How to improve battery life in Linux systems
2 June. 2022
How-To
Linux based systems also known as Distros which is short for distributions, have many advantages over other operation systems but also they have downs! One if these cons is the horrible battery life while using them on a notebook or a laptop or any other portable computers.
If you ever used Microsoft Windows on a laptop/notebook before then used that same PC to run a Linux based OS you’re going to notice the huge gap when it comes to battery life; Same can be said about Mac…
There are no main reason to blame this on, but definitely it’s a kernel tweaking issue mixed with some proprietary drivers optimization problem. And that’s when software like tlp comes in handy!
It can do all these tweaks for you automatically and in every system boot without you having to do it every time you login or you Un-plug/Plug-in the charger cable, It can also be set to follow certain rules as well as using profiles or a config file.
Installation
Nothing special, just use your package manager followed by the name of the package “tlp”.
Debian based (Ubuntu, Pop!_OS, Mint…)
Make sure you have the PPA first:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:linrunner/tlp
then update packages:
sudo apt update
now install:
sudo apt install tlp
Arch based (Manjaro, ArcoLinux…)
pacman -S tlp
Now start the service:
systemctl enable tlp.service
For more installation details visit THIS link.
Usage
Once you install it and the service has started it will work out of the box, no need to configure or go through tweaks because that will defeat the purpose of this program. But you can change profiles or check stats…etc.
If you just installed it and don’t want to reboot the system then just use:
sudo tlp start
Check stats:
tlp-stat -s
“s” is short for summary. Remove the flag if you want a full report which going to require root privileges.
AC = Charging/Plugged-in - Battery = It’s running on battery.
If you want to optimize it to your needs then modify the config file in /etc/tlp.conf. You can find all the settings Here. And here’s my config file which i haven’t updated in a while so use with caution (comments included just in case):
# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# https://xen-e.github.io/2022/06/02/linux-battery-life.html
# Hint: some features are disabled by default, remove the leading # to enable
# them.
# Set to 0 to disable, 1 to enable TLP.
TLP_ENABLE=1
# Operation mode when no power supply can be detected: AC, BAT.
# Concerns some desktop and embedded hardware only.
TLP_DEFAULT_MODE=AC
# Operation mode select: 0=depend on power source, 1=always use TLP_DEFAULT_MODE
# Hint: use in conjunction with TLP_DEFAULT_MODE=BAT for BAT settings on AC.
TLP_PERSISTENT_DEFAULT=0
# Seconds laptop mode has to wait after the disk goes idle before doing a sync.
# Non-zero value enables, zero disables laptop mode.
DISK_IDLE_SECS_ON_AC=0
DISK_IDLE_SECS_ON_BAT=1
# Dirty page values (timeouts in secs).
MAX_LOST_WORK_SECS_ON_AC=15
MAX_LOST_WORK_SECS_ON_BAT=60
# Hint: CPU parameters below are disabled by default, remove the leading #
# to enable them, otherwise kernel default values are used.
# Select a CPU frequency scaling governor.
# Intel Core i processor with intel_pstate driver:
# powersave(*), performance.
# Older hardware with acpi-cpufreq driver:
# ondemand(*), powersave, performance, conservative, schedutil.
# (*) is recommended.
# Hint: use tlp-stat -p to show the active driver and available governors.
# Important:
# powersave for intel_pstate and ondemand for acpi-cpufreq are power
# efficient for *almost all* workloads and therefore kernel and most
# distributions have chosen them as defaults. If you still want to change,
# you should know what you're doing! You *must* disable your distribution's
# governor settings or conflicts will occur.
CPU_SCALING_GOVERNOR_ON_AC=performance
CPU_SCALING_GOVERNOR_ON_BAT=powersave
# Set the min/max frequency available for the scaling governor.
# Possible values strongly depend on your CPU. For available frequencies see
# the output of tlp-stat -p.
#CPU_SCALING_MIN_FREQ_ON_AC=0
#CPU_SCALING_MAX_FREQ_ON_AC=0
#CPU_SCALING_MIN_FREQ_ON_BAT=0
#CPU_SCALING_MAX_FREQ_ON_BAT=0
# Set energy performance hints (HWP) for Intel P-state governor:
# performance, balance_performance, default, balance_power, power
# Values are given in order of increasing power saving.
# Note: Intel Skylake or newer CPU and Kernel >= 4.10 required.
CPU_HWP_ON_AC=performance
CPU_HWP_ON_BAT=balance_power
# Set Intel P-state performance: 0..100 (%).
# Limit the max/min P-state to control the power dissipation of the CPU.
# Values are stated as a percentage of the available performance.
# Requires an Intel Core i processor with intel_pstate driver.
CPU_MIN_PERF_ON_AC=0
CPU_MAX_PERF_ON_AC=100
CPU_MIN_PERF_ON_BAT=0
CPU_MAX_PERF_ON_BAT=30
# Set the CPU "turbo boost" feature: 0=disable, 1=allow
# Requires an Intel Core i processor.
# Important:
# - This may conflict with your distribution's governor settings
# - A value of 1 does *not* activate boosting, it just allows it
CPU_BOOST_ON_AC=1
CPU_BOOST_ON_BAT=0
# Minimize number of used CPU cores/hyper-threads under light load conditions:
# 0=disable, 1=enable.
SCHED_POWERSAVE_ON_AC=0
SCHED_POWERSAVE_ON_BAT=1
# Kernel NMI Watchdog:
# 0=disable (default, saves power), 1=enable (for kernel debugging only).
NMI_WATCHDOG=0
# Change CPU voltages aka "undervolting" - Kernel with PHC patch required.
# Frequency voltage pairs are written to:
# /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/phc_controls
# CAUTION: only use this, if you thoroughly understand what you are doing!
#PHC_CONTROLS="F:V F:V F:V F:V"
# Set CPU performance versus energy savings policy:
# performance, balance-performance, default, balance-power, power.
# Values are given in order of increasing power saving.
# Requires kernel module msr and x86_energy_perf_policy from linux-tools.
ENERGY_PERF_POLICY_ON_AC=performance
ENERGY_PERF_POLICY_ON_BAT=power
# Disk devices; separate multiple devices with spaces (default: sda).
# Devices can be specified by disk ID also (lookup with: tlp diskid).
DISK_DEVICES="sda sdb"
# Disk advanced power management level: 1..254, 255 (max saving, min, off).
# Levels 1..127 may spin down the disk; 255 allowable on most drives.
# Separate values for multiple disks with spaces. Use the special value 'keep'
# to keep the hardware default for the particular disk.
DISK_APM_LEVEL_ON_AC="254 254"
DISK_APM_LEVEL_ON_BAT="128 128"
# Hard disk spin down timeout:
# 0: spin down disabled
# 1..240: timeouts from 5s to 20min (in units of 5s)
# 241..251: timeouts from 30min to 5.5 hours (in units of 30min)
# See 'man hdparm' for details.
# Separate values for multiple disks with spaces. Use the special value 'keep'
# to keep the hardware default for the particular disk.
#DISK_SPINDOWN_TIMEOUT_ON_AC="0 0"
#DISK_SPINDOWN_TIMEOUT_ON_BAT="0 0"
# Select IO scheduler for the disk devices: cfq, deadline, noop (Default: cfq).
# Separate values for multiple disks with spaces. Use the special value 'keep'
# to keep the kernel default scheduler for the particular disk.
#DISK_IOSCHED="cfq cfq"
# AHCI link power management (ALPM) for disk devices:
# min_power, med_power_with_dipm(*), medium_power, max_performance.
# (*) Kernel >= 4.15 required, then recommended.
# Multiple values separated with spaces are tried sequentially until success.
SATA_LINKPWR_ON_AC="med_power_with_dipm max_performance"
SATA_LINKPWR_ON_BAT="med_power_with_dipm min_power"
# Exclude host devices from AHCI link power management.
# Separate multiple hosts with spaces.
#SATA_LINKPWR_BLACKLIST="host1"
# Runtime Power Management for AHCI host and disks devices:
# on=disable, auto=enable.
# EXPERIMENTAL ** WARNING: auto will most likely cause system lockups/data loss.
#AHCI_RUNTIME_PM_ON_AC=on
#AHCI_RUNTIME_PM_ON_BAT=on
# Seconds of inactivity before disk is suspended.
AHCI_RUNTIME_PM_TIMEOUT=15
# PCI Express Active State Power Management (PCIe ASPM):
# default, performance, powersave.
PCIE_ASPM_ON_AC=performance
PCIE_ASPM_ON_BAT=powersave
# Radeon graphics clock speed (profile method): low, mid, high, auto, default;
# auto = mid on BAT, high on AC; default = use hardware defaults.
RADEON_POWER_PROFILE_ON_AC=high
RADEON_POWER_PROFILE_ON_BAT=low
# Radeon dynamic power management method (DPM): battery, performance.
RADEON_DPM_STATE_ON_AC=performance
RADEON_DPM_STATE_ON_BAT=battery
# Radeon DPM performance level: auto, low, high; auto is recommended.
RADEON_DPM_PERF_LEVEL_ON_AC=auto
RADEON_DPM_PERF_LEVEL_ON_BAT=auto
# WiFi power saving mode: on=enable, off=disable; not supported by all adapters.
WIFI_PWR_ON_AC=off
WIFI_PWR_ON_BAT=on
# Disable wake on LAN: Y/N.
WOL_DISABLE=Y
# Enable audio power saving for Intel HDA, AC97 devices (timeout in secs).
# A value of 0 disables, >=1 enables power saving (recommended: 1).
SOUND_POWER_SAVE_ON_AC=0
SOUND_POWER_SAVE_ON_BAT=1
# Disable controller too (HDA only): Y/N.
SOUND_POWER_SAVE_CONTROLLER=Y
# Power off optical drive in UltraBay/MediaBay: 0=disable, 1=enable.
# Drive can be powered on again by releasing (and reinserting) the eject lever
# or by pressing the disc eject button on newer models.
# Note: an UltraBay/MediaBay hard disk is never powered off.
BAY_POWEROFF_ON_AC=0
BAY_POWEROFF_ON_BAT=1
# Optical drive device to power off (default sr0).
BAY_DEVICE="sr0"
# Runtime Power Management for PCI(e) bus devices: on=disable, auto=enable.
RUNTIME_PM_ON_AC=on
RUNTIME_PM_ON_BAT=auto
# Exclude PCI(e) device adresses the following list from Runtime PM
# (separate with spaces). Use lspci to get the adresses (1st column).
#RUNTIME_PM_BLACKLIST="bb:dd.f 11:22.3 44:55.6"
# Exclude PCI(e) devices assigned to the listed drivers from Runtime PM.
# Default when unconfigured is "amdgpu nouveau nvidia radeon" which
# prevents accidential power-on of dGPU in hybrid graphics setups.
# Use "" to disable the feature completely.
# Separate multiple drivers with spaces.
#RUNTIME_PM_DRIVER_BLACKLIST="amdgpu nouveau nvidia radeon"
# Set to 0 to disable, 1 to enable USB autosuspend feature.
USB_AUTOSUSPEND=1
# Exclude listed devices from USB autosuspend (separate with spaces).
# Use lsusb to get the ids.
# Note: input devices (usbhid) are excluded automatically
#USB_BLACKLIST="1111:2222 3333:4444"
# Bluetooth devices are excluded from USB autosuspend:
# 0=do not exclude, 1=exclude.
USB_BLACKLIST_BTUSB=0
# Phone devices are excluded from USB autosuspend:
# 0=do not exclude, 1=exclude (enable charging).
USB_BLACKLIST_PHONE=0
# Printers are excluded from USB autosuspend:
# 0=do not exclude, 1=exclude.
USB_BLACKLIST_PRINTER=1
# WWAN devices are excluded from USB autosuspend:
# 0=do not exclude, 1=exclude.
USB_BLACKLIST_WWAN=1
# Include listed devices into USB autosuspend even if already excluded
# by the blacklists above (separate with spaces).
# Use lsusb to get the ids.
#USB_WHITELIST="1111:2222 3333:4444"
# Set to 1 to disable autosuspend before shutdown, 0 to do nothing
# (workaround for USB devices that cause shutdown problems).
#USB_AUTOSUSPEND_DISABLE_ON_SHUTDOWN=1
# Restore radio device state (Bluetooth, WiFi, WWAN) from previous shutdown
# on system startup: 0=disable, 1=enable.
# Hint: the parameters DEVICES_TO_DISABLE/ENABLE_ON_STARTUP/SHUTDOWN below
# are ignored when this is enabled!
RESTORE_DEVICE_STATE_ON_STARTUP=0
# Radio devices to disable on startup: bluetooth, wifi, wwan.
# Separate multiple devices with spaces.
DEVICES_TO_DISABLE_ON_STARTUP="bluetooth wwan"
# Radio devices to enable on startup: bluetooth, wifi, wwan.
# Separate multiple devices with spaces.
#DEVICES_TO_ENABLE_ON_STARTUP="wifi"
# Radio devices to disable on shutdown: bluetooth, wifi, wwan.
# (workaround for devices that are blocking shutdown).
#DEVICES_TO_DISABLE_ON_SHUTDOWN="bluetooth wifi wwan"
# Radio devices to enable on shutdown: bluetooth, wifi, wwan.
# (to prevent other operating systems from missing radios).
#DEVICES_TO_ENABLE_ON_SHUTDOWN="wwan"
# Radio devices to enable on AC: bluetooth, wifi, wwan.
#DEVICES_TO_ENABLE_ON_AC="bluetooth wifi wwan"
# Radio devices to disable on battery: bluetooth, wifi, wwan.
#DEVICES_TO_DISABLE_ON_BAT="bluetooth wifi wwan"
# Radio devices to disable on battery when not in use (not connected):
# bluetooth, wifi, wwan.
#DEVICES_TO_DISABLE_ON_BAT_NOT_IN_USE="bluetooth wifi wwan"
# Battery charge thresholds (ThinkPad only, tp-smapi or acpi-call kernel module
# required). Charging starts when the remaining capacity falls below the
# START_CHARGE_THRESH value and stops when exceeding the STOP_CHARGE_THRESH value.
# Main / Internal battery (values in %)
#START_CHARGE_THRESH_BAT0=75
#STOP_CHARGE_THRESH_BAT0=80
# Ultrabay / Slice / Replaceable battery (values in %)
#START_CHARGE_THRESH_BAT1=75
#STOP_CHARGE_THRESH_BAT1=80
# Restore charge thresholds when AC is unplugged: 0=disable, 1=enable.
#RESTORE_THRESHOLDS_ON_BAT=1
# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# tlp-rdw - Parameters for the radio device wizard
# Possible devices: bluetooth, wifi, wwan.
# Hints:
# - Parameters are disabled by default, remove the leading # to enable them
# - Separate multiple radio devices with spaces
# Radio devices to disable on connect.
#DEVICES_TO_DISABLE_ON_LAN_CONNECT="wifi wwan"
#DEVICES_TO_DISABLE_ON_WIFI_CONNECT="wwan"
#DEVICES_TO_DISABLE_ON_WWAN_CONNECT="wifi"
# Radio devices to enable on disconnect.
#DEVICES_TO_ENABLE_ON_LAN_DISCONNECT="wifi wwan"
#DEVICES_TO_ENABLE_ON_WIFI_DISCONNECT=""
#DEVICES_TO_ENABLE_ON_WWAN_DISCONNECT=""
# Radio devices to enable/disable when docked.
#DEVICES_TO_ENABLE_ON_DOCK=""
#DEVICES_TO_DISABLE_ON_DOCK=""
# Radio devices to enable/disable when undocked.
#DEVICES_TO_ENABLE_ON_UNDOCK="wifi"
#DEVICES_TO_DISABLE_ON_UNDOCK=""