How to Export and Import Power Plans in Windows 11

Windows power plans define how devices use energy, manage performance, and control hardware behaviors. Learning how to export or import a power plan gives you additional knowledge that will make IT management easier and more efficient.

For example, exporting a power plan allows users to save a configuration for future restoration or deployment to additional systems, while importing new ones enables quick replication of optimized performance or battery management settings.

A guide for importing and exporting power plans in Windows 11

📌 Prerequisites:

• You need a Windows 11 device with administrator privileges.
• You need access to an elevated Command Prompt (Run as Administrator).
• You need to have a designated destination folder for exported .pow files

Export a power plan into Windows 11

Step 1: Identify power plan GUIDs before exporting

1. Open the Start Menu and search for Command Prompt.
2. Right-click and select Run as administrator.
3. Type powercfg /list and press Enter. This will list the GUIDs of all existing power plans.
4. Review the list and find the GUID of the power plan you want to export.
5. Take note of the GUID so you can use it for export commands.

Step 2: Export a power plan using powercfg

1. In the same Command Prompt window, type the following command: powercfg /export “C:\Backup\PlanName.pow” {GUID}
   1. Change the file path to the file path and name you want to use.
   2. Change {GUID} to the plan’s corresponding GUID.
2. Press Enter.

Import a power plan into Windows 11

1. Open the Start Menu and search for Command Prompt.
2. Right-click and select Run as administrator.
3. Run the following command: powercfg /import “C:\Backup\PlanName.pow”

• • Change the file path and file name to the path and name of the power plan you want to use.

4. Press Enter. Once imported, Windows will create a new GUID for the power plan. Document the new GUID to help you keep track of things.
5. To verify that the power plan was properly imported, run powercfg /list and look for its GUID.

Activate the imported power plan

1. In the same Command Prompt window, type the following command: powercfg /setactive {GUID}

• • Change {GUID} to the imported power plan’s GUID.

2. Press Enter to run the command.
3. To confirm that the computer’s system has switched to the new power plan, type powercfg /list and press Enter.
4. Look for the GUID with an asterisk next to it. The asterisk indicates that the power plan is currently active. The GUID should match the GUID of the imported power plan.
5. Run different tests on the device to see behavior, performance, and power saving changes.

Other actions related to Windows 11 power plans

Manage multiple power plans after importing

• To rename a plan, run powercfg /changename {GUID} “New Name” 
  • {GUID} should be the GUID of the plan you want to rename.
  • “New Name” should be the new name you want to use.
• To delete a power plan, run powercfg /delete {GUID}.
  • {GUID} should be the GUID of the plan you want to delete.

💡Note: Remember to document all the changes you make to help support repeated deployment processes.

Use the power plan export and import for fleet deployment

Here are some best practices you can implement when you’re using power plan export and import for fleet deployments:

• Store all your exported .pow files in a central repository for access by IT teams.
• Make sure to apply the correct power plans during onboarding scripts or as part of system hardening.
• Validate all your imported plans across device models to ensure consistent behavior.
• Enable version history of exported power plans as part of configuration management.

Additional considerations when using powercfg export and import commands

• OEM utilities may override active power plan settings, including imported configurations.
• Power plan settings may be interpreted differently depending on hardware, firmware, and driver implementation.
• You need administrator rights to use powercfg for import, export, or activation operations.
• Make sure that you keep your .pow files in a secure place to prevent accidental modification.
• Don’t forget to back up your custom power plans, especially before major Windows updates or device reimaging.

Troubleshooting issues when importing or exporting power plans in Windows 11

NinjaOne integration ideas for managing device power plans

You can use NinjaOne tools to:

• Automate powercfg commands through NinjaOne scripting capabilities
• Deploy custom power plans via automated scripts or policies
• Apply standardized power configurations using device policies
• Monitor device performance and system metrics for validation

Standardize power plans for all your devices

Exporting and importing power plans in Windows 11 allows administrators to deploy a consistent and repeatable power configuration across managed devices. These capabilities keep your operations efficient and give your IT team configuration control for both individual users and IT environments.

Related Articles:

• How to Enable Windows Fast Startup with PowerShell
• How to Specify a Default Active Power Plan in Windows
• How to See Active Power Plan Scheme in Windows 10
• A Simple Guide: How to Change Windows 10 Power Settings
• Mastering Windows Power Management: A PowerShell Guide for IT Pros and MSPs