How-to Import and Export Power Schemes

Posted on: 12.12.07 by Brent Trahan

This guide shows you how to export and import power schemes in Windows Vista.

Let’s say you have a small network of computers and you want all of them to use the exact same custom power scheme. This guide shows you how to export a custom power scheme and then import it on other computers. This is also a great way to backup a custom power scheme.

Export/Import a Power Scheme

I’m assuming you’ve already created a custom power scheme and your computer is currently using it.

Export a Power Scheme

  1. Before you can export a power scheme you need to find out what its GUID is. Open the command prompt with administrative rights by going to Start, All Programs, Accessories, right-click Command Prompt and then select Run as administrator.
  2. Type powercfg –getactivescheme and then press Enter on your keyboard.
  3. You should get something that looks like Power Scheme GUID: 8bb9a8cb-c43c-4915-9178-28cad1baa9e4 (MyCustomPowerPlan). The GUID is the long random string of characters (8bb9a8cb-c43c-4915-9178-28cad1baa9e4).
  4. Now we can export the power scheme by typing powercfg –export c:\exportedscheme.pow 8bb9a8cb-c43c-4915-9178-28cad1baa9e4. c:\exportedscheme.pow is the file name and location of the exported power scheme and 8bb9a8cb-c43c-4915-9178-28cad1baa9e4 is the GUID of that power scheme.
  5. Go to Start, Computer, C: drive, and the exported power scheme called exportedscheme.pow should be there.

Import a Power Scheme

I’m assuming the power scheme file you want to import is called exportedscheme.pow and is located in the root of your C: drive for this example.

  1. Open the command prompt with administrative rights by going to Start, All Programs, Accessories, right-click Command Prompt and then select Run as administrator.
  2. Type powercfg –import c:\exportedscheme.pow and then press Enter on your keyboard.

The power scheme should be imported.

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One Response to “How-to Import and Export Power Schemes”

  1. Willem Says:
    March 29th, 2008 at 5:06 pm

    This how-to was very helpfull, thank you! Just one comment:
    In my Vista Business (dutch) powercfg only accepts parameters in uppercase, f.i. powercfg –GETACTICESCHEME

    cheers, Willem

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