A computer’s approach to video playback can significantly affect battery and overall performance. Notably, Windows offers a set of multimedia settings when playing video that allows users to fine-tune their PC for optimal video playback. One of these features is the “When playing video” setting under the advanced Power Options menu.
This setting is part of Windows’ broader multimedia settings when playing video, and it lets users choose how the system handles video playback while on battery or when plugged in. The available modes typically include the following:
- Optimize video quality (uses more power)
- Optimize power savings (reduces quality to extend battery life)
- Balanced (default option)
While this is a beneficial feature that directly impacts multimedia settings when playing video, Windows also allows users to add or remove this option for reasons such as the following:
- Add it if the setting is missing due to OEM policies or system configuration.
- Remove it to prevent end users from changing video playback behavior (e.g., in kiosk or VDI environments).
In this article, we will walk you through the ways to configure “When playing video” from Power Options in Windows.
Prerequisites for adding or removing “When playing video”
Before you can start configuring the “When playing video” option, certain requirements must be met first:
- Windows version: The computer must be running Windows 10 (any edition)
- Permissions: Local administrator rights
- Technical expertise: Familiarity with using powercfg commands or Registry Editor
- Group Policy knowledge: Group Policy control for managing user access to power options
How to add the “When playing video” option to Power Options
Use the powercfg command to make the setting visible in the advanced power settings UI. Here’s how:
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Run the following command:
- powercfg -attributes SUB_VIDEO 36ec0eb6-94ac-4e2d-a231-8c75c80b2f2e -ATTRIB_HIDE
- This command removes the “hidden” attribute from the GUID associated with video playback settings, making it visible in the Power Options UI.
How to remove the “When playing video” option from Power Options
To hide the “When playing video” setting from the Power Options menu, you just need to reverse the process. Here’s how:
- Open Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
- Run the following command:
- powercfg -attributes SUB_VIDEO 36ec0eb6-94ac-4e2d-a231-8c75c80b2f2e +ATTRIB_HIDE
- This will suppress the setting from view in the advanced Power Options interface, although it may still be active under the hood.
Understanding the GUIDs involved
Working with power settings often means working with GUIDs (Globally Unique Identifiers). Here’s a quick reference for the relevant ones:
- Display Power Subgroup:
SUB_VIDEO → {7516b95f-f776-4464-8c53-06167f40cc99}
- When playing video settings:
{36ec0eb6-94ac-4e2d-a231-8c75c80b2f2e}
These GUIDs are used by the powercfg tool to refer to specific power policy settings. You can use them in scripts, automation tasks, or Group Policy registry templates.
Registry-based alternative
If you prefer to manually control visibility through the Registry Editor, you can do so by following this:
- Open the Registry Editor by pressing the Windows key + R. Type regedit and press Enter.
- Navigate to:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerSettings\7516b95f-f776-4464-8c53-06167f40cc99\36ec0eb6-94ac-4e2d-a231-8c75c80b2f2e
- Modify the Attributes DWORD:
-
- 0 = Show the setting in Power Options
- 1 = Hide the setting from Power Options
⚠️NOTE: Registry changes take effect after restarting powercfg.cpl or rebooting the system.
Deployment tips for managing multiple systems
- Use powercfg in batch scripts or MDT/SCCM task sequences for bulk deployments.
- Apply registry edits via GPO or custom administrative templates for domain-joined machines.
- For kiosk or locked-down environments, remove access to Power Options via GPO.
Managing “When playing video” from Power Options in Windows
The “When playing video” setting is an integral function in Windows’ Power Options. It helps computers achieve optimal video performance and power usage on laptops and mobile devices. IT administrators can manage this setting by controlling visibility via powercfg or the Registry Editor.
Incorporating this setting into your organization’s power management strategy is also possible, improving control over battery performance and user experience. Therefore, effectively managing the “When playing video” setting empowers administrators to fine-tune the balance between visual fidelity and energy efficiency for users engaging with video content.
