A step-by-step guide to unlocking the hidden power scheme that removes micro-latency and squeezes every clock cycle out of your hardware.
Microsoft introduced the Ultimate Performance power plan in Windows 10 version 1803 (April 2018 Update) specifically for high-end workstations. It is designed to eliminate micro-latency associated with power-saving techniques — the tiny delays that occur when the OS throttles CPU frequency, parks processor cores, or scales down hardware to conserve energy.
Unlike the standard High Performance plan, Ultimate Performance takes an aggressive, no-compromise stance: it keeps every processor core active at maximum frequency at all times, prevents hard drives from spinning down, and disables USB selective suspend. The result is the lowest possible response time from all hardware components.
e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61, which you'll encounter in the terminal commands below.
This power scheme is genuinely useful for a specific set of use cases. Before enabling it, consider whether it matches your workflow.
The Command Prompt method is the fastest and most reliable way to add the Ultimate Performance plan to your system. It works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11, on any edition.
cmd, then right-click Command Prompt and choose "Run as administrator". Confirm the UAC prompt.CMD — Add Ultimate Performance Planpowercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61
To also activate the plan directly from the command line without opening Control Panel, run the following command immediately after, replacing YOUR-GUID-HERE with the GUID returned in step 2:
CMD — Activate the Planpowercfg /setactive YOUR-GUID-HERE
PowerShell provides the same underlying powercfg utility as Command Prompt, but is preferred by system administrators and those working in automated scripts.
PowerShell — Add & Activatepowercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61
PowerShell — One-Liner Activate$guid = (powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61 |
Select-String -Pattern '[0-9a-f]{8}-([0-9a-f]{4}-){3}[0-9a-f]{12}').Matches.Value
powercfg /setactive $guid
Write-Host "Ultimate Performance activated: $guid" -ForegroundColor Green
If you prefer not to use the terminal, there is a graphical alternative — though it requires a small extra step.
powercfg -duplicatescheme command at least once. Complete Method 1 first, then follow these steps to switch plans graphically in the future.
control, and press Enter to open the Control Panel.You can also reach Power Options quickly by right-clicking the battery icon in the system tray (on laptops) or by searching "Choose a power plan" in the Start menu.
The Registry Editor method gives you direct control over which power plan is set as active at the system level. This is an advanced technique — proceed with caution and back up your registry first.
regedit, and press Enter. Confirm the UAC prompt.Registry PathHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\User\PowerSchemes
PowerSchemes and change the ActivePowerScheme string value to your Ultimate Performance GUID.Windows 11 uses the same underlying power management architecture as Windows 10, so the powercfg commands are identical. However, Microsoft has moved several settings in the redesigned Settings app.
On Windows 11, Power Options still live in the classic Control Panel, not the new Settings app. The quickest path: press Win + R, type powercfg.cpl, and press Enter. After running the terminal command, the plan will appear here.
There is one important distinction for Windows 11 users on laptops with battery saver integration: Windows 11 may automatically switch away from Ultimate Performance when the battery level drops below a threshold. To prevent this:
After enabling the plan, always confirm it is actually running — especially on laptops where Windows may revert automatically.
Open Command Prompt or PowerShell (no admin needed) and run:
CMD / PowerShell — List Active Planpowercfg /getactivescheme
The output will display the active plan's GUID and its friendly name. If it shows Ultimate Performance, the plan is active.
Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), go to the Performance tab, and click CPU. Under the graph, look at the Speed value. With Ultimate Performance active and the system idle, the CPU should maintain its base frequency rather than dropping significantly — confirming that power throttling is disabled.
Navigate to Control Panel → Power Options. The currently active plan will have a filled radio button. Confirm "Ultimate Performance" is selected.
Understanding the differences between the three main power plans helps you make an informed decision about which one suits your workflow.
Adjusts CPU frequency and parks idle cores automatically. Best for everyday tasks and battery longevity.
DefaultKeeps CPU at higher speeds but still allows some scaling. Good balance between speed and heat generation.
Common ChoiceEliminates all micro-latency. CPU runs at 100% minimum state. Zero core parking. Maximum hardware responsiveness.
Maximum Speed| Feature | Balanced | High Performance | Ultimate Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Min. CPU State | 5% | 100% | 100% |
| Core Parking | Enabled | Partial | Disabled |
| USB Selective Suspend | Enabled | Enabled | Disabled |
| HDD Turn Off | After 20 min | Never | Never |
| Power Consumption | Low | High | Highest |
| Micro-latency Reduction | None | Partial | Maximum |
| Best For | Laptops, office use | General performance | Gaming, workstations |
The gains from switching to Ultimate Performance are most pronounced in latency-sensitive workloads. In raw CPU-bound tasks like video encoding, the difference is minimal because High Performance already keeps the CPU at maximum speed. The real advantage is in responsiveness and input latency.
If the plan does not appear in Power Options even after the powercfg -duplicatescheme command completes successfully, try the following:
powercfg /list to see all registered plans. If the Ultimate Performance GUID appears in this list, the plan exists — you just need to refresh the GUI.powercfg /setactive [GUID] in a scheduled task at logon to enforce the plan persistently.Microsoft technically restricts Ultimate Performance to Windows 10 Pro for Workstations by design, but the powercfg -duplicatescheme command bypasses this restriction on all editions including Home. If you still have issues, ensure you are on Windows 10 version 1803 or later — run winver to check your build number.
powercfg /delete [GUID], replacing [GUID] with the Ultimate Performance plan's GUID (found via powercfg /list). You can also delete it from the Power Options GUI by clicking "Change plan settings" → "Delete this plan".
powercfg.cpl). This is a UI change, not a removal of functionality.
The Ultimate Performance power plan is one of the easiest, most impactful tweaks you can make to a Windows 10 or Windows 11 desktop PC. In under five minutes — using a single powercfg -duplicatescheme command — you unlock a power scheme that eliminates micro-latency, keeps your CPU fully responsive at all times, and can meaningfully reduce stutter in games and creative workloads.
For desktop workstations, gaming rigs, and DAW machines, this is a no-brainer. For laptops on battery, skip it — or use it selectively when plugged in. Either way, the change is fully reversible at any time, making it a risk-free upgrade well worth enabling today.