Enable or Disable Network Connectivity in Modern Standby in Windows 11 (2025)

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable network connectivity during Modern Standby while on battery and/or plugged in on a Windows 10 and Windows 11 device.

In Windows 10 and Windows 11, there are two power models for PCs: S3 and Modern Standby (S0 Low Power Idle). The S3 power model is an older standard and is not capable of the instant on that consumers expect from modern devices. Modern Standby is capable of leveraging all the capabilities of a modern chipset and can be integrated across the breadth of tablets and PCs today. The first iteration of Modern Standby was Connected Standby, which first shipped in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. Modern Standby expands upon the Windows 8.x Connected Standby concept, allowing for flexibility in component selection and the ability for the OS to manage network connectivity in standby.

Windows 10 and Windows 11 Modern Standby (Modern Standby) expands the Windows 8.1 Connected Standby power model. Connected Standby, and consequently Modern Standby, enable an instant on / instant off user experience, similar to smartphone power models. Just like the phone, the S0 low power idle model enables the system to stay connected to the network while in a low power mode.

Although Modern Standby enables an instant on/off user experience like Connected Standby, Modern Standby is more inclusive than the Windows 8.1 Connected Standby power model. Modern Standby allows for market segments previously limited to the Traditional Sleep (S3) power model to take advantage of the low power idle model. Example systems include systems based on rotational media and hybrid media (for example, SSD + HDD or SSHD) and/or a NIC that doesn’t support all of the prior requirements for Connected Standby.

Modern Standby systems can be connected (enabled), disconnected (disabled), or managed by Windows to allow network connectivity during S0 standby. This behavior is dictated by the hardware and/or by configuration.

• Connected Modern Standby will allow you to stay connected to the network while in standby to still receive and get notifications about email, VoIP calls, and such, but it will use more battery.
• Disconnected Modern Standby will allow longer battery life, but you will no longer have the advantages of staying connected to the network while in standby.
• Managed by Windows will allow Windows to manage network connectivity during standby.

On any Modern Standby system (whether connected or disconnected), the system remains in S0 while in standby, allowing the following scenarios to work:

• Background activity
• Faster resume from a low power state

On systems that are connected while in standby, wakes based on specific network patterns may also be set by the operating system to enable apps to receive the latest content such as incoming email, VoIP calls, or news articles.

References:

• Modern Standby
• Modern Standby vs S3
• Modern Standby FAQs
• Windows ARM-based PCs FAQ
• Overview of Modern Standby Validation
• Allow networking during standby

EXAMPLE: Reason to disable modern standby network connectivity for both "Plugged in" and "On battery"

1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Power Options icon.

2 Click/tap on the Change plan settings link for your active power plan (ex: "Balanced"). (see screenshot below)

3 Click/tap on the Change advanced power settings link. (see screenshot below)

4 Expand open the Network connectivity in Standby setting under the group with the same name as the currently selected power plan (ex: "Balanced"). (see screenshot below step 5)

You can add Network connectivity in Standby to Power Options if you do not have it available.

5 In both the On battery and Plugged in drop menus for the Network connectivity in Standby setting, select Enable (AC default), Disable, or Managed by Windows (battery default) for what you want, and click/tap on OK.

1 Open Windows Terminal, and select either Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.

2 Copy and paste the command below you want to use for when on battery and/or plugged in into Windows Terminal, and press Enter.

(Enable)​

powercfg /setdcvalueindex scheme_current sub_none F15576E8-98B7-4186-B944-EAFA664402D9 1​

OR​

POWERCFG -SETDCVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT SUB_NONE CONNECTIVITYINSTANDBY 1​

(Disable)​

powercfg /setdcvalueindex scheme_current sub_none F15576E8-98B7-4186-B944-EAFA664402D9 0​

OR​

POWERCFG -SETDCVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT SUB_NONE CONNECTIVITYINSTANDBY 0​

(Managed by Windows - Default)​

powercfg /setdcvalueindex scheme_current sub_none F15576E8-98B7-4186-B944-EAFA664402D9 2​

OR​

POWERCFG -SETDCVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT SUB_NONE CONNECTIVITYINSTANDBY 2​

(Enable - Default)​

powercfg /setacvalueindex scheme_current sub_none F15576E8-98B7-4186-B944-EAFA664402D9 1​

OR​

POWERCFG -SETACVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT SUB_NONE CONNECTIVITYINSTANDBY 1​

(Disable)​

powercfg /setacvalueindex scheme_current sub_none F15576E8-98B7-4186-B944-EAFA664402D9 0​

OR​

POWERCFG -SETACVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT SUB_NONE CONNECTIVITYINSTANDBY 0​

(Managed by Windows)​

powercfg /setacvalueindex scheme_current sub_none F15576E8-98B7-4186-B944-EAFA664402D9 2​

OR​

POWERCFG -SETACVALUEINDEX SCHEME_CURRENT SUB_NONE CONNECTIVITYINSTANDBY 2​

3 You can now close Windows Terminal.

1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).

2 Navigate to the location below in the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Power Management > Sleep Settings​

3 In the right pane of Sleep Settings in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Allow network connectivity during connected-standby (plugged in) policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (always enable), step 6 (always disable), or step 7 (undo) below for what you would like to do.

5To Always Enable Network Connectivity while in Modern Standby when Plugged In (AC)

A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below step 7)​

6To Always Disable Network Connectivity while in Modern Standby when Plugged In (AC)

A) Select (dot) Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below step 7)​

7Default Setting of Users Choice for Network Connectivity while in Modern Standby when Plugged In (AC)

This setting will allow users to change Option One and Option Two.

A) Select (dot) Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)​

8 In the right pane of Sleep Settings in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Allow network connectivity during connected-standby (on battery) policy to edit it. (see screenshot below step 2)

9 Do step 10 (always enable), step 11 (always disable), or step 12 (undo) below for what you would like to do.

10To Always Enable Network Connectivity while in Modern Standby On Battery

A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 13 below. (see screenshot below step 12)​

11To Always Disable Network Connectivity while in Modern Standby On Battery

A) Select (dot) Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 13 below. (see screenshot below step 12)​

12Default Setting of Users Choice for Network Connectivity while in Modern Standby On Battery

This setting will allow users to change Option One and Option Two.

A) Select (dot) Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 13 below. (see screenshot below)​

13 When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.

1 Do step 2 (plugged in) and/or step 3 (On Battery) below for what you would like to do.

2To Enable or Disable Network Connectivity while in Modern Standby when Plugged In (AC)

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file you want to use, and go to step 3 below.​

Always_Disable_Modern_Standby_network_connectivity_when_Plugged_In.reg​

(Contents of REG file for reference)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Power\PowerSettings\f15576e8-98b7-4186-b944-eafa664402d9]"ACSettingIndex"=dword:00000000

OR​

Always_Enable_Modern_Standby_network_connectivity_when_Plugged_In.reg​

(Contents of REG file for reference)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Power\PowerSettings\f15576e8-98b7-4186-b944-eafa664402d9]"ACSettingIndex"=dword:00000001

OR​

Default_Not_Configured_Modern_Standby_network_connectivity_when_Plugged_In.reg​

(Contents of REG file for reference)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Power\PowerSettings\f15576e8-98b7-4186-b944-eafa664402d9]"ACSettingIndex"=-

3To Enable or Disable Network Connectivity while in Modern Standby On Battery

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file you want to use, and go to step 4 below.​

Always_Disable_Modern_Standby_network_connectivity_On_Battery.reg​

(Contents of REG file for reference)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Power\PowerSettings\f15576e8-98b7-4186-b944-eafa664402d9]"DCSettingIndex"=dword:00000000

OR​

Always_Enable_Modern_Standby_network_connectivity_On_Battery.reg​

(Contents of REG file for reference)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Power\PowerSettings\f15576e8-98b7-4186-b944-eafa664402d9]"DCSettingIndex"=dword:00000001

OR​

Default_Not_Configured_Modern_Standby_network_connectivity_On_Battery.reg​

(Contents of REG file for reference)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Power\PowerSettings\f15576e8-98b7-4186-b944-eafa664402d9]"DCSettingIndex"=-

4 Save the .reg files to your desktop.

5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg files one at a time to merge them.

6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7 Restart the computer to apply.

8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg files if you like.

That's it,
Shawn Brink