Sometimes a feature seems so obvious, but once it’s implemented, you wonder why it wasn’t always there. If you’re the proud owner of a gaming laptop, rejoice because the latest Windows 11 Insider Canary build finally lets you choose different power modes based on whether you’re plugged in or running on battery.
Windows 11 build 27686 adds recent settings to the power menu with drop-down boxes for both connected device and battery power settings, allowing you to choose from options such as best performance, balanced performance, or best energy efficiency (via Beeping computer) for everyone.
This lets you boost performance when you’re plugged into a wall outlet, and put it in power-saving mode when you’re running on battery power — squeezing out a little more battery life on the go and giving you a boost when you’re pushing the machine for demanding tasks. Of course, Windows 11 has advanced power settings to lend a hand with this, but you’d have to dig around in the venerable Control Panel to find them.
Sure, it won’t be a huge improvement in performance or battery life, but every little bit counts, especially when it comes to squeezing a few minutes out of your laptop. Changing the recent settings should take some of the pressure off in stressful situations like, I don’t know, writing a paper that requires time in an airport lounge when all the plugs are taken. Ask me how I know that.
To enable this feature at this time, you must be part of the Windows Insider Program in the Canary channel. it’s a pretty straightforward thing to do. Canary builds can be unstable, so it’s better to wait until it appears in more Windows 11 builds.
This isn’t the only recent feature worth mentioning in the latest build. Arbitrary 32GB size limit for FAT32 partitions now it has been increased to 2 TBand there’s also a recent HDR streaming feature to tinker with. It doesn’t fix the mess that is HDR gaming on a Windows PC, but we can all pray for that final update, right?
Meanwhile, some long-awaited segmentation of power settings for mobile devices is certainly a welcome feature. While Windows has always performed some degree of power adjustment when switching between battery and wall socket, allowing you to set the options yourself is a welcome victory, as it gives the user more control. More power to your elbow, as the Brits say, or in this case, more (or less) power to your laptop.
