Hibernation Problem

Not Myself · Aug 8, 2026

I found an expired thread about this, which offered this advice, powercfg /hibernateoff, which I entered, and also turned it off in Control Panel/Power Options. A few minutes ago I returned to the computer, where I found that my computer which I had been using perhaps fifteen minutes earlier, was in hibernation. What else can I do to keep this from happening?

Ghot · Aug 8, 2026

Not Myself said:
I found an expired thread about this, which offered this advice, powercfg /hibernateoff, which I entered, and also turned it off in Control Panel/Power Options. A few minutes ago I returned to the computer, where I found that my computer which I had been using perhaps fifteen minutes earlier, was in hibernation. What else can I do to keep this from happening?

Use Option Two, step #3 thru #10, here...

Enable or Disable Hibernate in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable hibernate and restore or delete the hiberfil.sys file in Windows 11. Hibernate is a power-saving state designed primarily for laptops, and might not be available for all PCs. (For example, PCs with Modern Standby may not have hibernate...

www.elevenforum.com

Klaver7 · Aug 8, 2026

Been using powercfg -h off for a long time, never failed me

Think you have to run it as ADMIN ...

JohnsonInAfrica · Aug 9, 2026

Open cmd as administrator and type
powercfg -h off
then restart the machine

I also have two registry tweak files that I run when setting up a new machine

Do not sleep
Do not hibernate

I also have the two registry tweaks to re enable them if needed. I leave them on the computer for the user to re enable if needed.

It isn't good practice to let computers sleep or hibernate. I tell people to turn them off every day at night and back on in the morning. If you don't, you can end up with Windows Update issues.

BruceR · Aug 9, 2026

djohnson1966 said:
It isn't good practice to let computers sleep or hibernate.

Why?

djohnson1966 said:
I tell people to turn them off every day at night and back on in the morning. If you don't, you can end up with Windows Update issues.

Nonsense.

Bree · Aug 9, 2026

djohnson1966 said:
It isn't good practice to let computers sleep or hibernate. I tell people to turn them off every day at night and back on in the morning. If you don't, you can end up with Windows Update issues.

Nonsense. All my laptops sleep when I close the lid, then hibernate after 20 minutes if I don't come back to them. I don't have update issues.

My most used system, my 'main machine' has been sleeping/hibernating for over a decade now. In that time its OS has been migrated to a newer machine twice (now running on my System Seven). In its life it has had every upgrade, starting with W7 to W10 in 2015, followed by every W10 update up to September 2021. Then it took the W11 upgrade and has had every W11 update up to today. It has perhaps one of the longest records of serial upgrades that I know of.

I can honestly say that sleep/hibernation has never caused me any Windows update issues.

PurSpyk!! · Aug 9, 2026

djohnson1966 said:
Open cmd as administrator and type
powercfg -h off
then restart the machine

I also have two registry tweak files that I run when setting up a new machine

Do not sleep
Do not hibernate

I also have the two registry tweaks to re enable them if needed. I leave them on the computer for the user to re enable if needed.

It isn't good practice to let computers sleep or hibernate. I tell people to turn them off every day at night and back on in the morning. If you don't, you can end up with Windows Update issues.

Odd never had issues putting any of my machines into sleep. During the week my home computers are swithced off while at work, but over the weekend they go into sleep no issues. I dont use hybernation though.

JohnsonInAfrica · Aug 9, 2026

Leaving a computer on sleep or hibernate instead of turning it off can block Windows updates from finishing. Windows needs a full restart to apply system files. Without reboots, updates get stuck. This causes high background activity, slow performance, and security risks.

I've had customers who don't restart their computer after updates. They press the power button thinking it turns their machine off and all it does is put them to sleep. So I also configure the computer to turn off once the power button is pressed. Their argument is they need the computer to turn on as soon as they press the power button. If they can't wait 30 to 60 seconds then that's their problem. I've had a number of computers across my work bench with update issues and all of the laptops were in hibernation when I pressed the power button. It was a known issue as of a couple of years ago. I'm now retired and don't see that many machines. Especially here in Kenya.

Klaver7 · Aug 9, 2026

I seen too many people going to crap with "SLEEP" so I turn it off on all my machines, but thats my opinion and I know a lot will disagree on that

XxXxX · Aug 10, 2026

all my systems are set to sleep when pressing the power button
thats 2 desktops and 4 laptops they are very seldom shut down completely

but all systems have fast startup and hibernation disabled
they have been set the way for more years then i can remember
and i have not had a problem with updates except where the updates have been the problem.

best of luck Steve ..

Ghot · Aug 10, 2026

@djohnson1966

Here's ten points, just for filling out your computer specs.

Ghot · Aug 10, 2026

I don't use sleep, ever. And hibernate/fast startup is disabled, always.

I always turn off the display and lock the computer when I leave the computer.

Add "Turn off display" Context Menu in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to add a Turn off display desktop context menu that will let users Turn off display or Lock computer and Turn off display on demand in Windows 10 and Windows 11. By default, You can specify a screen timeout for how long the PC sits inactive without user activity...

www.elevenforum.com

hsehestedt · Aug 10, 2026

XxXxX said:
i have not had a problem with updates except where the updates have been the problem.

I would expect that Windows update would eventually just perform a reboot on its own, but that is interesting. I suppose that if you have busy hours set, then Windows would never reboot to install the updates if the machine is simply in sleep the entire time that it is outside of busy hours.

Interesting situation. I'd have to test that one sometime.

XxXxX · Aug 10, 2026

hsehestedt said:
I would expect that Windows update would eventually just perform a reboot on its own, but that is interesting. I suppose that if you have busy hours set, then Windows would never reboot to install the updates if the machine is simply in sleep the entire time that it is outside of busy hours.

Interesting situation. I'd have to test that one sometime.

the busy hours on my system is set 6am to 6pm
as stated fast startup and hibernation are disabled

i have the system set to sleep via the power button with screen lock enabled
when Windows updates on troublesome Tuesday i just manually restart, the updates then install
i haven't had any problems with updates and restarting only when updates that themselves have had a problem.

thats how i have managed it on several systems in the house for many years.
best of luck Steve ..

Bree · Aug 10, 2026

JohnsonInAfrica said:
I've had customers who don't restart their computer after updates. They press the power button thinking it turns their machine off and all it does is put them to sleep. So I also configure the computer to turn off once the power button is pressed. Their argument is they need the computer to turn on as soon as they press the power button. If they can't wait 30 to 60 seconds then that's their problem. I've had a number of computers across my work bench with update issues and all of the laptops were in hibernation when I pressed the power button. It was a known issue as of a couple of years ago. I'm now retired and don't see that many machines. Especially here in Kenya.

I see what you mean. None of us replying to you would do that though, hence the disbelief.

If you do see this again, 'Get me up to date' would be another option worth turning on for their own good. This first appeared in October 2022 with 22H2, you may have retired by then.

Turn On or Off "Get me up to date" for Windows Update in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off "Get me up to date" for Windows Update in Windows 11. In Windows 11, you decide when and how to get the latest updates to keep your device running smoothly and securely. When you update, you'll get the latest fixes and security improvements...

www.elevenforum.com

Asus272 · Aug 11, 2026

Windows hasn't properly shut down when you click shut down since 2012, and it explains a decade of weird bugs

Most users won't miss this troublesome feature causing it anyway

www.xda-developers.com

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