This tutorial will show you different ways on how to hibernate your Windows 11 computer.
Hibernate was designed for laptops and might not be available for all PCs. (For example, PCs with Modern Standby may not have the hibernate option.) Hibernate uses less power than sleep and when you start up the PC again, you’re back to where you left off (though not as fast as sleep).
While sleep puts your work and settings in memory and draws a small amount of power, hibernate puts your open documents and programs on your hard disk to the hiberfile (C:\hiberfil.sys), and then turns off your computer.
You can use hibernation when you know that you won't use your device for an extended period and won't have an opportunity to charge the battery during that time.
You will just need to press the device's physical power button to wake the computer from hibernation.
Reference:
Shut down, sleep, or hibernate your PC - Microsoft Support
support.microsoft.com
It is required to enable hibernate to have the Hibernate power option available on the computer.
If devices connected to your PC (like monitors, printers, or scanners) aren't working properly after waking up from sleep or hibernate, you might need to disconnect and reconnect your device or restart the computer. You should also make sure that you have the most current drivers for all of your devices.
- Option One: Hibernate Computer by Closing Lid
- Option Two: Hibernate Computer by Pressing Power Button
- Option Three: Hibernate Computer from Start menu
- Option Four: Hibernate Computer from Win+X Quick Link Menu
- Option Five: Hibernate Computer from Alt+F4 Shut Down Windows Dialog
- Option Six: Hibernate Computer from Ctrl+Alt+Del Screen
- Option Seven: Hibernate Computer from Sign-in Screen
- Option Eight: Hibernate Computer using command
- Option Nine: Hibernate Computer from Game Bar
This option is only available for laptops with a lid to close.
This option requires you to set the default lid close action to Hibernate.
1 Close the laptop lid to perform the default lid close action.
This requires you to set the default power button action to Hibernate.
1 Press the Power button on your device. (see screenshots below)
1 Open the Start menu
. (see screenshot below)2 Click/tap on the Power button.
3 Click/tap on Hibernate in the Power menu.
1 Perform one of the following actions: (see screenshot below)
- Press the Win + X keys, press the U key, and press the H key.
- Open the Win+X Quick Link menu, click/tap on Shut down or sign out, and click/tap on Hibernate.
1 Click/tap on the desktop (Win+D) to make it the current focused (active) window.
2 Press the Alt + F4 keys.
This will only work if you did step 1. Otherwise, it will close the current active window instead of the desktop.
3 Select Hibernate in the drop menu, and click/tap on OK or press Enter. (see screenshot below)
1 Press the Ctrl + Alt + Del keys.
2 Click/tap on the Power button.
3 Click/tap on Hibernate in the Power menu.
1 While on the Sign-in screen: (see screenshot below)
2 Click/tap on the Power button.
3 Click/tap on Hibernate in the Power menu.
To see more shutdown command usage details, see: shutdown | Microsoft Docs.
1 Open Windows Terminal, and select either Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.
2 Copy and paste the command below you want to use into Windows Terminal, and press Enter.
shutdown /hPuts the local computer into hibernation, if hibernate is enabled.
shutdown /h /fForces running applications to close without warning users, then puts the local computer into hibernation, if hibernate is enabled.
1 Open the Game Bar (
+G).2 Click/tap on the Settings (gear) icon on the Home Bar. (see screenshot below)
3 Click/tap on Power in Settings.
4 Click/tap on Hibernate in the Power menu.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
