A method and apparatus to save power in a soft access point for a network. If no network traffic is detected for an integral number of TBTT (Target Beacon Transmission Time) intervals immediately prior to a current TBTT interval, and if no network traffic is detected for a first time slot in the current TBTT interval, then the soft access point sends a CTS (Clear-to-Send) packet addressed to itself to quiet the network for a second time slot and enters a low power mode for the second time slot. At the beginning of a third time slot, the soft access point puts itself into an active mode and monitors network traffic.