Evie Summers
Hibernate mode is a useful feature on computers that can help prevent data loss. When a computer hibernates, it writes the contents of its RAM to the hard drive and then stops using power. This means that if your battery dies or the power goes out, you won't lose your work. To enable hibernate mode instead of sleep mode, you can change your settings in the Control Panel or Power & Sleep settings. However, some users have reported that their computers automatically hibernate instead of sleep, even when the settings are configured for sleep mode. This issue can sometimes be resolved by performing an SFC Scan or creating a new user account.
Characteristics of using hibernation instead of sleep
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Power state | Sleep mode uses lower power, while hibernation stops using power |
| Speed | Hibernation takes longer to wake up than sleep mode |
| Data loss | Hibernation prevents data loss in the event of a power-related issue |
| Settings | Users can set an interval for hibernation |
| Battery | Hibernation saves battery life and prevents data loss when the battery is low |
| Troubleshooting | Users can perform an SFC scan or create a new user account to fix issues with hibernation |
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What You'll Learn
Change power settings to 'Sleep Never' and enable hibernation
Hibernate mode uses less power than sleep mode and is available for laptops. It takes a bit longer to resume from hibernation than sleep mode, but it resumes everything where you left off once the computer is powered back on. Use hibernate mode when you will not be using your computer for an extended time.
To change your power settings to "Sleep Never" and enable hibernation, follow these steps:
- Open Power Options: Select Start, then select Settings > System > Power & Sleep > Additional Power Settings.
- Change what the power button does: Select "Choose what the power buttons do," and then select "Change settings that are currently unavailable."
- Enable hibernation: Under Shutdown settings, select the Hibernate checkbox (if it's available), and then select Save changes.
- Hibernate your PC: Now you can hibernate your PC by selecting Start and then Power > Hibernate. Alternatively, press the Windows logo key + X on your keyboard, and then select Shut down or sign out > Hibernate.
Note: If you want to change the power plan, you can select Start, then Settings > System > Power & Battery. Use the drop-down menu under Power Mode to change to your desired setting.
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Use Advanced Power Options to set a hibernation interval
Hibernate mode is a power-saving state designed primarily for laptops and might not be available for all PCs. It uses less power than sleep mode, and when you start up the PC again, it resumes from where you left off.
To set a hibernation interval, you must first enable hibernation. You can do this by going to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Change what the power buttons do. Using the drop-down menus, select Hibernate from the list of options for what you want each button to do when pressed. Select Save Changes.
Now, to set the hibernation interval, follow these steps:
- Unplug your power cord to ensure that the power plan that corresponds with your battery mode is in effect.
- Activate the Start Menu and type in "Power & Sleep Settings" and select it.
- Ensure Power & Sleep is displayed at the top or selected on the left if the window is wider.
- Click Additional Power Settings at the bottom of the main pane.
- For the currently active and selected plan, click Change Plan Settings on the right.
- On the next screen, click Change Advanced Power Settings at the bottom.
- In the Power Options dialog box that opens, scroll down to Sleep in the Advanced Setting tab and expand the commands under it.
- Click the plus (+) to the left of Sleep.
- Click the plus (+) to the left of Allow wake timers.
- Click On battery and using the dropdown menu, change the setting to the desired hibernation interval.
- Click Plugged in and using the dropdown menu, change the setting to the desired hibernation interval.
Note that these steps are for Windows 10 and Windows 11. If you are using an older version of Windows, the steps may be slightly different. Additionally, some sources suggest that you must be signed in as an administrator to be able to add or remove the "Hibernate after" setting.
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Perform an SFC Scan to fix the issue
If your computer hibernates instead of sleeping, you can try performing an SFC Scan to fix the issue. Here's how to do it:
- Open a Command Prompt window as an administrator. You can do this by searching for "Command Prompt" in the Start menu, right-clicking on the Command Prompt application, and selecting "Run as administrator".
- In the Command Prompt window, type the following command: sfc /scannow. Then, press Enter to initiate the scan.
- The System File Checker (SFC) will now begin scanning all protected system files for integrity. It will also repair any necessary files.
- The scan may take some time to complete, and a progress percentage will be displayed. Wait for the scan to finish.
- Once the scan is complete, restart your computer.
- Check if the sleep or hibernation problem has been resolved.
The SFC Scan is a useful tool to check and repair corrupted system files that might be causing issues with your computer's sleep or hibernation mode. If the SFC Scan does not resolve the issue, you can try creating a new user account and checking if that solves the problem. Additionally, you can also try using the DISM scan tool along with the SFC scan for further troubleshooting.
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Create a new user account if the issue persists
If you're experiencing issues with your laptop hibernating instead of sleeping, one suggested fix is to create a new user account. This can be done by following these steps:
Step 1: Open the Settings App
On your Windows device, open the Settings app. Here, you can customise your device's settings, including user accounts.
Step 2: Navigate to Accounts
Within the Settings app, select 'Accounts'. This will allow you to manage your current account and add new user accounts.
Step 3: Choose 'Other User'
From the 'Accounts' menu, select 'Other user'. This option is for adding additional users to your device. If you want to create a local account that isn't linked to a Microsoft account, you can select the option 'Add a user without a Microsoft account'.
Step 4: Enter User Information
If the new user has a Microsoft account, you can enter their email address. If they don't, you can sign up for a new email address and create a Microsoft account for them. Alternatively, you can create a local account without a Microsoft account.
Step 5: Follow Setup Instructions
Finally, follow the on-screen instructions to finish setting up the new user account. This process may vary depending on the specific options you've chosen.
By following these steps, you can create a new user account on your Windows device. This may help resolve the issue of your laptop hibernating instead of sleeping.
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Set a 'Critical Battery Level' to ensure auto-hibernation
If you want to set a critical battery level to ensure auto-hibernation, you can follow these steps:
- Left-click the Windows logo: Located in the lower-left corner of your screen, left-click on the Windows logo to open the Start menu.
- Open Settings: From the Start menu, left-click on the Settings option, which may appear as a gear icon.
- Navigate to System Settings: In the Settings menu, find and click on the "System" section, which may include subsections like Display, Notification, Application, and Power.
- Access Power and Sleep Settings: Once you're in the System settings, look for "Power and Sleep" on the left sidebar and click on it.
- Adjust Other Power Settings: On the Power and Sleep screen, locate the "Additional power settings" option on the right side and click on it. This will open the Power Options window.
- Change Plan Settings: In the Power Options window, click on the "Change plan settings" link for your selected power plan, typically the "Balanced" plan.
- Modify Advanced Power Settings: Click on the "Change advanced power settings" option to access more detailed power configurations.
- Locate and Adjust Battery Settings: In the Advanced settings, find the "Battery" section and expand it by clicking on the arrow. Then, locate the "Critical battery action" setting and modify it according to your preferences. Ensure that the "Critical Battery Level" is set below the "Low Battery Level" to avoid triggering both actions simultaneously.
- Confirm Changes: After making your desired adjustments, click "Apply" and "OK" to save the changes and exit the window.
By following these steps, you can set a critical battery level that will trigger auto-hibernation when your device reaches a certain battery percentage. This can be useful to prevent data loss or unexpected shutdowns by automatically hibernating your device when the battery is low.
Additionally, if you're experiencing issues with your device hibernating instead of sleeping, you can try performing an SFC Scan or creating a new user account to troubleshoot the problem.
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Frequently asked questions
Use hibernation when you won't be using your laptop or tablet for an extended period and won't have an opportunity to charge the battery during that time.
First, check if hibernation is available on your PC. If it is, select Search on the taskbar, type Control Panel, and select it from the results. Select System and Security. In the Power Options section, select Change what the power buttons do. Select Change settings that are currently unavailable. In the Shutdown settings section, select Hibernate. Select Save changes.
Select Start, and then select Power > Hibernate.
In Advanced Power Options, set Sleep to Never and then enable Hibernate to an interval that works for you.
Press Windows, type CMD, and press CtrlShiftEnter to get a CMD prompt with Administrative rights. Enter powercfg -h on and press Enter to enable hibernation.
