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Usually, nothing breaks. Turning off Fast Startup changes what Windows does when you choose Shut down: Windows stops saving the kernel session for the next boot and instead performs a full shutdown. The next startup after Shut down may take longer, but Restart already performs a full boot whether Fast Startup is on or off.
What changes when you turn off Fast Startup?
Fast Startup is a form of hybrid shutdown. Windows logs off your user session but saves the kernel session—the core of the operating system, along with its loaded drivers—to a hibernation file. On the next power-on, Windows restores that saved state instead of starting the kernel from scratch. Microsoft describes this transition as S4 behavior, even though it looks like a normal shutdown to you. Microsoft’s system power states documentation explains the distinction.
With Fast Startup disabled, choosing Shut down ends the saved kernel session. The PC powers off through a full-shutdown path (S5), and Windows performs a full boot when you turn it on again.
| Choice | What happens next | Practical effect |
|---|---|---|
| Shut down with Fast Startup on | Windows saves the kernel session to a hibernation file and restores it at the next power-on (S4 behavior). | Usually a faster startup after Shut down, but not a full shutdown. |
| Shut down with Fast Startup off | Windows fully shuts down (S5), then boots from a fresh kernel session. | A clean boot path; startup after Shut down may take longer. |
| Restart | Windows performs a full shutdown and boot. Fast Startup does not apply. | Use Restart when you want a fresh Windows state without changing the setting. Microsoft’s Fast Startup troubleshooting guidance also distinguishes Restart from Fast Startup. |
Will turning it off make your PC slower?
It can make the startup after Shut down take longer because Windows no longer restores the saved kernel session. The actual difference depends on the PC, firmware, drivers, startup applications, services, and other workload; there is no reliable number of extra seconds that applies to every Windows 11 computer. Microsoft notes that a full shutdown and boot takes longer than the faster transition states, while its startup guidance identifies services and startup apps as factors in startup performance. System power states · Delivering a great startup and shutdown experience
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This does not mean every boot becomes slower: choosing Restart already starts Windows with a full boot, regardless of the Fast Startup setting.
Can disabling it help with a problem?
A full shutdown ends the saved kernel session, so the next boot initializes Windows and its drivers anew. That can be useful when investigating an issue that persists through ordinary Shut down-and-power-on cycles, because those cycles may reuse the saved session when Fast Startup is enabled. It does not guarantee a fix for any specific driver, hardware, or startup problem.
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If you only need a fresh Windows state once, try Restart before changing the setting. Fast Startup does not apply to Restart, so this gives you a full boot without changing how future shutdowns work.
Does disabling Fast Startup turn off Hibernate?
No. Fast Startup and standard Hibernate are related to hibernation technology but are separate power options. Disabling Fast Startup does not, by itself, disable standard Hibernate. Hibernate may not be available on every PC, and its availability can depend on device support and Windows configuration. Microsoft’s Windows 11 guidance describes Hibernate as a separate power option. Shut down, sleep, or hibernate your PC
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Will your PC still wake on LAN?
Disabling Fast Startup does not enable Wake-on-LAN from a fully powered-off PC. Microsoft’s power-state documentation says Wake-on-LAN is supported from S3 sleep or S4 hibernate, but not from Fast Startup or S5 full off. The behavior of a particular computer can also depend on its firmware and network adapter settings. Microsoft’s system power states documentation
How to turn off Fast Startup
On systems that expose the setting, the Control Panel route is:
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- Open Control Panel, then go to System and Security → Power Options.
- Select Choose what the power buttons do.
- Select Change settings that are currently unavailable.
- Under Shutdown settings, clear Turn on fast startup (recommended), if that checkbox is present, and select Save changes.
Windows version, device configuration, and organizational policy can affect whether the checkbox appears or can be changed. The same Shutdown settings area manages Hibernate, so check the Hibernate option separately if you want to keep it available. Microsoft’s power-options guidance
What about Windows updates and Microsoft’s “not recommended” warning?
Microsoft documents an update-installation issue involving Fast Startup for Windows 10: some updates require a full shutdown, and selecting Restart performs a full boot. That article does not establish a Windows 11-specific update problem, so it should not be treated as evidence that Windows 11 users need to disable Fast Startup. Updates may not be installed with Fast Startup in Windows 10
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Likewise, Microsoft’s statement that disabling Fast Startup is not recommended appears in guidance scoped to Windows 10 and Windows 8.1. It is not a universal recommendation for every Windows 11 PC. Fast startup causes hibernation or shutdown to fail in Windows 10 or Windows 8.1
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