How to use hibernation to extend battery life on Windows 11 and Windows 10

On Windows 11, you can enable and configure the "Hibernate" feature to extend your device's battery life. The feature works by saving data in memory onto the hard drive using the "Hiberfil.sys" system file. When you turn off the laptop or desktop computer to save power, it resumes where you left off the next time you turn it on.

The feature isn't as fast as sleep mode. However, it is still a great feature to preserve battery when you are not using the device or running low on battery power. Your laptop might be experiencing fast battery-draining issues due to a system or app bug because the battery is depleted, or because you have to replace the battery and can't close the work you are doing.

In this how-to guide, I'll explain how to configure hibernation to extend your laptop's battery life while preserving the current session.

How to enable hibernation on Windows 11

To enable hibernation on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to confirm the hibernation status and press Enter: powercfg /availablesleepstates

4. Confirm whether Hibernate appears disabled.
5. Type the following command to enable the Windows 11 Hibernate feature and press Enter: powercfg /hibernate on

Once you complete the steps, hibernation will be enabled on your computer.

This feature is not available on all system configurations. If you can't enable hibernation, there are several reasons why. For example, the graphics card driver does not support the power state, which you could fix by updating the latest video driver.

It could be that hibernation is supported, but it's currently disabled on the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI). If this is the case, accessing the motherboard firmware and adjusting the settings using your manufacturer support instructions may resolve the problem.

Also, the hardware may not support hibernation, in which case you won't be able to use the feature.

How to add hibernation option to Power menu on Windows 11

To incorporate the "Hibernate" option in the Power menu of Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Control Panel and click the top result to open the app.
3. Click on Hardware and Sound.

4. Click on Power Options.

5. Click the "Choose what closing the lid does" option from the left pane.

• Quick tip: If you're using a desktop computer, you can select the "Choose what the power button does" option to get to the settings.

6. Click the "Change settings that are currently unavailable" option to modify the Shutdown settings.

7. Check the Hibernate option.

8. Click the Save changes button.

After you complete the steps, you will now see the "Hibernate" option when opening the Power menu.

How to configure hibernation settings on Windows 11

Once you enable hibernation, there are a few settings you can customize to get the most out of the feature. For example, you can change the power button or laptop lid to put the computer in hibernation mode as soon as you press the button or close the lid. Or, if you want to prolong the battery as much as possible, you can adjust the power settings to allow the device to hibernate automatically after some time of inactivity.

Configure hibernation settings (version 24H2)

Starting on the Windows 11 2024 Update, the Settings app includes new settings to configure hibernation after the feature has been enabled through Command Prompt.

To change the power button and close the lid action on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click the Power & battery page from the right side.

4. Click the "Lid & power button controls" setting.
5. (Option 1) Choose the Hibernate option for the "Pressing the power button will make my PC" or "Closing the lid will make my PC" option in the "Plugged in" setting.
6. (Option 2) Choose the Hibernate option for the "Pressing the power button will make my PC" or "Closing the lid will make my PC" option in the "On battery" setting.

Once you complete the steps, closing the laptop's lid or pressing the power button will cause the device to hibernate.

If you want to change the schedule of when the computer should hibernate after the time of inactivity, if you can't find the option in the Settings app, then you will have to the Control Panel with the instructions below.

Only through the Control Panel can you add or remove the "Hibernate" option from the Start menu.

Configure hibernation settings (all versions)

To change the hibernation settings on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Control Panel and click the top result to open the app.
3. Click on Hardware and Sound.

4. Click on Power Options.

5. Click the Change plan settings option for the current power plan.

6. Click the "Change advanced power settings" option.

7. Expand the Sleep settings.
8. Expand the Hibernate after settings.

• Quick note: This setting may not be available on all hardware configurations.

• Quick note: This setting may not be available on every hardware configuration.

9. Use the On Battery option to set the number of minutes of inactivity before the device goes into hibernation mode when the laptop is running on battery.
10. Use the Plugged in option to set the number of minutes of inactivity before the device goes into hibernation mode when the laptop is connected to a power source.
11. Click the Apply button.
12. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the computer will hibernate automatically after the specified time.

Set power button to hibernate

To change the power button or the laptop lid behavior to use hibernation, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Control Panel and click the top result to open the app.
3. Click on Hardware and Sound.

4. Click on Power Options.

5. Click the Choose what closing the lid does option from the left pane.

6. Under the "Power and sleep buttons and lid settings" section, use the "When I press the power button" setting and select the Hibernate option.

7. (Optional) Use the "When I press the sleep button" option and select the Hibernate option.
8. (Optional) Use the "When I close the lid" option and select the Hibernate option.

After you complete these steps, your computer will enter into the hibernation state, depending on your configuration.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

How to enable hibernation on Windows 10

On Windows 10, hibernation is a power-saving feature that saves the content in memory onto the hard drive (inside the "Hiberfil.sys" hidden system file), allowing a complete shutdown of the device to extend battery life without losing your current work. The next time you resume, the previous session will load into memory, allowing you to pick up where you left off.

Although hibernation doesn't resume as fast as sleep on Windows 10, the feature will come in handy when you aren't using the device for an extended period when running out of battery, the laptop has a battery drain issue, or when you have to swap the battery (if you still have one of those devices).

This guide will walk you through the steps to enable and configure hibernation to extend battery life on your laptop or completely shut down your computer, preserving your current session upon resuming.

To enable hibernation using Command Prompt, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to confirm if hibernation is already enabled on your device and press Enter: powercfg /availablesleepstates

• Quick note: If Hibernate appears under the "The following sleep states are available on this system" section, then the feature is enabled, and you don't need to continue with step 4.

4. Type the following command to enable the feature on your computer and press Enter: powercfg /hibernate on

Once you complete the steps, Windows 10 will enable hibernation on your computer. However, it's not a feature available on all system configurations. If you're unable to use hibernation on Windows 10, it could be for one of these reasons:

• Graphics card driver doesn't support this power state. Updating to the latest video driver may fix this issue.
• Hibernation may be supported, but it's not enabled inside the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) or legacy Basic Input/Output System (BIOS). Accessing the motherboard firmware and adjusting the settings using your device manufacturer support website may resolve the problem.
• Hybrid sleep feature is enabled. In some cases, you may need to disable this feature before hibernation becomes available.
• Hardware is not compatible with hibernation. For example, devices with InstantGo don't have the hibernate option.

How to add hibernation option to Power menu on Windows 10

To add the hibernation option to the Power menu on Start, use these steps:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click on Hardware and Sound.

3. Click on Power Options.

4. Click the "Choose what closing the lid does" option from the left pane.

• Quick tip: If you're using a desktop computer, you can select the "Choose what the power buttons do" option to get to the settings.

5. Click the "Change settings that are currently unavailable" option to modify the Shutdown settings.
6. Check the Hibernate option.

7. Click the Save changes button.

After you complete the steps, the "Hibernate" option will be available in the Power menu in the Start menu, Lock screen, and Power-user menu (Windows key + X keyboard shortcut).

Customize power button to hibernate

To put your device into hibernation when pressing one of the power buttons or closing the lid, use these steps:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click on Hardware and Sound.

3. Click on Power Options.

4. Click the "Choose what closing the lid does" option from the left pane.

5. Under the "Power and sleep buttons and lid settings" section, use the drop-down menu to allow your device to enter into the hibernation state when you press the power or sleep button, or when closing the laptop lid.

Once you complete the steps, your computer will enter into hibernation depending on your configuration.

How to configure hibernation settings on Windows 10

If you want to prolong battery as much as possible, you can adjust the power settings to allow your computer to hibernate automatically.

To change the hibernation timers on your computer, use these steps:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click on Hardware and Sound.

3. Click on Power Options.

4. Click the "Change plan settings" option under the current power plan in use.

5. Click the "Change advanced power settings" option.

6. Expand the Sleep branch.
7. Expand the Hibernate after branch.
8. Use the On Battery option to set the number of minutes before putting the device into a hibernation state when the laptop is running on battery.

9. Use the Plugged in option to set the number of minutes before putting the device into a hibernation state when the laptop is connected to a power source.
10. Click the Apply button.
11. Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, your device should go into hibernation automatically after the specified time you configured.

Similar to previous versions, hibernation offers a reliable method to save battery life while preserving your session. However, it's the option that takes the most time to process a shutdown and resume because it requires writing the content in memory to the hard drive to hibernate and writing the information back to memory upon resume.

If you want to save battery with the fastest resume time, perhaps the sleep option is the recommended method. However, you may lose unsaved work if your device loses power during sleep.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know