How to Fix Network Adapter Power Management Issues in Windows 11: Step-by-Step Guide

Network adapter power management settings in Windows 11 can sometimes cause connectivity problems, such as the network disconnecting unexpectedly or slow internet speeds. These issues often occur because the system turns off the network adapter to save power. Fixing this can improve your connection stability.

This guide will walk you through simple and detailed steps to adjust your network adapter power settings. No advanced technical knowledge is required, and each instruction is explained clearly for beginners.

By following these steps, you can prevent Windows 11 from disabling your network adapter to save power, which is a common cause of network interruptions.

Let’s get started with some quick notes before diving into the solutions.

Quick Note Before You Begin

Check your device is plugged in: Power management settings often behave differently for laptops on battery versus plugged in. Make sure your device is plugged into power before testing changes.
Update your network adapter drivers: Sometimes outdated drivers cause power management issues. You can check this in Device Manager, but we will cover that later.
Restart your PC: A simple restart can fix temporary glitches. Try this if you haven’t already.
Know your network adapter type: Different adapters may have different settings available. Most common types are wireless Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

Step 1: Disable Power Saving for Your Network Adapter

The first and easiest fix is to change the power management settings of your network adapter to prevent Windows from turning it off.

Press Win + X on your keyboard and select Device Manager from the menu.
In Device Manager, expand the section called Network adapters.
Right-click your network adapter (e.g., “Intel(R) Wireless” or “Realtek Ethernet”) and select Properties.
Go to the Power Management tab.
Uncheck the box that says “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.”
Click OK to save the changes.

Why this helps: Windows tries to conserve battery life by turning off devices like network adapters when they are not in use. This can cause your connection to drop. Disabling this setting keeps the adapter active at all times.

Step 2: Adjust Power Plan Settings

Sometimes the overall Windows power plan settings may affect your network adapter’s behavior. Adjusting these can help.

Open the Start menu and type Control Panel, then press Enter.
Click Hardware and Sound, then select Power Options.
Next to your selected power plan, click Change plan settings.
Click Change advanced power settings.
In the new window, scroll down and expand Wireless Adapter Settings (for Wi-Fi users).
Expand Power Saving Mode and set it to Maximum Performance for both On battery and Plugged in.
If you use Ethernet, look for any settings related to PCI Express > Link State Power Management and set it to Off.
Click Apply and then OK.

Why this matters: These settings tell Windows not to limit power to your network adapter, ensuring it performs well even when the system tries to save energy.

Step 3: Update Your Network Adapter Driver

Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause power management conflicts. Updating your driver can resolve these problems.

Open Device Manager again (use Win + X and select it).
Expand Network adapters.
Right-click your network adapter and select Update driver.
Choose Search automatically for drivers. Windows will look for and install any updates.
If no update is found, visit your adapter manufacturer’s website to download the latest drivers manually.
Restart your computer after updating.

Why update drivers: New drivers often improve compatibility and fix bugs that might cause power management issues.

Alternative Method: Disable Fast Startup

Fast Startup in Windows 11 sometimes causes hardware devices to not initialize properly after a restart, affecting network adapters.

Open the Control Panel and go to Power Options.
Click Choose what the power buttons do on the left panel.
Click Change settings that are currently unavailable at the top.
Uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended).
Click Save changes and restart your computer.

Disabling Fast Startup forces a complete shutdown and fresh start, which can help resolve persistent hardware issues.

FAQs

Q: Why does Windows turn off my network adapter?

A: Windows tries to save power by turning off devices not in use, but this can interrupt your network connection if the adapter is powered down too aggressively.

Q: Will disabling power management affect my battery life?

A: Slightly, yes. The network adapter will use more power when always on, but it usually improves connection stability, which is often worth the trade-off.

Q: Can I revert these changes if something goes wrong?

A: Absolutely! You can always go back to Device Manager or Power Options and re-enable the original settings.

Q: What if my network adapter does not have a Power Management tab?

A: Some adapters or drivers may not expose this option. In that case, focus on power plan settings and driver updates.

Q: Should I update drivers from Windows or the manufacturer?

A: Windows provides basic updates, but the manufacturer’s website often has the latest and most optimized drivers.

When Nothing Works

If you have tried all the above steps and still experience network adapter power management issues, consider these final options:

Run the Network Troubleshooter: Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and run the Network Adapter troubleshooter.
Reset Network Settings: In Settings, search for “Network reset” and follow prompts to reset all network adapters to default.
Check for Windows Updates: Sometimes Microsoft releases fixes for hardware issues.
Contact Support: Visit your device manufacturer’s support site or Microsoft Support for personalized help.

Conclusion

Network adapter power management issues in Windows 11 can be frustrating but are usually simple to fix. Start by disabling the power saving feature on your adapter and adjusting your power plan settings to maximum performance. Keep your drivers up to date to avoid compatibility problems. If needed, try disabling Fast Startup or resetting your network settings.

By following this step-by-step guide, you can enjoy a more stable and reliable network connection on your Windows 11 device. Remember, small settings adjustments often make a big difference in performance and reliability.