Managing Fast Startup in Windows 10 and 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

To manage the fast startup feature on your Windows 10 or 11 PC, the most straightforward method is through the “Power Options” menu located in the Control Panel. This process requires administrative access. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate this setting:

How to enable or disable fast startup

1. Press Windows + S to open the search menu.
2. Type “Control Panel” in the search box and hit Enter.
3. In the top right corner, click the “View by” menu and select Large icons.
4. Navigate to Power Options and click on “Choose what the power buttons do”.
5. Click on “Change settings that are currently unavailable”.
6. To enable fast startup, check the “Turn on fast startup” box; uncheck it to disable.
7. Finally, click the Save changes button.

If you prefer a more technical approach, you can also use the Command Prompt to toggle fast startup. Right-click the Start menu and select either Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin). In the console, enter “powercfg /h on” to enable fast startup, or “powercfg /h off” to disable it, followed by pressing Enter.

What to do if the fast startup option is missing

Fast startup is dependent on the Hibernate feature being enabled. If Hibernate is turned off, the fast startup option will not appear in the Control Panel. This situation is often encountered on lower-end PCs rather than high-performance machines. To enable Hibernate, follow these steps:

1. Click the search icon on the taskbar and type “Command Prompt”. Select “Run as administrator”.
2. When prompted by the User Account Control (UAC), select “Yes”.
3. Type the command “powercfg /availablesleepstates” and press Enter to check if your PC supports hibernation.
4. If you see the message “Hibernation has not been enabled”, type “powercfg /hibernate on” and press Enter to enable it.

Once this command is executed, the fast startup option should become available in the Control Panel.

Should you keep fast startup on or off?

The fast startup feature is particularly beneficial for users who value quick boot times. However, there are some trade-offs to consider. For instance, enabling fast startup may hinder the installation of Windows updates, as it prevents the PC from shutting down completely. Additionally, users with a dual boot setup might face complications, since Windows locks the hard disk during shutdown, restricting access from other operating systems.

Moreover, some computers may not allow easy access to BIOS/UEFI settings after a shutdown when fast startup is enabled. If your system is equipped with an SSD, you might find that the boot time is already sufficiently fast, making the benefits of fast startup less significant.

If these potential drawbacks do not pose a concern for your usage, keeping fast startup enabled should not adversely affect your system’s performance or longevity. Ultimately, the decision to enable or disable fast startup hinges on your individual preferences and computing habits.