Are you noticing your Windows 10 PC drains battery too quickly or doesn’t go to sleep as it should? The problem might be with how your power management tools are set up. Windows power management tools help control energy usage, prolong battery life, and keep your PC running smoothly. Over time, unnecessary settings, junk files, or misconfigurations can slow down your system or waste power. Here’s how beginners can clean, optimize, and troubleshoot Windows power management tools using simple system tools and applications like Glary Utilities.
Why Should You Clean Power Management Tools?
Power management settings are like the traffic lights of your computer’s hardware. If misconfigured, your PC may never rest, draining power and wearing out components. Cleaning and optimizing these tools ensures efficient energy use and a longer device lifespan.
1. Review and Reset Power Plans
Windows comes with default power plans—Balanced, Power Saver, and High Performance. Sometimes, third-party apps or updates add unnecessary plans or alter existing ones.
To clean up:
– Go to Settings > System > Power & sleep > Additional power settings.
– Click on “Show additional plans” to see all available.
– Remove or reset custom, unnecessary plans by selecting “Change plan settings” and then “Delete this plan.”
– Restore defaults if unsure by choosing “Restore default settings for this plan.”
2. Adjust Sleep and Display Timers
Unused or extreme timer settings can keep your PC awake or put it to sleep too often.
To adjust:
– Go to Settings > System > Power & sleep.
– Set a reasonable time for the screen to turn off (e.g., 5 minutes when plugged in, 2 minutes on battery).
– Set sleep time for your comfort, usually 10-15 minutes on battery.
3. Check for Unwanted Startup Programs
Startup programs can override sleep settings or keep your system unnecessarily busy.
To manage these:
– Right-click the Taskbar and choose Task Manager.
– Go to the Startup tab.
– Disable programs you don’t need at startup.
A tool like Glary Utilities greatly simplifies this. Open Glary Utilities, go to the “Startup Manager,” and disable unnecessary entries with one click.
4. Clean Up Scheduled Tasks
Old or unnecessary scheduled tasks may prevent your PC from sleeping.
To clean:
– Type “Task Scheduler” in the Start menu and open it.
– Review Active Tasks. Look for tasks you don’t recognize or need.
– Right-click and disable or delete as appropriate.
5. Remove Unnecessary Device Wake Permissions
Some hardware (like network adapters or USB devices) can wake up your PC without reason.
To modify:
– Open Device Manager (right-click Start > Device Manager).
– Expand “Network adapters,” right-click your main Wi-Fi or Ethernet device, and select Properties.
– Under the Power Management tab, uncheck “Allow this device to wake the computer” if not needed.
6. Update Power Management Drivers
Outdated drivers can cause power issues.
To update:
– In Device Manager, right-click devices like battery or network adapters.
– Select “Update driver.”
Glary Utilities provides a Driver Updater tool for simplified, safe driver updates.
7. Clean Temporary and Junk Files
Unnecessary files can slow your system and affect power management utilities.
With Glary Utilities:
– Open Glary Utilities.
– Use the “Disk Cleaner” and “Tracks Eraser” features to remove junk files and system clutter in a few clicks.
8. Scan and Fix System Errors
System file errors may disturb power tools.
To scan:
– Open Command Prompt as administrator.
– Type: sfc /scannow and press Enter.
Alternatively, Glary Utilities offers a “Registry Repair” and “Shortcuts Fixer” tool to address these issues efficiently.
9. Optimize Battery Report and Usage
Understanding battery health helps you adjust power management settings.
To generate a report:
– Open Command Prompt as administrator.
– Type: powercfg /batteryreport and press Enter.
– Navigate to the indicated path to view the generated HTML file.
Review the report for high-drain apps and adjust usage accordingly.
10. Regular Maintenance with Glary Utilities
Regularly cleaning and optimizing your PC ensures power management stays effective.
With Glary Utilities:
– Use the “1-Click Maintenance” feature for quick cleanup.
– Schedule regular scans to keep your PC optimized.
– Check the “Startup Manager,” “Registry Cleaner,” and “Disk Cleaner” tools frequently.
Conclusion
Cleaning your Windows 10 power management tools doesn’t require advanced skills. By following these simple steps and leveraging powerful system tools like Glary Utilities, you can keep your PC’s power management running efficiently, save energy, and extend your hardware’s life. Regular maintenance ensures you get the best performance and battery life from your Windows 10 device. Start with these tips, and enjoy a smoother, more reliable computing experience.