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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsTo see the active power plan in Windows 10, open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options; the plan currently in use has an asterisk (*) beside it. For an exact result that includes the plan name and GUID, open Command Prompt or PowerShell and run powercfg /getactivescheme.
What “active power plan” means
Windows calls the collection of power-management settings a power scheme or power plan. The active scheme is the one Windows is applying right now. A computer has one active scheme at a time, even if several plans are available in Power Options.
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A plan controls groups of behaviors such as display timeouts, sleep behavior and other power-related settings. The plan name alone does not tell you the value of every setting. To see those values, open the plan’s settings pages or query the scheme from the command line.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCommon built-in names include Balanced, Power saver and High performance. Your list can differ because manufacturers, administrators and users can add custom plans. Devices using Modern Standby can expose fewer classic plans and may permit only Balanced or plans derived from Balanced.
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Method 1: Check the plan in Control Panel
The graphical method is easiest when you want to identify the plan and then inspect or change its settings.
- Press the Windows key, type Control Panel, and open the desktop app.
- Select Hardware and Sound.
- Select Power Options.
- Look at the list of available plans. Microsoft identifies the active plan with an asterisk (
*) beside its name.
The asterisk is the confirmation you need: the marked plan is the scheme Windows is currently using. If you see a link labeled Change plan settings, it belongs to that plan and opens its display and sleep controls. Opening that page changes what you view; it does not switch the active plan.
If your Control Panel uses a different category layout
Control Panel can display categories differently depending on its view. You may reach the same page through Control Panel > System and Security > Power Options. If you are in Icon view, select Power Options directly.
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Windows 10 also has power controls in the Settings app. On some computers, Settings exposes only a simplified power-mode control while the complete plan list remains in the legacy Power Options page. When a custom plan changes or removes the expected power-mode choices, Microsoft Support directs users to Power Options and, when appropriate, to select Balanced.
Method 2: Use powercfg for an exact answer
The command-line method is quicker for technical users and is practical when you need a result in a script, support log or remote session.
- Open Command Prompt or PowerShell. Standard user rights are normally sufficient to read the active scheme.
- Enter this command exactly:
powercfg /getactivescheme- Press Enter.
- Read the returned friendly name and GUID. The friendly name is the human-readable plan title; the GUID is the unique identifier for that scheme.
Microsoft’s command reference describes this option as: “Retrieves the currently active power scheme.” Unlike the graphical page, the command gives you the identifier as well as the name, so it remains unambiguous when several plans have similar titles.
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Example output and how to read it
Power Scheme GUID: xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx (Balanced)The text in parentheses is the friendly name. The long hyphenated value is the GUID. The exact GUID on your computer will be different; do not copy an example GUID into a command intended for your own machine.
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If the plan you expect is not visible in the graphical list, enumerate all schemes with:
powercfg /listThis command lists the schemes registered on the computer and marks the active one in the list. Use it together with powercfg /getactivescheme when you are diagnosing a missing, renamed or custom plan:
powercfg /listshows the complete inventory of schemes.powercfg /getactiveschemereports only the scheme currently in use.
If the two outputs appear inconsistent, run both commands again in the same session. A plan can be switched between commands by a user, a management policy or another power-management utility.
Inspect the settings inside the active plan
Finding the plan name does not reveal every timeout, sleep value or processor-related setting. In Control Panel, select Change plan settings beside the marked plan, then choose Change advanced power settings to inspect the detailed categories available on that system.
For a command-line inventory, use:
powercfg /queryThe query output exposes the settings associated with power schemes. The available categories and values depend on the hardware, firmware, drivers and Windows configuration, so two computers using plans with the same name can still show different detailed values.
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Use the graphical page when you need a readable view or want to edit a setting. Use powercfg when you need identifiers and machine-readable output for troubleshooting or automation.
Control Panel versus powercfg
| Comparison | Control Panel | powercfg |
|---|---|---|
| Ease | Visual; suitable when you prefer menus and links. | Fast once a terminal is open; requires entering a command. |
| Precision | Shows the plan name and marks the active entry with an asterisk. | /getactivescheme returns the exact friendly name and GUID. |
| Scope | Lets you inspect and edit plan settings through the Windows interface. | /list inventories schemes; /query exposes detailed values. |
| Best use | Confirming a plan interactively or changing its settings. | Quick confirmation, documentation, support scripts and repeated checks. |
Both methods identify the same active scheme. Choose the one that matches the task rather than treating them as different power-management systems.
Troubleshooting when the expected plan is missing
The plan is not shown in Power Options
Run powercfg /list. The command may reveal a scheme that the page is not currently displaying. Then run powercfg /getactivescheme to establish which scheme is actually active. This avoids assuming that a familiar name such as Balanced is in use simply because it is normally supplied with Windows.
If a plan was created by a manufacturer or administrator, its name may not match the standard names. Record the GUID from the command output when you need to distinguish it from another plan with a similar friendly name.
Settings shows fewer power-mode choices
A custom plan can change the power-mode choices offered in Settings. Microsoft Support recommends opening Power Options and selecting Balanced when that plan is appropriate for the device and you need the standard power-mode controls restored. Do not switch plans solely because the name looks unfamiliar; first confirm the active scheme and consider whether an administrator or device vendor intentionally configured it.
The device has Modern Standby
Microsoft notes that computers using Modern Standby support only the Balanced plan or plans derived from Balanced. As a result, the classic list can be shorter than tutorials written for older hardware suggest. Fewer entries do not mean the power controls are broken. Check the active scheme with powercfg /getactivescheme, then inspect the settings that your hardware exposes.
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powercfg.exe is a Windows power-management utility. If a terminal says the command is not recognized, open a new Command Prompt or PowerShell window and enter the command again exactly as shown. Avoid adding punctuation or substituting a dash for the slash in /getactivescheme. If the problem persists, verify that you are running Windows 10 rather than a restricted recovery environment or a third-party shell with a modified command path.
The name is not enough for support or scripting
Friendly names can be duplicated or changed. Use the GUID returned by /getactivescheme whenever a script, ticket or support procedure must identify one scheme unambiguously. The GUID is also the value used by Windows power-management interfaces to refer to the scheme.
Using the result in scripts and software
For a one-time check, the command can be pasted into a terminal. For repeated checks, capture the command’s output in your support workflow and retain both the friendly name and GUID. The output is more useful than a screenshot because it can be searched and compared across machines.
Software developers can obtain the active scheme through the Windows power-management API function PowerGetActiveScheme, which retrieves the active plan’s GUID. That API is appropriate for an application that needs the identifier programmatically rather than parsing terminal text. It does not change the plan; it reads which scheme is active.
A practical verification workflow
Use this sequence when documenting a computer or diagnosing a power-behavior complaint:
- Run
powercfg /getactiveschemeand record the friendly name and GUID. - Run
powercfg /listif you need to see whether other schemes or custom entries are present. - Open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options and confirm that the same plan carries the asterisk.
- Select Change plan settings for that plan if you need to review its basic display and sleep timers.
- Use
powercfg /queryor Change advanced power settings when the problem concerns a specific timeout or advanced option.
This order separates identification from diagnosis: first establish the active scheme, then inspect the settings that could explain the behavior.
Common questions about Windows 10 power plans
Where can I see my current power plan without using a command?
Open Control Panel, choose Hardware and Sound, then Power Options. The asterisk beside a plan identifies the current selection.
What command shows the active power scheme?
Use powercfg /getactivescheme in Command Prompt or PowerShell. It returns the active scheme’s friendly name and GUID.
Does opening “Change plan settings” switch plans?
No. That link opens settings for the plan beside it. The active plan changes only when a different scheme is selected or changed by an authorized user, policy or power-management process.
Why do I see only Balanced?
Modern Standby systems may allow only Balanced or plans based on Balanced. Hardware and Windows configuration can also determine which plans are available.
How do I see every installed scheme?
Run powercfg /list. The output enumerates the schemes and marks the active one.
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