an IP address, or when it needs to renew a lease on an existing IP address.	The device has finished its address lease operation.
Universal Telemetry Client	Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service. This activator is used to send diagnostic data and feedback to Microsoft (used to improve Windows and keep it secure, up to date, and working as expected) and to download diagnostic data collection configuration settings.	The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service begins work to download configuration settings or send diagnostic data and feedback to Microsoft.	The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service completes work to download configuration settings or send diagnostic data and feedback to Microsoft.	Diagnostics, feedback, and privacy in Windows
System Maintenance Service	This activator supports application prelaunch scenarios.	A Microsoft Store app is being prelaunched.	When no Microsoft Store apps have requested to be prelaunched and no apps are currently being prelaunched.	Apps are prelaunched only when the app itself has requested it and the system detects it is a frequently used app that would lead to user perceivable launch performance improvements.
Host Activity Manager	This activator manages a variety of scenarios where Microsoft Store apps perform user perceivable function.	A Microsoft Store app is playing audio in the background.	When no Microsoft Store apps are playing audio in the background.	This does not encompass all scenarios where this activator reference is enabled.
BITS Service	Activator for the Background Intelligent Transfer Service, a Windows service for transferring files to and from HTTP and SMB servers in the background. Background Intelligent Transfer Service	BITS begins a file transfer job.	BITS completes a file transfer job.
Update Orchestrator Client	This activator is part of the built-in Windows Update Orchestrator service.	Orchestrator is scanning, downloading, installing, or committing updates.	Orchestrator is not performing any activity.
Windows Error Reporting	Windows Error Reporting. This component is responsible for uploading crash, hang and other failure and diagnostic reports to an analysis service.	WER begins to upload a failure report.	Report upload has either finished or reached the maximum allowed time.	If the upload has started, WER allows for maximum 1 hour (user mode reports) or 2 hours (kernel mode reports) after the connected standby is initiated.
Location Client	Used by the Windows location service during positioning scans and location upload.	Position is requested using Bluetooth, Cellular, or Wi-Fi scans as well as when location upload is occurs.	Positioning scan or location upload has completed.
Find My Device	Find My Device. This activator periodically tracks the device's locations on a map to help find the device if users think they have lost it.	When Location and Find my device option in windows settings are enabled.	When Location or Find my device option in windows settings is not enabled.	Users have to sign in with their Microsoft account as an administrator to use or change this setting. If the user have connected to a work or school account, Find my device won't work.
Voice Activation	This activator is for voice activation (keyword spotting) of assistant applications.	The system is requested to process a keyword spotting detection or actively monitor keyword spotting.	No keyword spotting is being processed and no keyword spotting needs to be actively monitored by the system.	Speech, voice activation, inking, typing, and privacy
WP OmaDmClient Client	OMADMClient is an exe which is core server pipe and it provides device management to an mobile device management (MDM) server. The work happens on client devices when the user is enrolled into Settings->Accounts->Access Work or School or signs in with corporate credentials in OOBE	OMADMClient begins talking to the MDM server	OMADMClient ends talking to the MDM server

Activators are system components and their runtime and behaviors cannot be changed by system hardware designers.

Activator references and their durations are displayed in the built-in SleepStudy diagnostic utility. Individual references may be observed through instrumentation and tracing using the Windows Performance Analyzer (WPA).