Powercfg Command-Line Options (Standard 7 SP1)
7/8/2014
You can use the Powercfg tool to control power settings and configure computers to use the Hibernate or Standby modes as default.
The Powercfg.exe tool is installed with Standard 7 in the %WINDIR%\System32 folder.
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][-requests][-requestsoverride][-energy][-waketimers]
Option |
Description |
---|---|
- list - l |
Lists all power schemes in the current user's environment. Example:
|
- query [Scheme_GUID] [Sub_GUID] - q [Scheme_GUID] [Sub_GUID] |
Displays the contents of the specified power scheme. 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 setting value - x setting value |
Modifies a setting value in the current power scheme. setting Must be one of the following settings:
value Specifies the value in minutes. Example:
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. 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. 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, a new GUID will be created for the duplicated scheme. |
-delete GUID -d GUID |
Deletes the power scheme with the specified GUID. GUID Specifies the GUID of the scheme. Obtained by using the -list option. |
-deletesetting Sub_GUID Setting_GUID |
Deletes a power setting. 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. Scheme_GUID Specifies the scheme GUID. |
-getactivescheme |
Retrieves the currently active power scheme. |
-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. 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:
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. 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:
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 time-out is not supported on all computers. Example:
|
-availablesleepstates -a |
Reports the sleep states available on the computer. Tries to report reasons why sleep states are unavailable. |
-devicequery query_flags |
Returns a list of devices that meet the specified criteria. query_flags Must be one of the following values:
Example:
|
-deviceenablewake devicename |
Enables the device to wake the computer from a sleep state. devicename Specifies a device retrieved by using the Example:
|
-devicedisablewake devicename |
Disables the device from waking the computer from a sleep state. devicename Specifies a device retrieved by using the |
-import filename [GUID] |
Imports all power settings from the specified file. filename Specifies a fully qualified path of a file generated by using the powercfg -export option. GUID (optional) Represents the settings loaded into a power scheme. If not supplied, Powercfg generates and uses a new GUID. Example:
|
-export filenameGUID |
Exports a power scheme, represented by the specified GUID, to the specified file. filename . Specifies a fully qualified path of a destination file. GUID Specifies a power scheme GUID. Obtained by using the /l option. Example:
|
-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 can use these aliases instead of any GUID at the command prompt. |
-setsecuritydescriptor [GUID|Action] SDDL |
Sets a security descriptor associated with a specified power setting, power scheme, or action. GUID Specifies a power scheme or a power setting Action Specifies one of the following strings: ActionSetActive, ActionCreate, ActionDefault SDDL Specifies a valid security descriptor string in SDD format. Call |
-getsecuritydescriptor [GUID|Action] |
Gets a security descriptor associated with a specified power setting, power scheme, or action. GUID Specifies a power scheme or a power setting GUID. Action Specifies one of the following strings: ActionSetActive, ActionCreate, ActionDefault |
-requests |
Enumerates application Power Requests and driver Power Requests.
Note:
Power Requests prevent the computer from automatically powering off the display or entering a low-power sleep mode.
|
-requestsoverride |
Sets a Power Request override for a particular Process, Service, or Driver. If no parameters are specified, this command displays the current list of Power Request Overrides. <CALLER_TYPE> Specifies one of the following caller types: Process, Service, Driver. <NAME> Specifies the caller name. <REQUEST> Specifies one or more of the following Power Request Types: Display, System, Awaymode. |
-energy |
Analyses the system for common energy efficiency and battery life problems. -OUTPUT <FILENAME> Specifies the path and file name to store the energy report HTLM file. -XML Format the report file as XML. -TRACE Records system behavior and does not perform analysis. Trace files will be generated in the current path unless the -D parameter is specified. -D <FILEPATH> Specifies the directory to store trace data. -DURATION <SECONDS> Specified the number of seconds to observe system behavior. |
-waketimers |
Enumerates the active wake timers. |