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In short: suspend keeps your working state in powered memory while the computer enters a low-power state; hibernate saves a memory snapshot to storage and then powers down almost all hardware; screen lock restricts access to your desktop session without putting the whole computer to sleep. They solve different problems, and availability and behavior depend on the hardware, kernel, drivers, system configuration, and desktop environment.
How the three settings differ
| Setting | What it does | Power and retained state | What to expect on return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen lock | Requests that the current session show its lock screen. | Does not, by itself, put the whole computer into a sleep state; the system continues running. | The desktop session controls authentication and access to the session. |
| Suspend | Freezes user space and places devices and system functions into low-power states. | For suspend-to-RAM, memory remains powered to retain the working state. Suspend-to-idle is a lighter, software-driven variant. | Typically resumes to the retained state, but wake options and behavior depend on the platform. |
| Hibernate | Saves a snapshot of memory to persistent storage, then enters a state that removes power from almost all hardware, including memory. | The working state is stored on disk rather than kept in powered memory. | A fresh kernel instance loads the saved image to restore the session. Support requires architecture-specific low-level resume code. |
| Hybrid suspend | Creates a hibernation image and then enters the selected suspend state. | Combines a suspend state with a recovery image on storage. | A normal wake discards the image; if the machine cannot wake normally, the image can restore the prior state. |
The kernel describes sleep states as “global low-power states of the entire system in which user space code cannot be executed and the overall system activity is significantly reduced.” (Linux kernel documentation: System Sleep States.)
What suspend does—and why it has variants
Suspend pauses active system work and puts the machine into a low-power state while preserving the working state in memory when the selected mode requires it. Suspend-to-RAM keeps memory contents powered; the kernel documentation describes it as providing significant energy savings. Suspend-to-idle is a lighter, software-driven form. The available options depend on platform support, so “suspend” does not designate one identical mechanism on every Linux computer.
The kernel exposes supported sleep states through /sys/power/state, and the mem_sleep interface selects among available suspend variants. The default may be suspend-to-RAM or suspend-to-idle and can be affected by the kernel command line and platform information. These interfaces are implementation details, not universal instructions to change settings: check the target distribution and machine before using low-level controls. (Linux kernel documentation: System Sleep States.)
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What hibernate does
Hibernate stops system activity, writes a snapshot of memory to persistent storage, and powers down almost all hardware. When the computer starts again, a fresh kernel instance locates and restores that saved image. Because the state is stored rather than maintained in powered memory, hibernation offers the greatest energy savings among the sleep states described in the kernel documentation. The same documentation does not provide a universal resume-time or battery-life figure; those depend on the machine and its configuration.
Hibernate is not guaranteed to be available just because Linux is installed. Hardware, kernel configuration, drivers, and architecture-specific resume support all matter.
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What a screen lock does
A screen lock is a session-security action, not a system power state. systemd logind can send a lock request to a session, but the session must support that operation; the desktop environment supplies the graphical lock screen and resume authentication. Locking alone does not suspend or hibernate the computer. (systemd logind documentation; systemd loginctl, version 252.)
A desktop can be configured to lock before or after suspend, but that is separate behavior. Do not assume that choosing suspend automatically locks the session: check the desktop environment’s power and screen-lock settings.
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Choosing the right option
- Choose screen lock when you are stepping away but want the computer to keep running. It restricts interactive access to the session; it does not preserve power by sleeping the whole machine.
- Choose suspend when you want to pause work and return to the retained session without shutting down fully. It uses power to preserve memory, and available modes and wake behavior vary by platform.
- Choose hibernate when you want the working state saved to storage while the machine powers down almost completely. Confirm that the machine and Linux installation support it.
- Choose hybrid suspend where it is available and you want a suspend path with a stored recovery image. It can resume normally or use the image if normal wake fails.
There are no cross-device battery-life measurements or wake-time benchmarks in the cited kernel and systemd documentation, so a universal claim such as a fixed percentage saved or a guaranteed resume time would be misleading.
Availability depends on the machine and software
The kernel documentation says a system can support up to four system sleep states in total: hibernation and up to three suspend variants. This is a conditional technical maximum, not a guarantee that a particular computer or Linux installation exposes all four. (Linux kernel documentation: System Sleep States.)
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systemd logind distinguishes unsupported suspend or hibernate operations—for example, when hardware, the kernel, or drivers do not support them—from operations that require authorization. A menu item’s presence or absence therefore does not establish which kernel states the hardware can actually use. (systemd logind documentation.)
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Locking is not the same as encryption
A lock screen controls access to an interactive session; it is not a promise that secrets have been erased from memory, nor does it replace full-disk encryption or encrypted home storage. Those protections address different risks.
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systemd documents a specialized arrangement in which supported encrypted home directories can be suspended with their key material removed from memory. It requires the relevant configuration and graphical reauthentication support, which traditional desktop environments may not implement. It should not be treated as a default property of screen locking, suspend, or hibernate. (systemd pam_systemd_home documentation.)
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