Everything you need to use the app
This page covers the basics only — no technical background needed. If you just installed Smart Throttle Controller, start from the top.
The 4 modes, and when to use each one
Every mode is just a different balance between speed and battery life. There's no wrong choice — you can switch anytime, and nothing gets damaged by picking the "wrong" one.
| If you're doing this… | Use this mode | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday use — browsing, email, docs, chatting | DEFAULT | Factory-default settings. A safe baseline, but may limit performance or cause thermal throttling depending on the device. |
| Video calls, spreadsheets, working from a café | OFFICE | Quieter, cooler, longer battery life |
| Gaming, video editing, heavy rendering — plugged in | GAMING | Maximum available performance |
| Long flight, no charger nearby, low battery | BATTERY | Every extra minute of battery you can get |
Not sure? Leave it on DEFAULT — it works well for almost everything.
Let it switch itself: AUTO
There's an AUTO switch at the top of the app window. When it's turned on, the app watches whether your laptop is plugged in or running on battery, and switches modes for you — no clicking required.
How AUTO decides
Plug the charger in → it switches to DEFAULT. Unplug it → it switches to BATTERY. That's the whole rule. If you'd rather choose GAMING or OFFICE yourself, just turn AUTO off and pick a mode manually — your choice will stick until you turn AUTO back on.
Switching to Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)
In the top-right corner of the app window, next to AUTO and LOG, there's a small language button showing EN or VI. Click it once to flip the entire interface between English and Vietnamese — instantly, no restart needed.
Your choice is remembered
Whatever language you leave it on is saved automatically, so the app opens in the same language next time you start it.
What is "Tuning"?
Each of the 4 modes has a few internal settings that control how much power the processor is allowed to use. The Tuning window lets you see and adjust those numbers for every mode, all in one table.
| Setting | In plain words |
|---|---|
| Speed Shift EPP | How eagerly the processor should chase speed vs. save energy (lower = faster, higher = more efficient) |
| PL1 | The power level the processor can sustain for a long time |
| PL2 | The higher power level allowed for short bursts |
Do I need to touch this?
No — the default values already match each mode's purpose, and most people never open this window. It's there for advanced users who want to fine-tune the exact balance of speed, heat and battery for their specific laptop. If numbers look unfamiliar, it's safe to just close the window without changing anything.
Every way to change modes
Pick whichever feels most convenient — they all do exactly the same thing.
Click a button in the app window
The four mode buttons sit right at the top of the main window — one click applies that mode immediately.
Right-click the tray icon
Right-click the icon near your clock to open a menu with all four modes listed — the one currently active is checked.
Left-click the tray icon
A single left-click on the tray icon jumps straight to the next mode in order — no menu needed.
Use the keyboard shortcut
Press your hotkey (Ctrl + Alt + G by default) to cycle through modes in order: DEFAULT → OFFICE → GAMING → BATTERY, then back to DEFAULT.
Want a different shortcut?
Open the app window and click "Change hotkey", then press any key combination you like — it's saved right away.