Debian

Scope:

  • Debian oldstable, stable, testing and unstable

  • Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE)

Note

Execute the commands below in a root shell.

Package Repository

TLP and ThinkPad-related packages below are available via the official Debian repositories.

Newer TLP packages may be provided via Debian backports. Add the following line to your /etc/apt/sources.list:

deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian DIST-backports main

Replace DIST with buster or bullseye according to your installation.

Update package data:

apt update

Package Installation

Install the following packages

either with your favorite package manager or the command:

apt install tlp tlp-rdw

For Debian Backports use:

apt -t DIST-backports install tlp tlp-rdw

Replace DIST with buster or bullseye according to your installation.

ThinkPads only

Important

If your ThinkPad model was released in 2013 or later and you only want to use charge thresholds with at least kernel 4.19, you do not need to proceed any further here. However, if you want the recalibration feature or your model and/or kernel is older, read on.

Depending on your model and kernel version external kernel module(s) are required to provide battery charge thresholds and recalibration.

The output of tlp-stat -b (version 1.2.2 or higher recommended) will guide you which package to install:

  • acpi-call-dkms (main) – optional – External kernel module providing battery recalibration for newer ThinkPads (X220/T420 i.e. 2013 and later)

  • tp-smapi-dkms (main) – optional – External kernel module providing battery charge thresholds, recalibration and specific tlp-stat -b output for older ThinkPads

Install the appropriate package either with your favorite package manager or the command

apt install acpi-call-dkms

Replace acpi-call-dkms with tp-smapi-dkms where suitable (special case: X220/T420 generation makes use of both).

Important

When using a kernel from Buster backports, you must install acpi-call-dkms from backports too:

apt -t buster-backports install acpi-call-dkms

Otherwise the DKMS build will fail.

Note