How to Enable or Disable Fast Startup in Windows 11

Fast Startup in Windows 11 is a built-in power feature designed to reduce boot times by saving the operating system state to a hibernation file during shutdown. This article provides a straightforward, step-by-step guide on how to enable or disable Fast Startup using the Windows 11 Power Options control panel, along with instructions on restoring the option if it is missing from your settings.

Steps to Enable or Disable Fast Startup

1. Open the Run Dialog
   Press Windows Key + R on your keyboard to open the Run command box.

2. Open Power Options
   Type powercfg.cpl and press Enter to open the Power Options window in the Control Panel.

3. Access Power Button Settings
   In the left-hand sidebar, click the link that says Choose what the power buttons do (or Choose what the power button does).

4. Unlock Administrative Settings
   Click the shield icon link labeled Change settings that are currently unavailable near the top of the window. This grants permission to modify the shutdown settings below.

5. Toggle Fast Startup
   Scroll down to the Shutdown settings section:

   • To enable: Check the box next to Turn on fast startup (recommended).
   • To disable: Uncheck the box next to Turn on fast startup (recommended).

6. Save Your Changes
   Click the Save changes button at the bottom of the window.

What to Do If the Fast Startup Option Is Missing

Fast Startup requires the Windows Hibernation feature to be active. If the option does not appear under Shutdown settings, enable hibernation via the Command Prompt:

1. Press Windows Key + S and type cmd.

2. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

3. Type the following command and press Enter:

   powercfg /hibernate on

4. Reopen powercfg.cpl and follow the main steps above to toggle Fast Startup.