How to Enable Hibernate Mode in Windows 10 and Windows 11 if It’s Missing from the Start Menu

Enabling Hibernate mode can be useful for users who want to save their session with minimal power usage. However, sometimes this option is missing from the Start menu, especially on computers running Windows 10 and Windows 11. In this guide, we’ll go over how to activate Hibernate mode if it’s not visible by default.

1. What is Hibernate Mode, and Why Use It?

Hibernate mode allows you to save the current system state, including open applications and documents, to the hard drive or SSD so that you can quickly resume from where you left off. Unlike Sleep mode, Hibernate does not require power to maintain this state, so you can completely power down your device.

2. Enabling Hibernate Mode in System Settings

If Hibernate mode is missing from the Start menu, you can manually enable it through system settings. Follow these steps:

  1. Open Control Panel. To do this, type “Control Panel” in the search bar on the taskbar and select it from the list.
  2. Navigate to Hardware and Sound and select Power Options.
  3. In the left column, click on Choose what the power buttons do.
  4. Then, click Change settings that are currently unavailable. This will allow you to modify settings that are typically locked by default.
  5. Check the box next to Hibernate (if available) and click Save changes.

After this, the Hibernate option should appear in the shutdown menu, accessible by clicking the Start button.

3. Enabling Hibernate Through Command Prompt

If Hibernate mode is still not available in the Power Options menu, you can enable it via Command Prompt:

  1. Press Win + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
  2. Enter the following command and press Enter:
powercfg /hibernate on

Once the command is executed, Hibernate mode will be enabled, and you can add it to the Start menu through the Power Options settings.

4. What to Do if Hibernate Still Doesn’t Appear

If the above methods didn’t work, you may not have enough free disk space to support the hibernation file. Hibernate requires a certain amount of space on the system drive to save the system state. Check available space and free it up if necessary.

You can also try updating drivers for the chipset and motherboard, as certain drivers can impact the availability of this mode.