Modern Standby
Template:Short description Modern Standby known formerly as Connected Standby or InstantGo,[1] is a Microsoft specification for Windows 8 (and later) hardware and software that aims to bring smartphone-type power management capabilities to the PC platform, as well as increasing physical security.
Description
The specification describes a Microsoft proprietary standard for Windows 8 software and hardware that developers and hardware vendors can optionally comply with to enable devices to be turned on and off instantly. It also allows the operating system to continue performing background tasks, such as updating content from apps, when a device is not being used. Devices must be able to turn on in less than 500 milliseconds.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Footnotes/anchor_id_list' not found. The hardware requirements extend to battery life, in that systems must not drain more than 5% of battery capacity while idle over a 16-hour period.[2]
It requires the following:
- A firmware flag indicating support for the standard
- The boot volume must not use a hard disk drive
- Support for NDIS 6.30 by all network devices
- Passive cooling on standby
- Trusted Platform Module 2.0
- CPU, chipset and BIOS support for S0ix "Low Power S0 Idle" power state
- All peripheral devices and drivers must support D3cold[3]
On Windows 8.1, supporting InstantGo and having a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 chip will allow the device to use a passive device encryption system.[4][5]
Compliant platforms also enables full BitLocker Device encryption. A background service that encrypts the whole system which can be found in 'Windows Security'>'Device Encryption' page in Windows 10 and 11.
Limitations
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This section relies largely or entirely on a single source. (December 2022) |
Systems that support this specification are incapable of booting legacy BIOS operating systems.[6] PCs with Modern Standby also cannot manually enter the Sleep power state and OEMs will often block S3 power state at the firmware level. In addition to that, Power Options from Control Panel have less advanced power plan settings.[7]
Issues
Microsoft's Modern Standby has experienced bugs that cause battery drain issues while the laptop is supposedly suspended. This has prevented some reviewers from recommending Windows laptops.[8][9]
See also
- Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)
- Always On, Always Connected
- Trusted Computing Group (TCG)
- Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)
References
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- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Chin, Kevin A (19 June 2014). "InstantGo: a better way to sleep". Windows Experience Blog. Microsoft. Archived from the original on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Windows Hardware Certification Requirements: Client and Server Systems" (PDF). Microsoft. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-06-11.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.windows-driver-content. "Prepare hardware for modern standby". learn.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Windows 8.1 includes seamless, automatic disk encryption—if your PC supports it". Ars Technica. 17 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Thurrott, Paul (June 4, 2013). "In Blue: Device Encryption". Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows. Penton Media. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Windows Hardware Certification Requirements for Client and Server Systems". MSDN. Microsoft. 17 January 2014.
System.Fundamentals.Firmware.CS.UEFISecureBoot.ConnectedStandby ... Platforms shall be UEFI Class Three (see UEFI Industry Group, Evaluating UEFI using Commercially Available Platforms and Solutions, version 0.3, for a definition) with no Compatibility Support Module installed or installable. BIOS emulation and legacy PC/AT boot must be disabled.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Inspiron 5502, S3 sleep unsupported". Dell. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Microsoft is Forcing me to Buy MacBooks - Windows Modern Standby". Linus Tech Tips. 2022-12-03. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Popa, Ionuț-Alexandru (2022-12-06). "Fix Battery Drain and Laptop Heats Up During Sleep Mode by Tweaking Modern Standby Policies". BinaryFork. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
Further reading
- Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."What is Modern Standby". Microsoft. 23 Apr 2020.
- Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Introduction to Connected Standby". Microsoft. 28 Sep 2012. Archived from the original on 12 Oct 2012.
- Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Windows* 8 Store App - Connected Standby Whitepaper". Intel. 26 Feb 2013. Archived from the original on 8 Jul 2013.
