How to Disable Fast Startup in Windows 11

In Windows 10, Microsoft introduced a new feature called Fast Startup, which is continued in Windows 11. This feature is turned on by default, and it helps your computer start up faster. However, there are some cases where you may want to disable Fast Startup.

For example, if you are having problems with your computer starting up or if you need to access the BIOS menu for some other reason.

In this article, we will show you how to disable Fast Startup in Windows 11.

What is Fast Startup?

Fast startup is a Windows 10 feature that combines the features of shutdown and hibernation to make your computer start faster after a shutdown than the normal startup process.

This is achieved by saving a part of system-related files and drivers to a hibernation file (hiberfil.sys) upon shutdown. When you start your computer again, Windows will resume from hibernation and continue your session.

The following are some points that need to be considered:

1. The Fast startup setting only applies to Shutdown, it doesn’t apply to Restart.
2. The shutdown can be performed from the Power Menu shutdown option.
3. The hibernate feature has to be enabled. If you disable hibernate, then it will also disable fast startup.

Problems with Fast Startup in Windows 11

Although a Fast Startup has its advantages, it can sometimes cause issues. When you disable or enable drivers and hardware, the system may not recognize them after a fast startup because the drivers were not loaded during boot. The same is true for BIOS settings and other changes.

It is advised to disable Fast Startup mode if you plan to dual-boot Windows and another operating system, such as Ubuntu or Chrome OS, because it overrides the boot menu and directly boots into your primary OS.

So, if you are having issues with your computer starting up properly or if you need to access the BIOS menu for some other reason, then it is recommended that you disable Fast Startup in Windows 11.

How to Disable Fast Startup in Windows 11

There are different ways to enable or disable the fast startup in Windows 11. Let’s discuss those.

Disable Fast Startup through Power Options

The fastest and easiest way to disable or enable the fast startup in Windows 11 is through Windows Power Options.

1. On your Windows 11 system, press Windows + R to launch the Run Command window.
2. Type powercfg.cpl in the blank space and hit enter to navigate to the Power Options.
3. Next, click the “Choose what the power buttons does” option on the left pane.
4. On the next window, click the “Change settings that are currently unavailable” option to gain admin rights to change Shutdown settings.
5. After the Shutdown settings are active, uncheck the “Turn on fast startup (recommended)” option to disable the fast startup.
6. Click on Save changes and close the window.

Disable Fast Startup through Registry Editor

Another way to disable or enable the fast startup in Windows 11 is through the Registry Editor. Here are the steps for that:

1. On your Windows 11 system, press Windows + R to launch the Run Command window.
2. Type Regedit in the blank space and hit enter to launch the Registry Editor window.
3. On the Registry Editor window, navigate to this address: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Power
4. On the right pane, look for the HiberbootEnabled DWORD and double-click on it to modify its Value data.
5. Change the Value data from 1 to 0 to disable fast startup.
6. Close the Registry Editor and restart the system.

Disable Fast Startup through Group Policy Editor

A third way to disable or enable the fast startup in Windows 11 is through the Group Policy Editor. Using the Group Policy Editor, you may modify your Group Policy settings to enable or disable functions as necessary. It allows you to control whether Windows’ Fast Startup function is enabled or not.

Follow these steps for that:

1. On your Windows 11 system, press Windows + R to launch the Run Command window.
2. Type gpedit.msc in the blank space and hit enter to launch the Local Group Policy Editor window.
3. Navigate to the following address: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Shutdown
4. On the right pane, double-click on the “Require use of fast startup” option.
5. Select the Disabled bullet option, click Apply, and OK.
6. Restart your system.

Disable Fast Startup through Command Prompt

The last way to disable or enable the fast startup in Windows 11 is through the Command Prompt. Here’s how:

1. On your Windows 11 system, press Windows + R to launch the Run Command window.
2. Type CMD and hit shift+enter to open the Command Prompt with administrative rights.
3. Next, type powercfg -h off in the command prompt and hit enter.

This command will instantly disable the fast startup in Windows 11.

Summing Up

These are the different ways to enable or disable the fast startup in Windows 11. If you want to access your BIOS menu or dual-boot another operating system with Windows, then it is recommended that you disable Fast Startup.

You can successfully disable the Fast Startup in Windows 11 using any of the four methods explained in its guide. Don’t forget to restart your system for the changes to take effect.

Peter Brown

Peter is an Electrical Engineer whose primary interest is tinkering with his computer. He is passionate about Windows 10 Platform and enjoys writing tips and tutorials about it.