How Do I Disable Fast Boot on Windows 11?
How Do I Disable Fast Boot on Windows 11?
3 Answers

How to Disable Fast Boot on Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide
Alright, let’s dive into shutting off that Fast Boot on Windows 11. If your system’s acting up with some hardware, this might just be the fix you need:
- Get to the Control Panel:
- Hit Windows + S to pull up the search bar.
- Type in Control Panel and hit Enter.
- Find Power Options:
- In the Control Panel, switch your view to Large icons or Small icons for an easier look-around.
- Click on Power Options.
- Head to Power Button Settings:
- Click on Choose what the power buttons do on the left side.
- Unlock More Settings:
- Click on Change settings that are currently unavailable. Think of it as unlocking a new level of controls.
- Toggle Off Fast Boot:
- Scroll to Shutdown settings and untick Turn on fast startup (recommended).
- Hit Save changes to lock it in.
And there you go, Fast Boot should be off on your Windows 11. It’s as easy as pie once you know where to click.
A Couple of Things to Keep in Mind:
- Turning off Fast Boot might slow boot times a tad. Still, it’s worth it if your system’s not playing nice with some hardware.
- If that Fast Boot checkbox is grayed out, try logging in as an admin or dig into your BIOS/UEFI settings for more features.
If you’re curious about more, check Microsoft’s pages or your device’s help guides. They’ve got a lot of good stuff.

Hey there! So, you\’re looking to disable Fast Boot on Windows 11? Let\’s get into it. Fast Boot\’s a neat feature because it speeds things up when you\’re starting your computer by saving some of the system state. But sometimes, you might want it off, especially if you\’re into dual booting or changing up your hardware. Let\’s dive into how you can turn it off.
First up, the good old Control Panel method:
- Crack open the Start Menu and type in “Control Panel.” Pick the first thing that pops up.
- Go to “Hardware and Sound” and then hit “Power Options.”
- Look over to the left and click “Choose what the power buttons do.”
- You’ll see “Change settings that are currently unavailable” at the top – click it (but you’ll need admin rights).
- Scroll down to the Shutdown settings bit and uncheck “Turn on fast startup (recommended).”
- Save your changes, and you’re golden.
This way, your computer does a full shutdown without keeping anything in a file.
On to the Command Prompt for the tech-savvy:
- Search for “Command Prompt” in the Start Menu, right-click, and choose “Run as administrator.”
- Type this magic spell:
Powercfg -h off
and hit Enter.
This move kills hibernation and Fast Boot, which is cool because Fast Boot uses the hibernation file.
If you\’re scripting or managing several PCs, PowerShell is your buddy:
- Fire up PowerShell with administrator rights.
- Run this handy script:
– Set your path: HKLM:\\SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Control\\Session Manager\\Power
– Change “HiberbootEnabled” to 0 with this:New-ItemProperty -Path \"HKLM:\\SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Control\\Session Manager\\Power\" -Name \"HiberbootEnabled\" -Value 0 -PropertyType DWord -Force
Here’s the kicker: Before you dive into these changes, keep in mind that turning off Fast Boot might make things start a smidge slower. Not a biggie for SSDs, though. And if you’re dual-booting or need to dive into the BIOS or recovery settings, you\’ll need Fast Boot off.
If this doesn\’t work because it’s greyed out, make sure you’ve got admin rights. Maybe some updates or drivers are in the way, so keep an eye out for that.
You’re set! These steps have got you covered whether you\’re a PC pro or just like tinkering. Hope that makes life a little easier!

So, you want to switch off Fast Startup on your Windows 11 machine? No problem, I\’ve got you covered with some straightforward steps.
First Things First: What’s Fast Startup All About?
Fast Startup is a nifty little feature that helps Windows boot up quicker. It does this by saving some system info to a file when you shut down. But, for some folks, especially if you\’re running multiple operating systems or debugging hardware issues, it might be more hassle than it’s worth.
Reasons You Might Want to Say Goodbye to Fast Startup:
- Dual-Boot Dance: If you\’re juggling Windows with another OS like Linux, enabling Fast Startup could prevent access to your other partitions.
- Hardware Headaches: Sometimes peripherals, such as USB devices or graphics cards, just don’t play nice after a hybrid shutdown.
- Update Woes: Some updates simply refuse to cooperate without a complete shutdown.
- Laptop Battery Blues: Maybe you’re noticing a bit more battery drain than usual? This could be a factor.
Turning Off Fast Startup: Here’s How
Method 1: Old-School Control Panel Way
- Fire up the Control Panel and head to Hardware and Sound, then Power Options.
- Click on Choose what the power buttons do from the sidebar.
- Tap on Change settings that are currently unavailable.
- Uncheck Turn on fast startup.
- Save those changes!
Method 2: Through Windows Settings
- Hit Win + I, move on to System, then Power & battery.
- In there, click Additional power settings.
- Now just repeat steps 2–5 from Method 1.
Method 3: Command Prompt Magic
- Open up the Command Prompt as Administrator.
- Type in:
powercfg /h off
. That stops both hibernation and Fast Startup. If you change your mind later,powercfg /h on
is your friend.
Method 4: Group Policy Route (Only for Pro or Enterprise Users)
- Use Win + R, type in
gpedit.msc
, then hit OK. - Navigate through Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → System → Shutdown.
- Find Require use of fast startup, double-click it, set it to Disabled, and apply!
Some Troubleshooting Tips
- Can’t Uncheck Fast Startup? – Maybe hibernation is off. Type
powercfg /h on
first. - Stubborn BIOS/UEFI: Sometimes BIOS will override Windows settings. Restart your PC, hold down Shift while clicking Restart, and poke around there.
- Driver Drama: If peripherals are acting up, make sure your chipset drivers are all up-to-date.
Checking Your Work
- Shut down fully with this:
shutdown /s /f /t 0
. - Turn the machine back on. If it boots more slowly, Fast Startup was definitely doing its job before.
By taking these steps, you\’re pretty much customizing your PC\’s boot routine to fit your needs. For those running multiple operating systems, you might even want to peek at your BIOS settings for smoother transitions between them.
Hope this helps! If you have any other questions or need more tips, feel free to ask.