Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
To reduce power used by a wired Ethernet adapter, use the energy-saving features supported by its driver—such as selective suspend, device sleep on disconnect, or an Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) option. The exact controls vary by network adapter and driver. In Device Manager, check the Ethernet adapter you actually use, note its current settings, and change one supported power-saving option at a time.
Find the Ethernet adapter you actually use
- Open Device Manager.
- Expand Network adapters.
- Select the wired Ethernet adapter connected to your network. Check its name and properties rather than changing every listed adapter: the list may include Wi-Fi, virtual, dock, or unused adapters.
Adapter names and available controls come from the installed hardware and driver. If you are unsure which Ethernet entry is active, check its status and properties before changing anything.
Inspect the adapter’s power-saving options
Open the Ethernet adapter’s Properties. Look for a Power Management tab and, separately, an Advanced tab. Depending on the driver, an Ethernet power-saving feature may be called Energy Efficient Ethernet, EEE, Green Ethernet, or something similar. Some adapters expose none of these controls.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Before editing a setting, record its current value. For an energy-efficiency goal, leave supported power-saving features enabled or enable them when the driver provides a clear option. Do not assume that the checkbox Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power is the same thing as EEE: it is an adapter power-management control, while EEE is an Ethernet link feature.
#1 Best Overall
- 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 - This device is meant for for areas where thick walls block Ethernet connections, where routers or range extenders do not work. Compatible with all TP-Link powerline adapters.
- 𝐀𝐕𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐔𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝟕𝟓𝟎 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐭 - Powered by HomePlug AV2, delivers AV1000 powerline speeds through existing electrical wiring. Speeds cannot exceed your internet plan's limit and may be lower due to wiring quality, distance, and interference.
- Ideal for multi-story homes, basements, attics, and garages.
- 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐮𝐲 - Adapters must be plugged directly into wall outlets on the same electrical circuit. Does not work with power strips, surge protectors, or extension cords. Place away from large appliances, such as washing machines, refrigerators, and air conditioners.
- 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲 - Performance may be limited or blocked in homes with AFCI breakers, which are standard in many homes built after 2000. Powerline may also not work with routers or gateways using modified, open-source (e.g., DD-WRT), or non-standard firmware.
If you are troubleshooting dropped connectivity, a link that fails to return after sleep, or another specific symptom, change only one relevant setting at a time. Compare the result with the symptom and restore the original value if behavior gets worse. The same power-saving control that reduces idle power may not suit every adapter, driver, or network setup.
Understand what the Windows power features do
Network adapters use power states. D0 is the fully powered working state. D1, D2, and D3 are sleeping states, with higher-numbered states using less power. D3 can retain some power as D3hot or reach zero as D3cold; the behavior depends on the device.
Rank #2
- EXTEND YOUR ETHERNET CONNECTION THROUGH YOUR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - This device is meant for individuals that are not able to extend their Ethernet connections where routers or range extenders do not work. Speed cannot exceed your internet plan’s limit.
- HOMEPLUG AV2 - Delivers AV2000 powerline speeds over existing electrical wiring, extending home network wired connectivity by up to 750ft through thick walls and other barriers. Ideal for multi-story homes, basements, attics, and garages.
- CHECK BEFORE YOU BUY - Adapters must be plugged directly into wall outlets on the same electrical circuit. Does not work with power strips, surge protectors, or extension cords. Place away from large appliances, such as washing machines, refrigerators, and air conditioners.
- ADVISORY - Performance may be limited or blocked in homes with AFCI breakers, which are standard in many homes built after 2000. Powerline may also not work with routers or gateways using modified, open-source (e.g., DD-WRT), or non-standard firmware.
- 2 GIGABIT PORTS - Provides a secure wired network for connected devices, such as desktops, smart TVs, game consoles, and more. Ethernet cables are included. Tip: Expand connections with an Ethernet switch (sold separately).
Windows’ adapter power-management features are related, but they are not interchangeable:
- Selective suspend lets Windows’ NDIS networking subsystem suspend an idle adapter into a low-power state, reducing power overhead for both the processor and adapter.
- Device sleep on disconnect allows the adapter to enter low-power standby when the network medium is disconnected, then wake when the medium reconnects.
- EEE or Green Ethernet is a driver- and hardware-dependent Ethernet feature exposed, if supported, through the adapter’s properties.
Lower-power states can reduce power while the adapter is idle or disconnected, but the adapter is not fully active in those states. The effect on responsiveness, wake behavior, and connectivity depends on the hardware and configuration.
Rank #3
- 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 - This device is meant for individuals that are not able to extend their Ethernet connections where routers or range extenders do not work. Speeds cannot exceed your internet plan’s limit.
- 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐠 𝐀𝐕𝟐 - Delivers AV1000 powerline speeds over existing electrical wiring, extending home network wired connectivity through thick walls and other barriers. Ideal for multi-story homes, basements, attics, and garages.
- 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐮𝐲 - Adapters must be plugged directly into wall outlets on the same electrical circuit. Does not work with power strips, surge protectors, or extension cords. Place away from large appliances, such as washing machines, refrigerators, and air conditioners.
- 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲 - Performance may be limited or blocked in homes with AFCI breakers, which are standard in many homes built after 2000. Powerline may also not work with routers or gateways using modified, open-source (e.g., DD-WRT), or non-standard firmware.
- 𝐆𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭 - provides secure wired networks for desktops, smart TVs or games consoles. Ethernet cables are included.
Query or configure supported features with PowerShell
Microsoft’s NetAdapter PowerShell module provides commands to query or set adapter power-management properties. Feature-specific controls include selective suspend and device sleep on disconnect, as well as wake controls and packet coalescing. A command accepting a setting does not mean every adapter supports that feature.
Run PowerShell with appropriate permissions and use the adapter’s actual local name. To inspect available power-management properties, use:
Rank #4
- EXTEND YOUR ETHERNET CONNECTION THROUGH YOUR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - This device is meant for areas where thick walls block Ethernet connections, where routers or range extenders do not work. Compatible with all TP-Link powerline adapters.
- AV600 SPEEDS UP TO 750 FEET - Delivers AV600 powerline speeds through existing electrical wiring. Speeds cannot exceed your internet plan's limit and may be lower due to wiring quality, distance, and interference.
- Ideal for multi-story homes, basements, attics, and garages.
- CHECK BEFORE YOU BUY - Adapters must be plugged directly into wall outlets on the same electrical circuit. Does not work with power strips, surge protectors, or extension cords. Place away from large appliances, such as washing machines, refrigerators, and air conditioners.
- ADVISORY - Performance may be limited or blocked in homes with AFCI breakers, which are standard in many homes built after 2000. Powerline may also not work with routers or gateways using modified, open-source (e.g., DD-WRT), or non-standard firmware.
Get-NetAdapterPowerManagement -Name "Ethernet"Replace Ethernet with the name shown on your system. The feature-specific command Set-NetAdapterPowerManagement can configure supported properties; consult Microsoft’s Set-NetAdapterPowerManagement documentation for its parameters.
Do not use Disable-NetAdapterPowerManagement -Name "Ethernet" as an energy-saving step. With no feature switches, it disables the power-management features covered by the cmdlet and, by default, restarts the adapter. That can briefly interrupt connectivity. Microsoft documents -NoRestart to suppress the automatic restart, but many advanced property changes need an adapter restart before they take effect. See the Disable-NetAdapterPowerManagement documentation before using the command.
Best Value
- Use your existing household electrical wiring to extend your existing Internet service to any room in your house..Standards: IEEE 1901 compliant. IEEE 802.3 compliant, this is not a Wi-Fi device
- Homeplug AV2 technology supports Gigabit speeds through your electrical outlets for improved coverage
- Extremely fast Powerline adapter for Gigabit speeds, perfect for connecting your existing internet access to smart TVs, streaming players & game consoles with 4K HD streaming and lag-free gaming through household electrical wiring, this is not a WiFI device
- Extra plug with our noise filtered power outlet built into the adapter to ensure top performance
- Multiple data streams (MIMO) with Beamforming technology to offer improved coverage by directing the signal where you need it through existing household electrical wiring, this is not a Wi-Fi device
Keep PCIe link-state power management separate
Windows also has a power-plan setting for PCI Express link state power management. Microsoft describes Moderate Power Savings and Maximum Power Savings in terms of attempting PCIe L0 and L1 states while the link is idle. This controls PCIe link policy; it is not the same as Ethernet EEE or a network driver’s adapter power-management properties. Microsoft lists the setting as hidden in its Link state power management documentation.
Apply a change and check the result
- Change one supported power-saving setting in Device Manager or PowerShell.
- Restart the adapter if the driver requires it. Expect a brief loss of network connectivity during a restart.
- Check the outcome that matters to you: idle power, dependable link operation, or reconnection after sleep. Restore the recorded value if stability or wake behavior worsens.
The cited Microsoft documentation describes the settings and power states but does not establish a typical wattage or percentage saved by enabling them. To quantify your own result, you would need a power meter and a controlled comparison; the setting alone is not evidence of a particular saving.
When an Ethernet power option is missing
A missing tab or setting does not necessarily indicate a Windows problem. Device Manager’s power controls and Advanced properties depend on the adapter and its driver, and their names and availability vary. Microsoft Q&A discussions include readers unable to find EEE controls and readers reporting network problems after sleep, but community replies do not guarantee a universal UI path or fix. See the discussions on finding Energy Efficient Ethernet controls and connectivity after waking from sleep.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsIf neither Device Manager nor the supported PowerShell properties exposes the feature you need, that control may not be available through the installed adapter and driver. Do not apply a setting intended for a different adapter just because its label sounds similar.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
