On some Windows 11 computers, the option to disable the Fast Startup feature is not available, but we can fix it using Command Prompt.
In a previous article describing how to create shutdown shortcuts in Windows 11We briefly discussed the Fast Startup feature, which allows your Windows 11 PC to boot faster by using a hybrid hibernate file stored on your system’s hard drive. on many new Windows 11 computersaccess to the checkbox that enables Fast Startup is not available.
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However, with a specific command entered from the Windows 11 command line, we can grant ourselves access to that checkbox and enable or disable Fast Startup at will. The key to taking control of this feature is a PC that can use the full Windows 11 hibernate feature, which isn’t always active by default.
How to Control Fast Startup in Windows 11
To understand the problem we are addressing, open the Windows 11 Control Panel and select the Power Options item in the list of settings and then click Choose what the power buttons do.
Keep in mind that on many newer and more powerful systems, it may not be necessary to activate the hibernate feature at the command prompt, as the feature is active by default. With that option, you may want to try disabling the Fast Startup Now option before following the steps shown in this technique.
As you can see in Image A, our sample laptop computer, bought new in 2021 and preinstalled with Windows 11, runs with Fast Startup enabled and running. However, what should we do if the checkbox cannot be changed from this screen?
Image A
We made the close shortcut in the previous article to bypass this feature if necessary, but what if we want to disable it more permanently?
Also pay attention in Image A that hibernation is disabled and cannot be changed from this screen. We will have to activate the Hibernate function at the command prompt to access all these functions.
Start typing “command prompt” into the Windows 11 desktop search, then select the item Run as administrator from the list of results, as shown in Figure B†
Figure B
Type this command at the prompt:
powercfg -h on
As you can see in Figure Cthere is no confirmation or other response from the system.
Figure C
Close the Command Prompt screen and return to the Windows 11 Control Panel and select the Power Options item in the list of settings, then click Choose what the power buttons do.
Click the Change settings that are currently unavailable link, as shown in Figure Dand you can now change all those previously grayed out settings.
Figure D
Make sure to save your changes before exiting the Windows 11 Control Panel.
Should You Disable Fast Startup in Windows 11?
Under normal circumstances, the Fast Startup option works as intended and causes no major problems. Disabling the feature isn’t harmful either, but it will noticeably increase the time it takes for your Windows 11 PC to boot.
For high performance computing, it can be helpful to perform an occasional clean boot to clear corrupted memory, files, and drivers from the system. Perhaps a periodic full close is all you need to have the best of both worlds.
