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windows-itpro-docs/devices/surface/optimizing-surface-power-management.md
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---
title: Surface power management introduction
description: This topic explains best practice recommendations for maintaining optimal power settings on your Surface device.
ms.prod: w10
ms.mktglfcycl: manage
ms.sitesec: library
author: coveminer
ms.author: v-jokai
ms.topic: article
ms.date: 12/17/2018
---
This document provides best practice recommendations for maintaining
optimal power settings and explains how Surface streamlines the power
management experience.
Introduction
============
Surface devices are designed to take advantage of the latest advances in
mobile device energy consumption, utilizing algorithms and a
software-defined battery to deliver a streamlined experience optimized
across workloads. Depending on what youre doing, Surface dynamically
finetunes how power flows to individual hardware component, momentarily
waking up system components to handle background tasks such as an
incoming email or network traffic before returning to a low power idle
state (S0).
The way Surface implements power management differs significantly from
the earlier OS standard that gradually reduces and turns off power via a
series of sleep states (S1, S2, S3).
Instead, Surface is imaged with a custom power profile that replaces
legacy sleep and energy consumption functionality with Modern Standby
features and dynamic fine tuning. This custom power profile is
implemented via a driver — the system aggregator module (SAM) — and
included in Surface firmware. The SAM driver functions as the Surface
device power-policy owner, using algorithms to calculate optimal power
requirements. It works in conjunction with Windows power manager to
allocate or throttle only the exact amount of power required for
hardware components to function.
Modern Standby
==============
The algorithmically embedded custom power profile enables Modern Standby
connectivity for Surface by maintaining an S0 low power state for
instant on/instant off functionality typical of smartphones. S0, also
known as Deepest Runtime Idle Platform State (DRIPS), is the default
power mode for Surface devices. Modern Standby has two modes:
- **Connected Standby.** The default mode for up-to-the minute
delivery of emails, messaging, and cloud-synced data, Connected
Standby keeps Wi-Fi on and maintains network connectivity.
- **Disconnected Standby.** An optional mode for extended battery
life, disconnected standby delivers the same instant-on experience
and saves power by turning off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and related network
connectivity.
To learn more, refer to Modern Standby in the [Microsoft Hardware Dev
Center](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/device-experiences/modern-standby-wake-sources).
How Surface streamlines the power management experience
========================================================
Surface integrates the following features designed to help users
optimize the power management experience:
- [Singular power plan](#singular-power-plan)
- [Simplified power settings user
interface](#simplified-power-settings-user-interface)
- [Windows performance power
slider](#windows-performance-power-slider)
Singular power plan
-------------------
Surface is designed for a streamlined power management experience that
eliminates the need to create custom power plans or manually configure
power settings.
As shown in the following two figures, Surface streamlines the user
experience by providing: a single power plan (balanced) that replaces
the multiple power plans from standard Windows builds.
<img src="images/powerintrofig1.png" alt="Singular power plan in Surface devices" style="width:5.2086in;height:2.34734in" />
Figure 1. Single power plan in Surface
­­<img src="images/powerintrofig2.png" alt="Multiple power plans in standard Windows builds" style="width:5.27826in;height:3.03274in" />
Figure 2. Multiple power plans in standard Windows builds
Simplified power settings user interface
----------------------------------------
Using the default screen and sleep timeouts while avoiding maximum
brightness levels are the most effective ways for users to maintain
extended battery life.
Surface provides a simplified UI in accord with best practice power
setting recommendations:
- Limit changing of default settings to the options visible in the
user interface.
<img src="images/powerintrofig3.png" alt="Simplified power & sleep settings" style="width:3.5956in;height:2.97716in" />
Figure 3. Simplified power & sleep settings
Windows performance power slider
--------------------------------
Surface devices running Windows 10 build 1709 and later include a power
slider allowing you to prioritize battery life versus performance. You
can access the power slider from the taskbar by clicking on the battery
icon. Slide left for longer battery life (battery saver mode) or slide
left for faster performance.
<img src="images/powerintrofig4.png" alt="Windows power slider" style="width:3.6113in;height:3.04182in" />
Figure 4. Power slider
Power slider enables four states as described in the following table
| **Slider mode** | **Description** |
|--------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Battery saver | Helps conserve power, and prolong battery life, when the system is not connected to a power source. When battery saver is on, some Windows features are disabled, throttled, or behave differently. Screen brightness is also reduced. Battery Saver is only available when using battery power (DC). To learn more, see [Battery Saver](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/component-guidelines/battery-saver). |
| Recommended | Delivers longer battery life than the default settings on previous versions of Windows. |
| Better Performance | Default slider mode that slightly favors performance over battery life and is appropriate for users who want to exchange power for better app performance. |
| Best Performance | Favors performance over power, designed for users requiring maximum performance and responsiveness without regard for battery power consumption. |
Power slider modes directly control specific hardware components shown
in the following table.
| **Component** | **Slider functionality** |
|----------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Intel Speed Shift (CPU energy registers). | Selects the best operating frequency and voltage for optimal performance and power. |
| Fan speed (RPM) | Where applicable, adjusts for changing conditions such as keeping fan silent in battery saver slider mode |
| Processor power states (P1/P2). | Adjusts operating voltage to lower power consumption of the coprocessor. |
| Processor turbo frequency limits (IA turbo limitations). | Adjusts processor and graphics performance allowing processor cores to run faster or slower than the rated operating frequency |
**NOTE:** The power slider is entirely independent of operating system
power settings whether configured from Control Panel/ Power Options,
Group Policy, or related methods.
To learn more, see:
- [Customize the Windows performance power
slider](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/customize/desktop/customize-power-slider)
- [Battery
saver.](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/component-guidelines/battery-saver)
Best practices for extended battery life
========================================
| **Best practice** | **Go to** | **Next steps** |
|-----------------------------------------------------|----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Ensure your Surface device is up-to-date | Windows Update | In the taskbar search box, type **Windows Update** and select **Check for updates** |
| Choose the best power setting for what youre doing | Power slider | In the taskbar, select the battery icon, then choose **Best performance**, **Best battery life**, or somewhere in between. |
| Conserve battery when its low | Battery saver | In the taskbar, select the battery icon and click **Battery settings.** Select **Turn battery saver on automatically if my battery falls below** and then move the slider further to the right for longer battery life. |
| Configure optimal screen brightness | Battery saver | In the taskbar, select the battery icon and click **Battery settings,** select **Lower screen brightness while in battery saver** |
| Conserve power whenever youre not plugged in | Battery saver | Select **Turn on battery saver status until next charge. ** |
| Investigate problems with your power settings. | Power troubleshooter | In the Taskbar search for troubleshoot, select **Troubleshoot**, and then select **Power** and follow the instructions |
| Check app usage | Your apps | Close apps |
| Check your power cord for any damage. | Your power cord | Replace power cord if worn or damaged |
Learn more
===========
- [Modern
Standby](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/device-experiences/modern-standby-wake-sources)
<!-- -->
- [Customize the Windows performance power
slider](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/customize/desktop/customize-power-slider)
- [Battery
saver.](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/component-guidelines/battery-saver)