LinuxCommandLibrary

tlp

Optimize laptop power consumption

TLDR

Apply settings (according to the actual power source)

$ sudo tlp start
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Apply battery settings (ignoring the actual power source)
$ sudo tlp bat
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Apply AC settings (ignoring the actual power source)
$ sudo tlp ac
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SYNOPSIS

tlp [options]

PARAMETERS

-b, --battery
    Run tlp in battery mode (default if on battery). This is implied if running on battery power.

-a, --ac
    Run tlp in AC power mode. This is implied if running on AC power.

-s, --start
    Start tlp (reapply settings).

-t, --true
    Set settings to enable all configurations (tlp defaults).

-f, --force
    Force start/stop/apply regardless of current power state.

-d, --defaults
    Restore default tlp settings.

-w, --wwan
    Switch WWAN device (e.g., mobile broadband modem) on or off.

-u, --usb
    Autosuspend USB devices on or off.

-r, --radiodevice
    Control radio devices like WiFi and Bluetooth. Usage: -r wifi on/off, -r bluetooth on/off, -r all on/off. Requires root privileges.

-v, --version
    Show version information.

-h, --help
    Show help message.

--config
    Display the current configuration. Useful for debugging.

--stat
    Show status information (battery, adapters, etc.). Add options like '--stat -b' for battery status only.

--disk
    Configure disk parameters. Add options like '--disk /dev/sda' to specify disk to manage.

DESCRIPTION

tlp is a command-line utility for advanced power management on Linux. It optimizes battery life without needing to understand every technical detail. tlp applies a set of pre-configured settings or those customized by the user to reduce power consumption in various areas like CPU frequency scaling, disk spin-down timeouts, USB autosuspend, and audio power saving.

tlp is especially useful on laptops but can also benefit desktops. It works by tweaking kernel parameters and device settings to minimize power usage. It is typically installed as a system service, and it automatically applies the configurations at boot and when the system's power source changes. tlp is configured via a configuration file, typically located at `/etc/tlp.conf`, allowing users to fine-tune its behavior.

It is available for most Linux distributions.

CONFIGURATION

The main configuration file is located at `/etc/tlp.conf`.
Users can customize power saving settings such as CPU frequency scaling, disk spin-down timeouts, USB autosuspend, and radio device control. Careful consideration should be given before altering settings.
The user is required to run `tlp start` to apply changes.

STATUS

The `--stat` option provides a comprehensive overview of the system's power-related status, including battery information, adapter details, and configured devices. This aids in understanding the effectiveness of tlp and diagnosing potential issues.

HISTORY

tlp has been developed to provide an easy way to apply power saving tweaks, since manual tuning of settings can be time consuming. It aims to simplify advanced power management for users.

SEE ALSO

powertop(1), hdparm(8), ethtool(8)

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