If your Surface Book feels slower when unplugged, you’re not alone. Many users notice a drop in performance once the device switches to battery mode. This happens because Windows 11 adjusts settings to save power and prolong battery life.
Fortunately, there are simple ways to improve your Surface Book’s speed even when it’s running on battery. By following a few straightforward steps, you can get better performance without sacrificing too much battery life.
This guide will walk you through basic to more advanced fixes to help your Surface Book run smoothly while unplugged. Each step is explained clearly to make it easy for anyone to follow.
Let’s get started by checking a few important details before diving into the fixes.
Quick Note: Prerequisites and Initial Checks
- Battery Level: Ensure your Surface Book has at least 20% battery. Sometimes performance is throttled when battery is critically low.
- Windows Updates: Confirm your system is updated. Microsoft often releases performance improvements and bug fixes.
- Power Plan: Check your current power plan settings to understand how your device manages power.
- Background Apps: Identify if any apps are running heavily in the background, as they can affect performance.
Step 1: Adjust the Power Plan Settings
Windows 11 uses power plans to balance performance and battery life. When unplugged, it often switches to a power-saving mode that reduces CPU speed. You can change this to improve performance.
- Click on the Start button and select Settings (gear icon).
- Go to System > Power & battery.
- Under Power mode, click the dropdown menu.
- Select Best performance instead of Better battery or Best power efficiency.
- Test your Surface Book unplugged to see if performance improves.
Why this matters: The “Best performance” mode allows your CPU and hardware to run at higher speeds, even on battery, but may use more power.
Step 2: Disable CPU Throttling in Advanced Power Settings
Windows can limit the CPU’s maximum performance to save battery. You can fine-tune this setting manually.
- Press Windows + R, type
powercfg.cpl, and press Enter to open Power Options. - Next to your active power plan, click Change plan settings.
- Click Change advanced power settings.
- In the pop-up window, expand Processor power management.
- Expand Maximum processor state.
- Set the values for On battery to 100%.
- Click Apply and then OK.
Why this is important: This prevents Windows from artificially limiting CPU speed when on battery, helping keep performance consistent.
Step 3: Check Battery Saver and Background Apps
Battery Saver mode restricts background activity and connectivity to extend battery life. Turning it off can improve performance.
- Open Settings > System > Power & battery.
- Under Battery saver, see if it is turned on.
- If it is on, toggle it off to allow apps and system processes to run without restrictions.
- Also, click Background apps and disable apps that you don’t need running all the time.
Why this helps: Battery saver limits tasks that can slow down your device but also restricts performance. Disabling it gives your Surface Book more resources to work with.
Step 4: Update Device Drivers and Firmware
Outdated drivers or firmware can cause performance issues, especially when switching power modes.
- Open Settings > Windows Update.
- Click Check for updates and install all available updates.
- Visit the official Microsoft Surface Support page to download the latest firmware and driver packs for your Surface Book.
- Install these updates and restart your device.
Why this matters: Updated drivers ensure your hardware works efficiently with Windows 11, especially in different power states.
Advanced Option: Use Performance Troubleshooter
If you want Windows to diagnose and fix performance issues automatically, you can use the built-in troubleshooter.
- Press Windows + R, type
msdt.exe -id PerformanceDiagnostic, and press Enter. - The Performance Troubleshooter window will open. Click Next.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to detect and resolve performance problems.
This tool can find issues that are not obvious and fix them without manual intervention.
FAQs
Why does my Surface Book slow down when unplugged?
Windows reduces CPU speed and limits background activity to save battery, which can cause slower performance.
Will changing power settings drain my battery faster?
Yes, selecting “Best performance” and disabling battery saver uses more power and can reduce battery life between charges.
Can I create a custom power plan for better balance?
Yes, you can create a custom power plan in Power Options to set your preferred balance of performance and battery life.
Is it safe to update drivers from Microsoft’s website?
Absolutely. Always download drivers and firmware updates from official Microsoft sources to avoid security risks.
What if my Surface Book still performs poorly on battery after these steps?
There may be hardware issues or deeper software problems. Consider professional diagnostics or contacting Microsoft support.
When Nothing Works
If your Surface Book continues to have slow performance on battery despite trying the above steps, here are some final options:
- Reset Your PC: Use the Windows 11 Reset feature to reinstall the OS while keeping your files. Go to Settings > System > Recovery and choose Reset this PC.
- Contact Microsoft Support: Visit the official Surface support page for help from Microsoft technicians.
- Battery Health Check: Consider that an aging battery may cause power delivery issues. Visit a service center to check battery health.
Conclusion
Slow performance on your Surface Book when unplugged is a common issue caused by Windows’ power-saving features. By adjusting power plans, disabling CPU throttling, managing battery saver and background apps, and keeping drivers updated, you can greatly improve your device’s speed on battery.
Start with the simplest steps and move towards advanced options if needed. If problems persist, resetting your PC or contacting Microsoft support are reliable next steps.
With these solutions, you can enjoy smoother performance from your Surface Book wherever you go, plugged in or not.