How to Disable Fast Startup in Windows 11

The fast Startup feature enables you to boost the bootup time of your Windows PC by not completely shutting off the computer and keeping the essential operating system files in the hibernate drive. This helps facilitates the reduced boot time since the computer doesn’t have to start these processes from scratch. You can think of it as a state somewhere between shutdown and hibernate.

Though the feature can provide great convenience, it can also lead to problems. For example, it can interfere with Windows updates or if you are using more than one operating system on your device. Furthermore, since the PC does not shut down completely, it is relatively more prone to BSOD errors. So, it’s understandable to want to disable it.

Disable Fast Startup from the Control Panel

The ‘Fast startup’ feature can be easily disabled from the ‘Power Options’ section in the Control Panel.

First, head to the Start Menu and type Control to perform a search for it. Then, from the search results, click on the ‘Control Panel’ tile to proceed.

After that, click on the ‘Power Options’ tile to continue.

Next, click on the ‘Choose what closing the lid does’ option from the left sidebar.

After that, click on the ‘Change settings that are currently unavailable’ option. This will require administrator privileges.

Next, uncheck the checkbox preceding the ‘Turn on fast startup’ option. Then, click on the ‘Save changes’ button to confirm.

Disable Fast Startup Using Registry Editor

In case you can’t disable the ‘Fast Startup’ feature the traditional way, you might want to use the Registry Editor to make changes to your system. Note that you should take a backup of your system before making changes to core system files.

First, head to the Start Menu and type Registry to perform a search. Then, from the search results, click on the ‘Registry Editor’ tile.

Now, a UAC window will appear on your screen. If you are not logged in with an administrator account, enter credentials for one. Otherwise, click on the ‘Yes’ button to proceed.

After that, type or copy+paste the below-mentioned address in the address bar and hit Enter to navigate to the directory.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Power

Afterward, double-click on the ‘HiberbootEnabled’ DWORD file to continue.

Next, type 0 in the value field and click on the ‘OK’ button to confirm and close.

Once the value has been changed, restart your computer from the Start Menu and check if the fast startup was disabled.

Disable Fast Startup Using the Group Policy Editor

If for some reason, the Registry Editor method also doesn’t seem to work for you, you can also use the Group Policy editor to disable the feature.

Note: Group Policy Editor is only available in the Pro, Edu, and Enterprise editions of Windows.

To do so, first, head to the Start Menu and type Group policy to perform a search for it. Then, from the search results, click on the ‘Edit group policy’ to continue.

After that, double-click on the ‘Computer Configuration’ option.

Next, double-click on the ‘Administrative templates’ option to continue.

Then, double-click on the ‘System’ folder.

Now, double-click on the ‘Shutdown’ folder.

Finally, click on the ‘Require use of fast startup’ setting. This will open a separate window on your screen.

Click on the radio button preceding the ‘Disabled’ option, then click on the ‘Apply’ button to confirm. Finally, click on ‘OK’ to close the window.

Conclusion

The 'Fast Startup' feature in Windows 11 can be a useful tool for reducing boot time. However, it can also lead to problems such as interfering with Windows updates or causing BSOD errors.

Fortunately, there are different ways to disable this feature, including the Control Panel, Registry Editor, or Group Policy Editor. Whatever method you choose, always remember to back up your system before making any changes to core system files.

By disabling 'Fast Startup,' you can ensure a smoother and more stable performance for your Windows 11 device.