How to Enable or Disable Hibernate and Fast Startup on Windows

Hibernate mode is similar to the Sleep mode. The major difference is that the hibernate mode opens documents and apps saved to a file on your hard disk. While the sleep mode uses the RAM. In this article, we shall discuss how to enable or disable hibernation: How to fix the missing fast startup option on Windows. Please see UEFI, TPM, BitLocker FAQs: Disable Sleep Mode, How to Fix Taskbar Icons Missing on Windows 11, and How to clear cookies history and cache in Safari.

Note: The hibernate mode utilizes less power than the sleep mode. But can lead to a significant increase in disk space. There is a hidden file called hiberfil.sys where your work is stored when you using the hibernate mode.

By default, the Hibernate option is missing from the Power button on the Windows 11 Start menu.

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How does Fast Startup Differ from the Hibernate Mode?

During Fast Startup, the kernel session is not closed, but it is hibernated. Fast Startup is a setting that helps the computer start faster after shutdown. Windows does this by saving the kernel session and device drivers (system information) to the hibernate (hiberfil.sys) file on disk instead of closing it when you shut down the computer.

Note: Fast Startup functions like that of the “Hibernate” feature. But unlike hibernation, which saves the active session in memory to the hard drive so you can pick up right where you left off. Fast startup signs you out of all accounts before saving the memory to the drive. This method allows the system to start more quickly since several services and programs have just resumed from the previous session.

Enable Hibernate

The Hibernate uses less power than sleep and when you start up the PC again. You are back to where you left off (though not as fast as sleep).

Use hibernation when you know that you won’t use your laptop or tablet for an extended period and won’t have an opportunity to charge the battery during that time. First, check to see if this option is available on your PC and if it is, turn it on.

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Fix Fast startup mode disappeared from power options in windows

This process involves enabling the Hibernation mode in Windows. Launch the Windows Control panel as shown below.

Launch the Power options

Select “Choose what the power buttons do”.

Then select “Change settings that are currently unavailable”. As you can see below, the hibernation and fast Startup buttons are missing.

Now, we would have to enable hibernation. You can show it by inputting a command through CMD. Here’s how:

Press Windows key on your keyboard, then type CMD, and then right-click the search result and choose Run as Admin.
Type powercfg /hibernate on.
Check again on the Power settings and see if the option for Fast Startup is available.

Hibernation option and fast startup option are now available.

As shown above, they are greyed out. Click on change settings that are currently unavailable. This will make the selection possible.

Disable Hibernates

As you can see, Fast Startup is recommended. You can choose to unselect it. But ensure Hibernation is disabled as well.

To disable hibernation and fast startup via the command line, please run the command below.

powercfg /hibernate off

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Enable Fast Startup and Disable hibernation

As you can see below. It is possible to disable Hibernation and allow just the Fast Startup.

Note: The Hiberfil.sys hidden system file is located in the root folder of the drive where the operating system is installed. The Windows Kernel Power Manager reserves this file when you install Windows. The size of this file is approximately equal to how much random access memory (RAM) is installed on the computer.

The computer uses the Hiberfil.sys file to store a copy of the system memory on the hard disk when the hybrid sleep setting is turned on. If this file is not present, the computer cannot hibernate.

I hope you found this article on Enable or Disable hibernation: How to fix the missing fast startup option on Windows useful. Please feel free to leave a comment below.