tlpctl

Version 1.9 and newer with tlp-pd

Profile Shortcuts

In addition to clicking on the Linux desktop panel, the power profile can also be selected via the command line. Unlike the traditional command tlp, root privileges are not required.

Switch to the performance profile (_AC parameters):

tlpctl performance

Switch to the balanced profile (_BAT parameters):

tlpctl balanced

Switch to the power-saver profile (_SAV parameters):

tlpctl power-saver

Profile Management

List available power profiles:

tlpctl list

The active profile is marked with an asterisk (*).

Print the currently active power profile:

tlpctl get

Set the active power profile:

tlpctl set <profile>

Valid profiles are: performance, balanced and power-saver. This will release all active profile holds.

Profile Holds

Run a command and request a specific power profile for it (“profile hold”):

tlpctl launch <command> [options]

Launch Options

Profile to hold while running the command (default: performance):

-p, --profile <profile>

Reason for the profile hold (defaults to the second and remaining words of the command):

-r, --reason <reason>

Application identifier for the hold (defaults to the first word of the command):

-i, --appid <appid>

Holds are automatically released, returning to the user’s selected profile, when:

  • the holding command exits,

  • the user manually changes the profile (with tlpctl set),

  • the application explicitly releases the hold.

Multiple holds can be active simultaneously.

List current power profile holds (from the launch command), showing the profile name, application ID, and reason for each hold:

tlpctl list-holds

Launch Examples

Launch a game with performance profile:

tlpctl launch --profile performance --reason "Gaming" steam

Launch a command with default performance hold:

tlpctl launch make -j8

Diagnostics and Debugging

Set the loglevel of tlp-pd:

sudo tlpctl loglevel <level>

Valid levels are: info and debug. Requires root privilege.

Version

Display version information for both the tlpctl client and tlp-pd:

tlpctl --version