Enabling the ultimate performance mode in Windows 10 isn’t exactly rocket science, but it’s kinda weird how hidden it still remains. It can seriously boost your system’s responsiveness—especially if you’re into gaming, heavy editing, or just hate waiting for apps to launch. The thing is, Windows doesn’t make this obvious unless you know where to look. Despite being a bit tucked away, turning it on can sometimes make your machine feel snappier, but remember — it’s power-hungry and might cause some thermal concerns if your cooling isn’t top-notch. So, it’s mostly useful for plugged-in desktops or high-end laptops that won’t mind a little extra heat and power drain.
How to Enable Ultimate Performance in Windows 10
Method 1: Using Command Prompt (the usual way)
This one’s the classic. You’re essentially unlocking the high-performance power scheme that’s hidden behind the scenes. On some setups, you might have to run it a couple of times or reboot afterward, because Windows can be a bit flaky about it.
- Start by opening Command Prompt with admin rights. To do this, search for “cmd” in the start menu, right-click it, then pick Run as administrator.
- Type in this command and hit Enter:
powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61. This duplicates the “Ultimate Performance” scheme into your list of power options. Sometimes it’s not visible immediately, so you might need to refresh your layouts. - Next, head over to Settings > Power & Sleep. You can quickly get there by typing “power” into the search bar and clicking on Power & Sleep settings.
- Scroll to Additional power settings (or, if it’s not there, look for Show additional plans) and select the Ultimate Performance plan. Unlike the default plans, this one’s a beast when it comes to responsiveness.
- If you want, customize the plan by clicking on Change plan settings — here, you can tweak display times, sleep mode, etc., to balance power and performance.
On some machines, after doing this, you might not see the plan right away. No worries, a quick reboot or signing out and back in can help it appear. And yes, it’s kinda weird how Windows treats this mode like some secret feature.
Method 2: Via PowerShell (alternative route)
If Command Prompt feels old school, PowerShell can do the same trick. Open PowerShell as admin (Start > PowerShell, then right-click and select Run as administrator) and enter:
powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61This achieves the same result—adding the high-performance plan to your options. From there, just follow the usual steps to activate it in settings.
Why does this help?
This command creates a new plan that *really* pushes your hardware, bypassing the energy-saving tweaks that Windows usually makes. It’s especially handy if you’re into tasks that need low latency, or if the standard high-performance plan isn’t quite enough.
When it applies:
- If your system feels sluggish during gaming or rendering.
- You notice longer app load times than they should be.
- Trying to squeeze more horsepower out of your PC, especially on a desktop or a beefy laptop plugged in constantly.
What to expect:
You should feel a noticeable bump in responsiveness, especially in CPU-heavy tasks. Just keep in mind, your system might run hotter and use more power — so only switch to this mode when you really need it.
And yeah, on some setups, this whole thing can be a bit flaky—like you get the plan, but it doesn’t show immediately, or it requires a reboot. Windows loves making simple stuff complicated sometimes.
Tips for Using the Ultimate Performance Mode
- Keep your cooling system in check. Because more performance naturally means more heat. Listen, if your laptop starts to sound like a jet engine, reconsider when you want this on.
- Stick to plugged-in power, unless you’re okay with dying battery fast. This mode’s made for desktops or high-capacity laptops when power isn’t a concern.
- Update your drivers. Old drivers can bottleneck the whole process, so make sure everything’s fresh — especially GPU and chipset drivers.
- Use it selectively. Turn it on for demanding tasks like gaming, 3D rendering, or video editing. Switch back to Balanced or Power Saver when doing something lightweight.
- Be aware of heat and power consumption. Windows is basically giving your system a turbo boost — don’t expect your battery to last long or your laptop to stay cool without good cooling solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is the Ultimate Performance power plan?
This is a Windows 10 power scheme aimed at squeezing out maximum performance. It reduces micro-latencies, disables many power-saving features, and gets close to maxing out hardware response times. Basically, it turns your laptop or PC into a speed freak.
Can turning this on harm my PC?
Not directly, but you might see higher temperatures and more power usage, which isn’t great long-term if your cooling or power supply isn’t up to scratch. Basically, use it wisely and only when needed.
Is this available on all versions of Windows 10?
It’s mainly on Pro for Workstations and Enterprise editions, but with the command line trick, you can unlock it on most other editions too. Just don’t expect it from the standard Home build out of the box.
How do I revert to my previous power plan?
Same way, just go back to Power > Power & Sleep and select whichever plan you’re used to, like Balanced or Power Saver. Easy.
Summary
- Open Command Prompt or PowerShell as admin.
- Run
powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61. - Head to Settings > Power & Sleep.
- Choose the Ultimate Performance plan.
- Adjust settings if needed and enjoy the snappiness.
Wrap-up
This whole thing isn’t exactly straightforward, but once it’s done, your machine’s gonna feel faster — especially if it’s been a bit sluggish lately. Just remember, it’s not for everyday use on laptops unless you’re okay with the battery drain and heat increase. For desktops, it’s gold—just be mindful of cooling. Sometimes Windows loves hiding features, and this is one of those cases where you have to dig a little. But hey, if it works, it’s worth the extra effort. Fingers crossed this helps someone shave a few milliseconds off their workflow or game latency — worked for me, hopefully for you too.