Debian

Scope:

  • Debian oldstable, stable, testing and unstable

  • Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE)

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 the codename of your installed Debian version.

Update package data:

sudo apt update

Package Installation

Install the following packages

  • tlp (main) – Power saving

  • tlp-pd (main) – optional – Select profile with a mouse click (Version 1.9 and newer)

  • tlp-rdw (main) – optional – Radio Device Wizard

either with your favorite package manager or the command:

Version 1.9 and newer

sudo apt install tlp tlp-pd tlp-rdw

Version 1.8 and older

sudo apt install tlp tlp-rdw

For Debian backports use:

sudo apt -t DIST-backports install tlp tlp-pd tlp-rdw

Replace DIST with the codename of your installed Debian version.

Legacy ThinkPads only: External Kernel Module for Battery Care

Important

As of version 5.17, the Linux kernel in combination with TLP 1.5 or later offers full battery care support (i.e. charge thresholds and recalibration) for ThinkPads from the Sandy Bridge generation (2011) onwards. Debian Bookworm meets this requirement with its kernel 6.1, the even newer Debian Trixie kernel 6.12 anyway.

An external kernel module (also referred to as “out-of-tree” module) is not required in these cases, and the following steps are not necessary. However, if your model is from the `Sandy Bridge` generation (2011) or older, read on.

Only if the bottom of the output of tlp-stat -b, section ‘Recommendations’, shows the line

Install tp-smapi kernel modules for ThinkPad battery thresholds and recalibration

then install the required package

  • tp-smapi-dkms (main) – optional – External kernel module providing battery charge thresholds and recalibration for ThinkPads prior to the Sandy Bridge generation (2011) and specific tlp-stat -b output up to that generation

either with your favorite package manager or the command

apt install tp-smapi-dkms

Note

  • Refer to Debian backports for setup instructions

  • You must disable Secure Boot to use the ThinkPad specific packages