How to Use Chrome Energy Saver

Introduction

Google Chrome’s Energy Saver is a handy feature designed to help users prolong their device’s battery life by reducing Chrome’s energy consumption. Whether you’re browsing on a laptop, tablet, or smartphone, understanding how to enable and manage Chrome Energy Saver can significantly enhance your device’s battery performance. In this guide, we’ll walk you through enabling Chrome Energy Saver, understanding when it activates, what it limits, and how it impacts battery life across different platforms.

Quick Fixes to Try First

• Ensure your Chrome browser is updated to the latest version.
• Restart Chrome to apply any changes.
• Check your device’s battery settings to ensure they aren’t overriding Chrome’s settings.

How to Enable Chrome Energy Saver

Windows, macOS, and Linux

To enable Chrome Energy Saver on desktop platforms, follow these steps:

1. Open Chrome and click on the three vertical dots in the top-right corner to open the menu.
2. Select Settings from the dropdown.
3. Navigate to Performance in the left-hand menu.
4. Under Energy Saver, toggle the switch to enable it.
5. Choose when Energy Saver should activate: Always or Only when my computer is unplugged.

You can also directly access the settings by typing chrome://settings/performance in the address bar and pressing Enter.

Android and iOS

For mobile devices, Chrome Energy Saver settings are often managed by the system’s battery settings instead of the browser itself. However, you can optimize Chrome’s performance by:

• Ensuring background app activity is limited in your device’s settings.
• Making sure Chrome is updated to the latest version available on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

When Chrome Energy Saver Activates

Chrome Energy Saver can be set to activate under two conditions:

• Always: Energy Saver is active at all times, reducing Chrome’s power consumption regardless of whether your device is plugged in.
• Only when my computer is unplugged: Activates Energy Saver only when your device is running on battery power.

What Chrome Energy Saver Limits

When enabled, Chrome Energy Saver limits several features to reduce power usage:

• Restricts background activity and tabs.
• Reduces visual effects and animations in web pages.
• Adjusts video playback settings to consume less power.

Settings Options for Chrome Energy Saver

To further customize Chrome Energy Saver:

1. Access chrome://settings/performance.
2. Under Energy Saver, explore additional settings such as:
• Disable heavy graphics effects to further reduce power consumption.
• Enable Low Power Mode on certain websites that are known to be resource-intensive.

Battery Life Impact

Enabling Chrome Energy Saver can have a noticeable impact on battery life:

• Expect a moderate increase in browsing time when browsing on battery power.
• Experience smoother performance in low-power situations due to reduced resource demands.
• Get more out of a single charge, especially during extensive browsing sessions.

Conclusion

Chrome Energy Saver is an essential tool for users looking to optimize battery life without sacrificing browsing efficiency. By understanding how to enable and manage it across different platforms, you can extend the life of your device’s battery while maintaining a seamless browsing experience. For more detailed guidance, refer to official Google Chrome Help articles.