The present disclosure presents a method and an apparatus for packet filtering to save power at a user equipment (UE). For example, the disclosure presents a method for receiving a packet filtering configuration message, at a modem processor (MP) of the UE, from an application processor (AP) in communication with the MP, wherein the packet filtering configuration message includes one or more packet filtering rules for filtering packets associated with one or more applications, configuring a packet filter at the MP based at least on the one or more packet filtering rules received in the packet filtering configuration message, and enabling the configured packet filter at the MP in response to receiving an indication from the AP that the AP entered a low power or sleep mode, wherein the enabled packet filter allows or drops a packet based on the packet filtering rules. As such, packet filtering to save power at UE may be achieved.