Disable modern standby on Windows 10 and 11

Modern Standby (also called S0 Low Power Idle) is a sleep mode that Microsoft introduced to make Windows PCs wake instantly—similar to smartphones. While it sounds convenient, it often causes headaches: excessive battery drain, overheating in sleep, and unreliable wake-up behavior. Many users want to switch back to the classic S3 “Sleep” mode or at least stop Modern Standby from causing problems.

Here’s how to check if your device uses Modern Standby, and how to disable it if you want more control over your PC’s power behavior.

What Is Modern Standby?

Modern Standby lets your computer remain connected to Wi-Fi and some apps (like email or Skype) even while asleep. It’s supposed to help your PC stay up to date, but in reality, it can lead to battery and overheating issues—especially on laptops.

Step 1: Check If Your PC Uses Modern Standby

Before trying to disable it, check if your device supports Modern Standby.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Type: powercfg /a
3. Press Enter.

• If you see “Standby (S0 Low Power Idle)” in the list, your PC uses Modern Standby.
• If you see “Standby (S3),” you have the classic sleep mode.

Step 2: Disabling Modern Standby

Warning: Disabling Modern Standby involves editing the Windows Registry. This is advanced stuff. Back up your data and proceed at your own risk.

Option 1: Check for Firmware/Bios Settings

Some laptops (especially business models) offer a way to disable Modern Standby in the BIOS or UEFI firmware.

• Reboot your PC and enter BIOS/UEFI (usually by pressing F2, F10, DEL, or ESC at startup).
• Look for settings named “Modern Standby,” “S0 Low Power Idle,” or similar.
• Set it to Disabled.
• Save and exit BIOS.

If your BIOS has this option, it’s the safest way to disable Modern Standby.

Option 2: Windows Registry Tweak

If there’s no BIOS option, you can try the following registry hack:

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power
3. Right-click in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
4. Name it: PlatformAoAcOverride
5. Set the value to 1.
6. Restart your PC.

Note: This method does not work on all hardware. Some manufacturers (especially Microsoft Surface and some Lenovo/HP/Dell models) lock Modern Standby at the firmware level.

Step 3: Confirm Changes

Run powercfg /a again in Command Prompt. If you now see S3 Sleep in the list, the change worked. If not, your device may not support disabling Modern Standby.

Should You Disable Modern Standby?

Pros:

• Less battery drain while asleep
• Lower risk of overheating
• Fewer wake/sleep glitches

Cons:

• Some devices might lose “Instant On” features
• May break compatibility with certain Windows features

Final Thoughts

Modern Standby can be more trouble than it’s worth for some users. If you care about battery life, reliability, and a cool laptop, disabling it is often worth a try. Just know that not all hardware supports turning it off.

If you run into problems, you can always reverse the registry change by deleting the PlatformAoAcOverride entry.

Questions or need help with a specific model? Drop a comment below!

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!