WiFi power management issues often cause frustrating disconnections, slow speeds, or unstable connections, particularly on Windows and Linux systems. These problems typically occur when the operating system aggressively conserves power by throttling the wireless adapter, leading to dropped connections or reduced performance. The most effective solutions involve disabling power-saving features in both the network adapter settings and system-wide power plans. For Windows users, this means adjusting settings in Device Manager and Power Options, while Linux users may need to modify connection profiles via terminal commands. Hardware-specific solutions, like updating drivers or disabling modern standby features, can also resolve persistent issues.

Key findings from the sources:

• Windows systems require disabling "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" in Device Manager and setting wireless adapter power options to "Maximum Performance" ^[2][7]
• Linux distributions (like Ubuntu 25.04) may need NetworkManager overrides to prevent power-saving modes from throttling WiFi speeds ^[6]
• Steam Deck and other devices often hide power management settings behind developer modes or advanced menus ^[3]
• Missing Power Management tabs in Device Manager can indicate modern standby conflicts or driver issues, requiring alternative solutions like BIOS adjustments ^[9]

Fixing WiFi Power Management Issues

Adjusting Windows Power Management Settings

Windows systems frequently experience WiFi instability due to aggressive power-saving features that prioritize battery life over connectivity. The primary solutions involve two critical adjustments: disabling device-specific power saving in Device Manager and configuring system-wide power plans. These changes prevent the OS from throttling the wireless adapter during idle periods or when running on battery.

For Windows 11 and 10 users, the most direct method is accessing the Power Management tab in the network adapter's properties:

1. Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting it from the menu ^[1]
2. Expand the Network adapters section and double-click your WiFi adapter (e.g., Intel Wi-Fi 6 or Qualcomm Atheros)
3. Navigate to the Power Management tab and uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" ^[7][9]
4. Click OK to save changes and restart the device

If the Power Management tab is missing—common in modern standby systems—users report these alternative approaches:

• Update the wireless driver through Device Manager or the manufacturer's website, as newer drivers often restore missing tabs ^[7]
• Disable Modern Standby in BIOS/UEFI settings, though this may reduce battery life ^[9]
• Use Power Options to set both "Plugged in" and "On battery" wireless adapter settings to Maximum Performance:
• Search for "Edit power plan" in the Start menu
• Select "Change advanced power settings"
• Expand Wireless Adapter Settings > Power Saving Mode and set both options to Maximum Performance ^[2][5]

Windows updates occasionally reset these settings, so users should verify them after major updates. For persistent issues, some report success by completely uninstalling and reinstalling the wireless driver through Device Manager ^[1][7].

Configuring Power Settings in Linux and Specialized Devices

Linux distributions and devices like the Steam Deck handle WiFi power management differently, often requiring terminal commands or developer mode access. Ubuntu 25.04, for example, defaults to a "Balanced" power mode that aggressively throttles WiFi speeds (powersave=3), even when users disable power-saving features in the GUI. The solution involves creating NetworkManager overrides to maintain consistent performance.

For Ubuntu and similar distributions, the recommended fix uses the nmcli command:

1. Open a terminal and list active connections with:

nmcli connection show

1. Note your connection name (e.g., "MyWiFi") and create an override with:

sudo nmcli connection modify "MyWiFi" wifi.powersave 2

(Where "2" represents moderate power saving; use "0" to disable entirely)

1. Restart NetworkManager to apply changes:

sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

Steam Deck users must enable Developer Mode to access hidden power settings:

1. Navigate to Settings > System and toggle Developer Mode ON
2. A new Developer section appears in the side menu—select it
3. Locate the WiFi Power Management option and disable it

For both Linux and specialized devices, additional troubleshooting steps include:

• Verifying the latest firmware updates for the wireless card, as older versions may lack proper power management support ^[4]
• Checking for kernel parameters that force power-saving modes by examining:

iwconfig

(Look for "Power Management:on" and disable with iwconfig wlan0 power off)

• Monitoring connection stability with tools like ping or mtr to identify patterns of disconnection during low activity periods ^[10]

Users report that these changes often resolve issues like:

• WiFi speeds dropping to 1-5 Mbps despite 500+ Mbps connections ^[6]
• Intermittent disconnections during video streaming or downloads
• Failure to reconnect after sleep/suspend cycles ^[9]