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Managing WiFi Power Saving with wifi_power_save

The wifi_power_save command in the ChromeOS Shell allows users to enable, disable, or check the status of WiFi power saving mode. This feature helps conserve power by optimizing WiFi usage, especially in portable devices.

Usage

wifi_power_save <status | enable | disable>

Parameters

  • status: Check the current state of WiFi power saving mode.
  • enable: Turn on WiFi power saving mode to reduce power consumption.
  • disable: Turn off WiFi power saving mode to prioritize performance.

Examples

1. Check WiFi Power Save Status

wifi_power_save status

This displays whether WiFi power saving mode is currently enabled or disabled.

2. Enable WiFi Power Saving Mode

wifi_power_save enable

This activates power saving mode to optimize battery life by reducing WiFi power usage.

3. Disable WiFi Power Saving Mode

wifi_power_save disable

This deactivates power saving mode, prioritizing performance over power efficiency.

Additional Information

  • Non-Persistent Across Restarts: Settings applied using wifi_power_save are not persistent. They will reset to their default state upon restarting the system.
  • Battery Optimization: Enabling this feature is particularly beneficial for prolonging battery life on laptops and other portable ChromeOS devices.
  • Performance Impact: Disabling power saving mode can improve network performance but may increase power consumption.

Best Practices

  1. Enable for Battery Conservation

  2. Use wifi_power_save enable when operating on battery to extend usage time.

  3. Disable for High-Performance Tasks

  4. Use wifi_power_save disable when performing tasks that require stable and high-speed network performance.

  5. Check Status Regularly

  6. Run wifi_power_save status to ensure the settings align with your current usage needs.

The wifi_power_save command is a simple yet effective tool for managing the balance between power efficiency and performance on ChromeOS devices.