---
title: "NVMe idle timeout and power states: stopping an SSD from dozing mid-game"
description: "NVMe drives drop into low power states after a short idle time and need a moment to wake. What it changes, when it hurts, and how to undo it."
url: https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/nvme-idle-power-states
author: Frost LIVE, Founder of Frozen Tweaks
published: 2026-10-08
updated: 2026-10-08
category: "Power"
source: Frozen Tweaks (https://frozentweaks.com)
---

# NVMe idle timeout and power states: stopping an SSD from dozing mid-game

**Short answer:** NVMe drives drop into low power states after a short idle time and need a moment to wake. This tweak sets the NVMe idle timeouts in the active power plan so the drive stays in its active state.

## In the app

- Switch: NVMe Idle Power Off (Power, Pro, Advanced)
- Undo: Yes. Switching it off sets a standard Windows value, which may not be exactly how you had it.
- Game profiles that switch it on: ARC Raiders, Battlefield 6, Call of Duty and 5 more
- Catalog row: https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks#t-1108

## What it does

NVMe drives drop into low power states after a short idle time and need a moment to wake. This tweak sets the NVMe idle timeouts in the active power plan so the drive stays in its active state.

In the app the switch is called "NVMe Idle Power Off", described there as: Disables NVMe idle power state transitions to prevent latency spikes.

## When it helps

- Short hitches when a game reads from an NVMe drive after a quiet moment.

## When it hurts

- The drive uses more power and runs warmer at idle, which matters on a laptop.
- Many drives wake so quickly that the difference cannot be felt.

## What it writes

Read from the app's source. "Switching it off" is what the app writes when you turn the tweak off again.

This tweak has no fixed list of registry values: it works through a driver's own settings, scheduled tasks or values that differ from PC to PC. The app reads what your PC has and changes only that.

## How to undo it

Switch the tweak off in Frozen Tweaks.

## Verdict

Fine on a desktop. On battery it costs more than it gives.

## Questions

### Is "NVMe Idle Power Off" safe to switch on?

Fine on a desktop. On battery it costs more than it gives. The main cost: The drive uses more power and runs warmer at idle, which matters on a laptop.

### How do I undo it?

Switch the tweak off in Frozen Tweaks. Switching it off sets a standard Windows value, which may not be exactly how you had it.

### Is "NVMe Idle Power Off" free in Frozen Tweaks?

It is part of Frozen Pro and Elite. You can also make the change by hand with the values on this page.

## Related guides

- [How to Fix Stuttering and Frame Drops: Diagnose Before You Tweak](https://frozentweaks.com/guides/fix-stuttering-frame-drops)

## More tweak explainers

- [Fast Startup](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/disable-fast-startup)
- [Hibernation](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/disable-hibernation)
- [High performance power plan](https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/high-performance-power-plan)

---
Written by Frost LIVE, founder of Frozen Tweaks. Canonical version: https://frozentweaks.com/tweaks/nvme-idle-power-states