The Ultimate Guide to Boosting Windows 10 Performance: Say Goodbye to Fast Startup!

Key Takeaways

To deactivate Fast Startup on Windows 10, access the Power Options menu and navigate to Additional Power Settings > Choose What the Power Buttons Do. Locate the option "Change Settings That Are Currently Unavailable" and untick the box corresponding to "Turn On Fast Startup". Finally, ensure to save your modifications.

What Does Fast Startup Do in Windows 10?

Fast Startup, as the name suggests, speeds up the booting process of your computer. It accomplishes this by merging the shutdown and hibernation functionalities.

When Fast Startup mode is activated and you power off your PC, Windows stores the system kernel, drivers, and current system status in a hibernation file. Unlike traditional hibernation, your login sessions and apps are not preserved.

Why Disable Fast Startup?

Upon rebooting your machine, the previously saved components (kernel, drivers, and system state) are seamlessly loaded into the RAM, enabling you to swiftly access your desktop. Essentially, this mechanism ensures the efficient functioning of this feature on your Windows 10 PC.

There are several reasons to disable Fast Startup on your Windows 10 laptop or desktop, despite its benefits. One such reason is that it can hinder the installation of Windows updates, as they require a complete shutdown to take effect. While Fast Startup is enabled, a reboot will finish the installation, but a shutdown will not.

Another scenario where disabling Fast Startup may be necessary is when you encounter difficulties managing encrypted disk images. Additionally, if you dual-boot your PC and need access to your Windows drive while using your secondary operating system, you may want to turn off this feature.

If you encounter difficulties accessing your BIOS/UEFI settings, it may be due to the enabled Fast Startup feature. To resolve this issue, disable Fast Startup before proceeding to enter the BIOS. If any of these scenarios apply to you, refer to the following instructions on how to deactivate fast booting. Keep in mind that you can easily re-enable Fast Startup at a later time if desired.

How to Turn Off Windows 10's Fast Boot Feature in the Settings App

To disable Fast Startup, first, right-click your "Start" menu icon and choose "Power Options."

On the "Power & Sleep" screen, in the right sidebar, click "Additional Power Settings."

You'll land on a "Power Options" window. Here, in the left sidebar, click "Choose What the Power Buttons Do."

On the following page, at the top, select "Change Settings That Are Currently Unavailable." This ensures you can toggle off the Fast Startup option.

On the same page, uncheck the "Turn On Fast Startup" option. Then, at the bottom, click "Save Changes."

Fast Startup on your PC has been successfully disabled. To re-enable fast booting, simply repeat the same procedure and make sure to tick the "Turn On Fast Startup" option before saving your modifications.

While you're optimizing your Windows 10 PC, learn how and why you might want to disable hibernate mode too.