---
title: "Laptop running hot after tweaking? Check the power plan"
description: "The free Optimize Windows Power Plan tweak keeps the CPU ready for games, so some laptops run hot. Switch it off, or pick Balanced after the one-click run."
url: https://frozentweaks.com/help/laptop-heat-power-plan
author: Frost LIVE, founder of Frozen Tweaks
published: 2026-10-01
updated: 2026-10-01
category: "Help center"
source: Frozen Tweaks (https://frozentweaks.com)
---

# Laptop running hot after tweaking? Check the power plan

**Short answer:** A high-performance power plan keeps the CPU at higher clock speeds, so a laptop can run hotter, get louder and drain its battery faster. If yours does, switch off the Optimize Windows Power Plan tweak in Frozen Tweaks, and Windows goes back to the plan you used before. After the Pro one-click run, pick Balanced in Power Options yourself.

**In the FAQ:** [Will it help a weak PC or a laptop?](https://frozentweaks.com/#faq-weak-pc)

## How to go back to a cooler plan

1. **Switch off the power plan tweak**: In Frozen Tweaks, switch off **Optimize Windows Power Plan**. The app switches back to the power plan you used before and deletes the **Frozen Ultimate Power Plan** it made.
2. **Or pick Balanced yourself**: Press Windows key + R, type `powercfg.cpl` and press Enter. Select **Balanced (recommended)**. After the Pro one-click run, this is the way to change the plan.
3. **Check two more tweaks**: [Disable Power Throttling](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/disable-power-throttling) (free) and [Disable CPU Core Parking](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/disable-core-parking) (Pro) cost battery and add heat on laptops. Switch them off if you often play on battery.

## Why does a power plan change heat?

A power plan decides how quickly Windows raises and lowers your CPU's speed and which parts may save power. A high-performance plan keeps the CPU ready for sudden load, which is what games want, but a laptop then draws more power, runs warmer and spins its fans up sooner. Balanced lets the CPU slow down when it isn't busy.

On a desktop with good cooling, that trade is usually fine. On a laptop, heat and battery come first, and a hot laptop can slow itself down to cool off.

Prefer the command line? `powercfg /list` shows your plans, and `powercfg /setactive` with a plan's GUID switches to it ([Powercfg command-line options](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/device-experiences/powercfg-command-line-options)).

## Does Frozen AI change the power plan?

Frozen AI (Pro) tries the High Performance plan only while a supported game is in the foreground and your laptop is plugged in. On battery it skips that step. Leave the game or switch Frozen AI off, and everything goes back.

> **Windows 11 power mode:** With Balanced selected, Windows 11 also has a **Power mode** under Settings, System, Power & battery. Pick **Best performance** while you play plugged in, and a lower mode on battery.

## Questions

### Does switching the power plan tweak off undo my other tweaks?

No. Each tweak is its own switch. Switching off Optimize Windows Power Plan only changes the power plan.

### Do the game profiles switch the power plan tweak on?

Yes. The Fortnite and VALORANT profiles (Pro) both include Optimize Windows Power Plan, so on a laptop, check the plan after you apply a profile too.

## Sources

- [Powercfg command-line options (Microsoft Learn)](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/device-experiences/powercfg-command-line-options)

## Related help

- [Undo a tweak, or roll back the one-click run](https://frozentweaks.com/help/undo-tweak-roll-back)
- [Turn on System Protection so Windows can make restore points](https://frozentweaks.com/help/turn-on-system-protection-restore-points)

---
Written by Frost LIVE, founder of Frozen Tweaks. Help center: https://frozentweaks.com/help. Canonical version: https://frozentweaks.com/help/laptop-heat-power-plan