sodcalculator

10 Tech How-To

Enable Fast Startup in Windows 10: A Step-by-Step Guide

Guide 10-35656 · Updated · Step by step

Fast Startup (also called Fast Boot) is a Windows 10 feature that hibernates the kernel session instead of fully shutting down, so your next cold boot is noticeably quicker. This guide walks you through enabling it, what to check first, and how to fix it when it doesn’t work.

What You’ll Need

  • A Windows 10 PC with Hibernation enabled (Fast Startup depends on the hibernation file).
  • Administrator access to change power settings.
  • Your system’s BIOS/UEFI set to Fast Boot or Quick Boot if available (optional, but it helps).

Step-by-Step

  1. Open the Control Panel. Press Win + R, type control, and press Enter.
  2. Go to Power Options. In Control Panel, select Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
  3. Click “Choose what the power buttons do” in the left sidebar.
  4. Click “Change settings that are currently unavailable” at the top. This unlocks the shutdown settings below.
  5. Check “Turn on fast startup” under Shutdown settings. If it’s already checked, Fast Startup is on.
  6. Click “Save changes” at the bottom right.
  7. Restart your PC (not a shutdown) to apply the change. After that, a normal shutdown will use Fast Startup.

If the checkbox is grayed out or missing, you need to enable Hibernation first. Open an elevated Command Prompt (right-click Start > Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin)) and type:

powercfg /h on

Then repeat steps 1–6.

Common Mistakes

  • Using “Restart” instead of “Shut down” – Restart always does a full shutdown, so Fast Startup won’t kick in. Use Shut down to see the benefit.
  • Disabling Hibernation – Fast Startup needs the hibernation file. If you’ve turned off hibernation to save disk space, Fast Startup won’t work.
  • Not having administrator rights – The “Change settings that are currently unavailable” link won’t appear if you’re not an admin.
  • Confusing Fast Startup with BIOS Fast Boot – BIOS Fast Boot skips some hardware checks; Windows Fast Startup is a different setting. Both help, but they’re independent.

Tips

  • Keep Hibernation enabled even if you never use Hibernate – Fast Startup depends on it.
  • Use a clean shutdown when you need to apply Windows Updates or troubleshoot – hold Shift while clicking Shut Down to force a full shutdown.
  • Check your disk space – the hibernation file (hiberfil.sys) takes up about 20% of your RAM size. If you’re low on space, consider reducing it with powercfg /h /type reduced (this still supports Fast Startup).
  • Update your drivers – Fast Startup can occasionally cause issues with certain hardware (e.g., audio or network). Keeping drivers current minimizes problems.

Troubleshooting

Fast Startup is not available (checkbox grayed out): Enable Hibernation as described above. If the command fails, your system may not support hibernation (rare on desktops/laptops). Check if you have a hiberfil.sys file in C:\ (hidden).

Fast Startup is on, but boot doesn’t feel faster: Make sure you’re using Shut Down, not Restart. Also, check if your BIOS has a Fast Boot option – enabling it can shave off more time.

After enabling, you see a black screen or boot loop: This can happen with incompatible drivers. Boot into Safe Mode (Shift + Restart from the login screen), then disable Fast Startup via the same Power Options, and update your graphics or chipset drivers.

Fast Startup breaks dual-boot: If you have Linux or another OS installed, Fast Startup can lock the Windows partition, preventing the other OS from mounting it. Disable Fast Startup if you dual-boot and need to access Windows files from the other OS.

You can’t access BIOS after enabling Fast Startup: Fast Startup doesn’t block BIOS access, but your system’s own Fast Boot might. Try holding Shift while clicking Restart to get into the recovery menu, then go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > UEFI Firmware Settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Fast Startup work with SSDs?

Yes, but the benefit is smaller because SSDs already boot quickly. It still helps by skipping the kernel initialization.

Will Fast Startup affect my unsaved work?

No. Fast Startup only hibernates the kernel, not your open documents. Unsaved work is still lost if you shut down without saving.

Can I disable Fast Startup later?

Yes. Follow the same steps and uncheck the box. You can also run powercfg /h off to disable hibernation entirely, which removes Fast Startup.

Why does my PC not fully shut down with Fast Startup?

That’s by design – it’s a hybrid shutdown. If you need a full shutdown (e.g., to fix a problem), hold Shift while clicking Shut Down.

Does Fast Startup consume more power?

No. When the PC is off, it’s off. Fast Startup only affects the shutdown/startup process, not sleep or idle power.

Is Fast Startup safe to use?

Generally yes. The only known issues are with dual-booting and rare driver conflicts. If you experience problems, you can turn it off.

Related

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →