The Throttled Experience
Google Chrome includes an Energy Saver mode designed to extend laptop battery life by reducing background activity, limiting visual effects (such as smooth scrolling and animations), and lowering the frame rate of video playback. By default, Chrome automatically activates Energy Saver when your laptop’s battery drops below 20% (or in some configurations, whenever the device is unplugged from power). While the battery savings are measurable, the visual compromises are immediately noticeable — websites stutter during scrolling, embedded videos look choppy, CSS animations freeze, and interactive web applications feel sluggish. For users who prioritise performance over battery endurance, or who are always near a charger, this automatic throttling is unwelcome.
Disabling Energy Saver Mode
To stop Google Chrome from automatically enabling Energy Saver mode when your battery is low or when you unplug from power, you must change the Performance settings within the browser.
Open Google Chrome. Click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner and select Settings. In the left-hand navigation pane, click on Performance. Look for the Energy Saver section. You will see options such as “Turn on when my battery is at 20% or lower,” “Turn on when my computer is unplugged,” or simply a toggle switch. Select Off or choose Never from the available options. This prevents Chrome from reducing its rendering performance regardless of your battery state. The setting takes effect immediately — no browser restart is required. If you do not see the Performance section, your Chrome version may use an older UI; in that case, navigate to chrome://flags, search for “Battery Saver Mode” or “Energy Saver,” and set the flag to Disabled.