This new Microsoft feature could give your Windows laptop more battery life

Microsoft is testing a new feature for Windows 11 laptops that could help users get more out of their device’s battery. The feature is called adaptive energy saver, and instead of waiting for your battery to get low, it adjusts power-saving settings based on how your laptop is being used.

What’s new

Currently, Windows 11 has a regular energy saver mode that turns on when the battery drops below a certain percentage. It reduces screen brightness, stops apps from working in the background, and delays non-essential updates. But the new adaptive energy saver mode works differently.

Instead of just relying on battery percentage, it looks at how much work your laptop is doing. If your system is not under heavy load, like when it’s idle or running light tasks, this feature can automatically turn on energy-saving measures, even if your battery is still high.

This helps reduce power usage in moments when your laptop doesn’t need full performance. And unlike the regular energy saver, it doesn’t dim your screen, which means users can continue working without any noticeable change in display brightness.

How it helps

The biggest advantage here is subtle power management. Since the adaptive mode doesn’t reduce screen brightness, you’re less likely to notice that it’s even active. But it still pauses non-critical updates, stops certain background apps, and disables visual effects like transparency.

For example, apps like OneDrive or Phone Link may not sync fully while the feature is running. Windows Update may also skip less important downloads temporarily. All of this adds up to lower power usage, helping the battery last longer, especially during periods of low activity.

This feature is designed only for devices with batteries, such as laptops, tablets, and handheld PCs. It won’t work on desktop PCs, although Microsoft had earlier extended basic energy saver tools to desktops as well to help reduce electricity use.

Where it’s available

Microsoft has started rolling out this feature to testers in the Windows 11 Canary Channel, one of the early testing groups for new features. If the testing goes well, adaptive energy saver is likely to reach all Windows 11 users later this year.

Additionally, the feature is optional, meaning it won’t turn on by itself. Users will need to go into settings and enable it manually. This gives users the freedom to decide if they want Windows to manage background power use even when battery is not running low.

Why it matters

Most new laptops today already offer good battery life thanks to improvements in processors from companies like Intel and Qualcomm. But people who spend long hours working without charging still look for ways to get a little more time on battery. For them, this small change could make a real difference. Without affecting performance during heavy tasks or dimming the display, adaptive energy saver can quietly stretch your battery life in less demanding moments.

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