How to Disable the Windows 10 ‘Save power and know when a device is connected’ Option

The Phantom Disconnects

Windows 10 includes advanced power management features designed to extend the battery life of laptops and tablets. One of these features affects how Windows handles Bluetooth and internal USB devices. A setting typically labelled “Save power and know when a device is connected” allows Windows to completely cut power to certain communication radios when it believes they are not in active use, relying on a low-power listening state to detect when a peripheral tries to re-establish a connection.

While this is great for battery conservation, it often wreaks havoc on desktop PCs or laptops that are plugged into the wall. If you are using a Bluetooth mouse, keyboard, or headset, this aggressive power management can cause the device to randomly disconnect if you leave it idle for a few minutes. When you move the mouse again, there will be a noticeable, frustrating delay before the cursor responds as Windows scrambles to restore power to the Bluetooth radio. If you value a stable, always-on connection over microscopic power savings, you need to disable this behavior.

How to Stop Windows from Sleeping Devices

You can prevent Windows from cutting power to your connectivity radios via the Device Manager.

1. Right-click the Start button (or press Windows Key + X) to open the Power User menu.
2. Select Device Manager from the list.
3. In the Device Manager window, expand the Bluetooth category (and optionally, the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” category).
4. Right-click on your primary Bluetooth adapter (often named “Intel Wireless Bluetooth” or “Generic Bluetooth Adapter”) and select Properties.
5. In the Properties window, click on the Power Management tab at the top.
6. Look for the checkbox labelled Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
7. Click the checkbox to remove the checkmark.
8. Click OK to save your changes.

Your Bluetooth adapter will now receive constant, uninterrupted power. Your wireless peripherals will remain actively connected even when idle, eliminating the frustrating wake-up delays.