Installation

Must I enable TLP’s systemd service unit?

Symptoms: tlp-stat -s shows

Error: tlp.service is not enabled, power saving will not apply on boot.
>>> Invoke 'systemctl enable tlp.service' to correct this!

Answer: yes, the service unit is indispensable for correct operation - tlp.service applies power saving settings and charge thresholds as well as switching radio devices on system boot and shutdown.

Note

Debian, Fedora and Ubuntu enable the service by default as part of the package Installation, others such as Arch Linux don’t. If unsure check the output of tlp-stat -s for corresponding notes.

Does TLP run on my laptop (not a ThinkPad)?

TLP runs on every laptop brand. A few features are available on IBM/Lenovo ThinkPads only.

Does TLP make sense on newer laptops / with newer Linux versions?

Yes, of course.

The Linux kernel has accumulated many power saving features over the years, but not all are enabled by default. It seems to be really hard for the kernel developers to fully debug power saving on all possible hardware, so power saving stays disabled for many drivers and it’s up to the user to enable it.

Conclusion: a userspace tool like TLP is still needed to enable power saving globally.

Should I install TLP inside a virtual machine?

No. It is not effective to run a power management tool inside a virtual machine guest. Install TLP in the host operating system instead.

Ubuntu/Debian: I do not use Network Manager, how do I install tlp without tlp-rdw?

sudo apt install --no-install-recommends tlp

Ubuntu: How do I prevent the installation of postfix as a dependency?

The package tlp recommends smartmontools which pulls postfix (via recommends too). Use:

sudo apt install --no-install-recommends tlp tlp-rdw ethtool smartmontools

My Linux distribution does not provide a TLP package, how do I install it?

See Other Linux Distributions.

How do I install TLP on a development release of my distribution?

TLP packages for new distribution versions appear in due time for the release. If you want to use TLP with alpha or beta releases, download the packages for the predecessor and install them manually with your favorite package manager.

What if I want a GUI?

Get TLPUI.