Activate or Deactivate System Cooling Policy in Windows 10

By Sophia | Last Updated January 03, 2024

Windows 10 allows users to adjust the System Cooling Policy, which controls how your computer manages heat. Whether you want better performance or quieter operation, you can follow the instruction below to activate or deactivate the policy in your Windows 10 PC.

What Is System Cooling Policy?

The system cooling policy determines how Windows manages the processor’s temperature。

Active: It increases the fan speed before slowing the processor. Ideal for desktops and performance use.

Passive: It slows the processor before accelerating the fan speed. Best for conserving battery on laptops and reducing noise.

How to Change System Cooling Policy in Windows 10 via Power Options

Step 1: Get into Power Options.

Step 2: Click Change plan settings on the right of the selected power plan.

click change plan settings

Step 3: Tap Change advanced power settings to continue.

choose change advanced power settings

Step 4: Expand Processor power management, choose System cooling policy, select Active or Passive, and hit OK to finish the setting.

deactivate system cooling policy

System Cooling Policy Option Missing? What to Do?

If you can't find "System Cooling Policy" in the settings, you can make it visible using PowerShell or the Registry Editor.

Option 1: Use PowerShell Command

Run Windows PowerShell and then execute the command line below: REG ADD "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerSettings\54533251-82be-4824-96c1-47b60b740d00\94D3A615-A899-4AC5-AE2B-E4D8F634367F" /v Attributes /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f

Option 2: Use Registry Editor

Step 1: Run Registry Editor.

Step 2: Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerSettings\ 54533251-82be-4824-96c1-47b60b740d00\ 94D3A615-A899-4AC5-AE2B-E4D8F634367F

Step 3: Find Attributes, and set its value to 2. Then restart the computer to restore the system cooling policy option.

change attributes in registry editor

FAQS about System Cooling Policy in Windows 10

Q1: Is changing the system cooling policy safe?

Yes, it’s a built-in feature of Windows and won’t harm your system or void your warranty.

Q2: Can I set different cooling modes for battery and plugged-in use?

Absolutely. Windows allows you to set separate cooling policies for battery and AC power.

Q3: The system cooling policy setting disappeared. What do I do?

Use the PowerShell or Registry method above to restore it.

Conclusions

By configuring the system cooling policy, you can control how your PC balances performance and temperature. Active mode is best for desktops and demanding tasks, while passive mode is useful for quieter and cooler laptop use.

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