How to Turn Off Efficiency Mode Windows 11 Permanently (All Apps & Browsers)

Windows 11’s Efficiency Mode is designed to save battery and reduce CPU usage—but for power users, gamers, and creators, it often does the opposite of what you want. If you’ve noticed slower performance in Chrome, Edge, Steam, or Task Manager, this guide shows how to turn off Efficiency Mode in Windows 11 permanently.

Whether you’re using Chrome, Opera GX, Firefox, Edge, or Steam, this step-by-step guide covers every working method.

Why Windows 11 Enables Efficiency Mode

Efficiency Mode limits:

• CPU priority
• Background activity
• Power usage

It’s useful for laptops, but bad for performance-heavy apps, gaming clients, and browsers with many tabs.

If you want maximum speed instead of battery savings, disabling it is the right move.

Method 1: Turn Off Efficiency Mode from Task Manager (Fastest Way)

This is the most common and safest method.

Steps:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
2. Go to the Processes tab
3. Right-click the app showing a leaf icon
4. Click Efficiency mode to disable it

✅ This works for:

• Chrome
• Edge
• Firefox
• Opera GX
• Steam
• Background apps

This method answers how to turn off efficiency mode Windows 11 Task Manager directly.

⚠️ Note: Windows may re-enable it after a restart for some apps.

Method 2: Disable Efficiency Mode for Chrome Permanently

If you’re searching for how to turn off efficiency mode Windows 11 Chrome, do this:

Steps:

1. Open Google Chrome
2. Go to Settings → Performance
3. Turn OFF:
   • Memory Saver
   • Energy Saver
4. Restart Chrome

This prevents Chrome from triggering Windows Efficiency Mode again.

Method 3: Turn Off Efficiency Mode in Microsoft Edge

For users asking how to turn off efficiency mode Windows 11 Edge:

Steps:

1. Open Microsoft Edge
2. Go to Settings → System and performance
3. Disable:
   • Efficiency Mode
   • Sleeping Tabs
4. Set Performance mode to Best performance

Edge respects these settings even after reboot.

Method 4: Disable Efficiency Mode in Opera GX

Opera GX users often see sudden FPS drops.

Steps:

1. Open Opera GX
2. Go to GX Control
3. Turn OFF:
   • RAM Limiter
   • CPU Limiter
   • Battery Saver
4. Restart the browser

This solves how to turn off efficiency mode Windows 11 Opera GX issues.

Method 5: Turn Off Efficiency Mode in Firefox

Firefox doesn’t label it clearly, but it still triggers Windows limits.

Steps:

1. Open Firefox
2. Go to Settings → General
3. Scroll to Performance
4. Uncheck:
   • Use recommended performance settings
5. Set Content process limit to High

This fixes how to turn off efficiency mode Windows 11 Firefox.

Method 6: Disable Efficiency Mode for Steam (Important for Gamers)

If games feel throttled, Steam is often the cause.

Steps:

1. Open Task Manager
2. Right-click Steam Client WebHelper
3. Disable Efficiency mode
4. Repeat for all Steam processes

This method directly answers how to turn off efficiency mode Windows 11 Steam.

Advanced Method: Prevent Windows from Auto-Throttling Apps

Change Power Mode:

1. Open Settings → System → Power & Battery
2. Set Power mode to Best performance

Optional (Advanced Users):

Disable background restrictions in Startup Apps and Graphics Settings.

When Should You Keep Efficiency Mode ON?

Keep it enabled if:

• You’re on battery power
• You use lightweight apps
• You want longer laptop battery life

Disable it if:

• You’re gaming
• Editing videos
• Running browsers with many tabs
• Using performance-critical software

Helpful Internal Guides

You may also find these useful:

• 👉 How to disable firewall on Windows 11
• 👉 How to disable integrated graphics in BIOS
• 👉 How to temporarily disable Instagram account

Final Verdict

Turning off Efficiency Mode in Windows 11 permanently can significantly boost performance—especially for browsers, Steam, and productivity apps. While Windows may re-enable it occasionally, following the app-specific steps above minimizes throttling and keeps your system running at full speed.

FAQ (Short Answers for AI Overviews)

Can I permanently turn off Efficiency Mode in Windows 11?

You can disable it per app, but Windows may re-enable it after updates or restarts.

Does Efficiency Mode reduce performance?

Yes, it lowers CPU priority and background activity.

Is Efficiency Mode bad for gaming?

Yes, especially for Steam and browser-based launchers.

Why does Windows keep enabling Efficiency Mode?

Windows prioritizes battery life over performance by default.