Why does Windows 10 delay startup tasks if the system is running on battery power during boot?

Question

🔋 Issue Summary

I've observed that on Windows 10 laptops, certain scheduled startup tasks (like registry-based auto-start programs or Task Scheduler jobs) do not run immediately when the system boots on battery power.

However, when the same system boots while plugged in, the tasks execute without any delay.

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🧪 Observations

• Happens with both Task Scheduler and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run entries.
• Only noticeable on cold boots, not restarts.
• Tasks run after 30–60 seconds delay when on battery.

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⚙️ Tested On

• Windows 10 Pro, 21H2 & 22H2
• 2 different laptops (Intel & AMD)
• Task Scheduler tasks marked as:
  • Run whether user is logged in or not
  • Highest privileges
  • Not triggered manually

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❓ My Questions

1. Is there a power policy or boot optimization logic in Windows 10 that delays non-critical tasks when booting on battery?
2. Is this behavior documented anywhere by Microsoft?
3. Can this be overridden safely for time-sensitive startup scripts?

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🧰 System Details

• Windows 10 Pro 22H2
• Intel i5 11th Gen, 16GB RAM
• Boot type: SSD
• Task types: Registry autorun + Scheduled task

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🙏 Would appreciate insights from anyone who's worked with Windows power management or boot-time optimizations!