How to Stop Windows from Turning Off Devices to Save Power (July 2026) Experts Guide

If your WiFi adapter keeps disconnecting mid-transfer or your USB hard drive drops out during backups, Windows power management is likely the culprit. Windows enables a feature by default that shuts down idle devices to conserve energy, and it causes real headaches for anyone who needs stable, always-on device connectivity. This guide shows you exactly how to stop Windows from turning off devices to save power using three proven methods that work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Our team has tested all three approaches across multiple machines, including laptops and desktops, to confirm they resolve the USB disconnects, WiFi drops, and failed transfers that users report most frequently. Whether you want to fix a single device or disable power saving for everything at once, you will find the right method below.

Why Does Windows Turn Off Your Devices?

Windows uses a feature called USB Selective Suspend to power down individual USB ports and certain adapters when they appear idle. The operating system monitors activity on each port and, after a period of inactivity, cuts power to reduce energy consumption. This behavior is enabled by default on nearly every Windows installation, including both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

The feature also extends beyond USB. Network adapters, WiFi cards, and Bluetooth modules each have their own power management settings that Windows controls through Device Manager. A checkbox labeled “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” appears on the Power Management tab of most device properties, and it is checked by default.

The problem is that when Windows powers a device down, that device does not always wake back up cleanly. Users on Reddit’s tech support forums consistently report that their WiFi adapter shows up as an “Unknown device” after being powered off, only recovering after a reboot or a random power cycle. Others describe USB hard drive backups that fail the moment they walk away from the computer because the transfer slows down, triggers idle detection, and the port shuts off mid-copy.

How to Stop Windows from Turning Off Devices to Save Power Using Device Manager

Device Manager gives you direct control over the power management setting for each individual device. This is the most targeted method because you can disable power saving for specific devices while leaving it active for others. It works identically on Windows 10 and Windows 11, though the path to open Device Manager differs slightly.

Here is the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Open Device Manager. On Windows 11, right-click the Start button and select “Device Manager” from the menu. On Windows 10, you can also right-click Start or press Windows key + X and choose Device Manager.

Step 2: Expand the device category you want to fix. For USB devices, expand “Universal Serial Bus controllers.” For network or WiFi adapters, expand “Network adapters.”

Step 3: Double-click the specific device you want to modify. For USB power issues, double-click each “USB Root Hub” entry. Most systems have multiple Root Hubs, and you need to repeat the process for each one.

Step 4: Click the “Power Management” tab at the top of the properties window.

Step 5: Uncheck the box that says “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.”

Step 6: Click “OK” to save the change.

Step 7: Repeat for all USB Root Hubs and any other devices you want to keep powered on permanently.

This method is reliable for fixing specific device issues. Multiple users on Microsoft’s community forums have confirmed that the Device Manager approach works even when Power Plan changes alone do not resolve the problem.

Disable USB Selective Suspend Through Power Options

The Power Options method tackles the problem from a different angle. Instead of managing individual devices, you change your power plan to tell Windows not to suspend USB ports globally. This is the fastest way to stop Windows from turning off devices to save power if you want a system-wide fix.

Step 1: Press the Windows key, type “Edit power plan,” and press Enter. This opens the Power Options dialog directly.

Step 2: Click “Change advanced power settings” near the bottom of the window.

Step 3: In the Power Options dialog that appears, scroll down and expand “USB settings.”

Step 4: Expand “USB selective suspend setting.”

Step 5: Change the setting to “Disabled” for both “On battery” and “Plugged in” (if you are using a laptop). Desktop users will only see one option.

Step 6: Click “Apply” then “OK” to confirm.

You can also access the same settings through the Control Panel by navigating to Hardware and Sound, then Power Options, and clicking “Change plan settings” followed by “Change advanced power settings.” While you are in this menu, consider expanding “Wireless Adapter Settings” and changing the Power Saving Mode to “Maximum Performance” if WiFi disconnections are your main concern.

One important note: some users report that the USB selective suspend setting only appears when the Active power plan is set to “Balanced” or “Power Saver.” If you do not see it, switch your power plan to Balanced first, make the change, and then switch back.

How to Disable Power Saving for All Devices Using PowerShell

Going through Device Manager one device at a time gets tedious fast. If you have multiple USB controllers, network adapters, and other devices, a PowerShell script can disable the power management checkbox for all of them in seconds. This method is especially popular among system administrators and was widely praised by the community on Reddit’s PowerShell forum.

The script uses Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) to find every device that supports power management and disables the setting automatically.

Step 1: Press the Windows key, type “PowerShell,” right-click “Windows PowerShell,” and select “Run as administrator.”

Step 2: Copy and paste the following script into the PowerShell window:

$devices = Get-WmiObject MSPower_DeviceEnable -Namespace rootwmi
foreach ($device in $devices) {
    $device.Enable = $false
    $device.Put() | Out-Null
}

Step 3: Press Enter to run the script.

Step 4: Wait for the script to complete. It iterates through every device that exposes the MSPower_DeviceEnable WMI class and sets Enable to false, which is the same as unchecking the box in Device Manager.

Step 5: Restart your computer to make sure all changes take effect across every device.

This script works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11 and covers USB controllers, network adapters, and other devices that support power management. It is the most efficient approach if you want to disable power saving comprehensively without clicking through dozens of Device Manager dialogs.

One caution: the script disables power saving for all compatible devices, which means your laptop battery life may decrease slightly. If battery life is a priority, use the Device Manager method instead and only disable power saving for the specific devices causing problems.

Which Devices Should You Disable Power Saving For?

Not every device needs power saving disabled. Disabling it universally is safe but does consume slightly more power. Based on user reports and our testing, these are the devices where disabling power saving makes the biggest difference:

USB Root Hubs: The most common source of device disconnects. If you use external hard drives, audio interfaces, or any always-on USB peripheral, disable power saving on every Root Hub.

Network and WiFi Adapters: WiFi adapters that power down during idle periods are the leading cause of random disconnections. Disabling power saving for your wireless adapter keeps the connection stable during downloads, video calls, and remote sessions.

Bluetooth Radios: If your Bluetooth headphones or peripherals drop connection, check the Power Management tab on your Bluetooth device entry in Device Manager.

USB Printers and Scanners: These devices often fail to wake properly after power saving kicks in, requiring you to restart the print spooler or reconnect the device.

Troubleshooting: What If the Power Management Tab Is Missing?

Many users discover that the Power Management tab is either missing entirely or the checkbox is greyed out and cannot be unchecked. This is a common frustration, especially on Windows 11 and on devices with certain driver configurations.

If the Power Management tab is missing, it usually means the driver for that device does not support power management through the standard Windows interface. Try updating the driver through Device Manager by right-clicking the device, selecting “Update driver,” and choosing “Search automatically for drivers.” After updating, restart and check again.

If the checkbox is greyed out, Fast Startup may be interfering. Fast Startup caches device states and can override your power management preferences. To disable it, open Control Panel, go to Power Options, click “Choose what the power buttons do,” click “Change settings that are currently unavailable,” and uncheck “Turn on fast startup.” Restart your computer and try the Device Manager method again.

In some cases, the device manufacturer’s own power management software overrides Windows settings. Check your network adapter manufacturer’s control panel (such as Intel PROSet or Realtek Ethernet Controller) for any additional power saving toggles that need to be disabled separately.

For network adapters specifically, if none of the above works, open the adapter properties in Device Manager, go to the “Advanced” tab, and look for settings like “Energy Efficient Ethernet,” “Green Ethernet,” or “Power Saving Mode.” Disable each of these individually.

FAQs

Wrapping Up

Knowing how to stop Windows from turning off devices to save power eliminates one of the most frustrating sources of random disconnects on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. The Device Manager method gives you precise per-device control, Power Options provides a quick global fix for USB Selective Suspend, and the PowerShell script handles everything at once when you need a comprehensive solution.

Start with the Device Manager method for the specific device causing trouble, since it is the most targeted fix. If you manage multiple machines or want a complete fix, run the PowerShell script once and reboot. Either way, your USB transfers, WiFi connections, and backup operations will stay stable even when you step away from your computer.