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How to disable fast startup in Windows 11
Fast startup is a feature in Windows 11 that helps your computer boot up faster after being shut down. It's a useful capability that's been around for some time in previous versions of Windows, but it does come with downsides. Most notably, since it causes the computer to boot up much faster, it can make it harder to access boot options, such as using a secondary OS in a dual-boot setup or entering the BIOS.
Since fast startup is turned on by default, if you don't want it, you have to disable it yourself. Here's how you can do that.
If you want to use Windows 11 and Linux on the same computer, the best option may be to dual boot. Here's how to set up your PC for it.
What is fast startup in Windows 11?
Fast startup strikes the perfect balance between hibernation and shutdown to help your PC start up as soon as you push that power button by not quite shutting down fully. Yes, the computer will physically be off, but fast startup saves the state of your hard drive at the moment of shutdown and brings it back to where you left it the next time you log in. That way, it doesn't have to restart the services it needs for File Explorer, Taskbar, and other system areas.
To turn off fast startup, you need to either use the classic Control Panel or Windows Terminal (Command Prompt). MIcrosoft hasn't added this option to the Settings app just yet.
Disable fast startup using Control Panel
To disable fast startup in Windows 11, you need to visit the classic Control Panel. You should see it available within Control Panel on all versions of Windows 11.
- Open the Start Menu and search for Control Panel.
- Click the top result.
- Switch the Control Panel to the Category view from the top under View by.
A screenshot of the Windows 11 control panel in category view© Provided by XDA Developers
- Choose Hardware and Sound.
- Select Power Options.
A screenshot of the Windows 11 power options screen© Provided by XDA Developers
- Click on Choose what the power buttons do.
Changing what the power buttons do in the Windows 11 settings app, to turn off fast startup with a checkbox© Provided by XDA Developers
- Uncheck the box at the bottom for Turn on fast startup (recommended).
If the box is grayed out, you'll need to click the text at the top that says Change Settings that are currently unavailable. This requires administrator permissions, but it will allow you to disable fast startup.
Disable fast startup using Command Prompt
If you prefer Command Prompt, you can use it to disable fast startup, too. Follow the steps below.
- Press the Windows key, search for Command Prompt, and run it as administrator.
- Type the command below and hit enter. Powercfg -h off
turn off fast startup using Command Prompt© Provided by XDA Developers
This should turn off hibernate as well as fast startup on your device.
Fast startup isn't always ideal
These two methods are the easiest options to turn off fast startup, so you don't need to look any further, though tools like the Group Policy Editor and Registry Editor can also do the same thing. There's just no reason to dive much deeper into it, at least for now. It would be nice if Microsoft added this option to the new Settings app, though.
