When you open the Power menu in Windows 10, you see the options for Sleep, Shut Down, and Restart. What if you want to add the Hibernate option to this menu? To use this feature, you have to activate it manually. That's why, in this guide, we will give you step-by-step information on how to enable the Hibernate option in Windows 10, so that it is displayed in the Power menu. Here is how it is done:
What is Hibernate in Windows?
Hibernate (or suspend to disk) is a way to power off your PC or device so that you can resume your activity exactly where you left off. It is similar to Sleep, except that the system can keep the hibernation state for much longer, with lower energy consumption. Furthermore, the system can maintain the hibernation state even after you disconnect it from the power source. However, resuming operation from hibernation is not instant, like it is when using Sleep. The resume duration is similar to the startup procedure after an ordinary Shut Down.
Activating Hibernate uses additional space on the partition where Windows is installed. The space it takes is approximately equivalent to your RAM. This space is reserved for copying information about running programs when you use Hibernate. Therefore, when you resume from hibernation, all your opened programs, apps, and files are available exactly where you left off before starting the Hibernate procedure.
The hyberfil.sys file used by the Hibernation option
Read this article on Wikipedia, if you want to learn more technical details about Hibernate and the way it works.
How to activate the Hibernate option in Windows 10
First, log in with a user account that is an administrator on your Windows 10 PC, laptop, or tablet. Then, open the Control Panel and go to Hardware and Sound.
Control Panel - Go to Hardware and Sound
Look for the Power Options and click or tap on them.
Control Panel - Go to Power Options
In the left column, click or tap the link that says: "Choose what the power button does."
Control Panel - Click Choose what the power button does
You may see different Shutdown settings, including Hibernate, which is disabled, unlike the rest.
Click or tap the link that says: "Change settings that are currently unavailable."
Control Panel - Click Change settings that are currently unavailable
This action makes the Shutdown settings editable. Check the box next to Hibernate, and press Save changes.
Control Panel - Enable Hibernate
You can now close the Control Panel.
You can now use the Hibernate option in Windows 10
The Hibernate option is now available in the Power menu of Windows 10, as you can see below. To use it, click or tap Start, then Power, and then Hibernate.
The Hibernate option in Windows 10's Power menu
Do you prefer to use Hibernate instead of Sleep?
We like the Hibernate option, and we sometimes prefer it to Sleep. Most probably you do too, and that's why you have read this tutorial. Before you close, tell us why you prefer Hibernate, and how often you are using it. Comment below and let's discuss.
Thanks!
This was really helpful.
I can now hibernate instead of losing unsaved work.
comma ·
in the Power option / System Setings … I dint have the last part:
I mean this:
Shutdown setings ——-
– Turn on fast startup (recommended)
– Sleep
– Hibernate
– Lock
what can i do to make windows to show me this section?
Natalie ·
hibernate always, because I keep track of my work by having multiple tasks/windows going at once, and thus important to have windows remain open AND content restored to current state (whereas with sleep, applications were closing and I was losing unsaved content); noticed immediately
Zy ·
The same here. I added through cmd hibernation on, also i entered all code. And now in control panel instead of hibernation, i see just emty box, also i can choose sleep or do nothing, but no hibernation. I downloaded “start menu”, on that start menu it shows hibernation at left corner, but on right corner I still dont see. What else i can do, that sleep button will work as hibernation?
Georgia ·
I don’t have the hibernate option at all in Windows 8.1. When I follow the instructions above, I get to the “change what the power button does” page and scroll down. I have fast startup, sleep, and lock. But there is no hibernation check box. It’s just missing. How can I get it to appear?
Munteanu Ilie-Alexandru ·
Hello! Thank you for asking your question!
To get the hibernation check box to appear, you must edit some registry settings.
Open your Start screen, then type “regedit”,and choose “regedit.exe” in the results.
This will open the registry editor application. Double-click HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> System -> CurrentControlSet -> Control ->Power.
Then, double-click the HibernateEnable link to the right, set the Value data box to 1, click OK, then restart your computer. Now you should see the Hibernate checkbox.
If you still can’t get to make the checkbox appear don’t hesitate to ask another question. We will update the tutorial with detailed information about editing this registry setting.
Bill ·
I modified the registry exactly as you instructed but I still cannot see a Hibernate checkbox under Shutdown settings. Any other ideas?
Ken ·
Hi,
I have the same issue, not seeing Hibernate checkbox although having configure in Regedit, wonder if you’ve found the solution?
Armin ·
Hello
thank you for your answer…that was really helpful
Davor ·
RegEdit works. Thanks for help.
zuecell ·
on regedit Hibernate already Enabled 🙁 but still no Hibernate option
Discussion (11)
Thanks!
This was really helpful.
I can now hibernate instead of losing unsaved work.
in the Power option / System Setings … I dint have the last part:
I mean this:
Shutdown setings ——-
– Turn on fast startup (recommended)
– Sleep
– Hibernate
– Lock
what can i do to make windows to show me this section?
hibernate always, because I keep track of my work by having multiple tasks/windows going at once, and thus important to have windows remain open AND content restored to current state (whereas with sleep, applications were closing and I was losing unsaved content); noticed immediately
The same here. I added through cmd hibernation on, also i entered all code. And now in control panel instead of hibernation, i see just emty box, also i can choose sleep or do nothing, but no hibernation. I downloaded “start menu”, on that start menu it shows hibernation at left corner, but on right corner I still dont see. What else i can do, that sleep button will work as hibernation?
I don’t have the hibernate option at all in Windows 8.1. When I follow the instructions above, I get to the “change what the power button does” page and scroll down. I have fast startup, sleep, and lock. But there is no hibernation check box. It’s just missing. How can I get it to appear?
Hello! Thank you for asking your question!
To get the hibernation check box to appear, you must edit some registry settings.
Open your Start screen, then type “regedit”,and choose “regedit.exe” in the results.
This will open the registry editor application. Double-click HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> System -> CurrentControlSet -> Control ->Power.
Then, double-click the HibernateEnable link to the right, set the Value data box to 1, click OK, then restart your computer. Now you should see the Hibernate checkbox.
If you still can’t get to make the checkbox appear don’t hesitate to ask another question. We will update the tutorial with detailed information about editing this registry setting.
I modified the registry exactly as you instructed but I still cannot see a Hibernate checkbox under Shutdown settings. Any other ideas?
Hi,
I have the same issue, not seeing Hibernate checkbox although having configure in Regedit, wonder if you’ve found the solution?
Hello
thank you for your answer…that was really helpful
RegEdit works. Thanks for help.
on regedit Hibernate already Enabled 🙁 but still no Hibernate option