How to use hibernation to extend battery life on Windows 11
Yes, Windows 11 supports hibernation to save battery life, and in this guide, I’ll show you the steps to configure it.
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OnWindows 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 thishow-to guide, I’ll explain how to configure hibernation to extend your laptop’s battery life while preserving the current session.
This guide has been updated to reflect the changes of the features with new version of the operating system.
How to enable hibernation on Windows 11
To enable hibernation on Windows 11, use these steps:
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.
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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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
Mauro Huculak has been a Windows How-To Expert contributor for WindowsCentral.com for nearly a decade and has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides. He also has an IT background and has achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and CompTIA. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years.
