How to Hibernate Windows 11: Step-by-Step Guide

This post shows students and new users steps to hibernate a PC when running Windows 11. There are multiple ways to hibernate a computer in Windows, and all of them work well. Some work well in certain situations, but all accomplish the same goal: temporarily putting a computer to sleep without losing one’s session.

Windows has multiple sleep or hibernation modes: A Hybrid sleep is a type of sleep state that combines sleep and Hibernation.

A Modern Standby also enables an instant On and Off user experience similar to mobile devices while connected to networks in low-power idle mode.

Before your PC goes into Hibernation, Windows saves your desktop session, including work, open documents, and programs, to the hiberfile (C:\hiberfil.sys) on your hard drive before turning off the computer. On most PCs, one can resume using the power button. Sometimes, pressing any key on the keyboard or opening a lid on the laptop may wake the PC from Hibernation.

So, whatever method you use to put a Windows PC into Hibernation, you’ll want to pick the best method.

How to hibernate a PC by pressing the power button

Simply pressing and releasing the power button on most PCs will put a Windows computer into Hibernation. Not all PCs have a hibernation feature.

If your PC has a dedicated sleep or hibernation button, press that button to put the PC to sleep. Or hit the computer’s physical power button to put a computer to sleep or Hibernation.

How to hibernate a PC from the Start

The normal and common way to put a Windows 11 PC into Hibernation is from the Start menu. The Start menu is a button on the Taskbar in the middle of your screen.

To put a Windows 11 computer to sleep, click the Start button on the Taskbar, select the power button icon, and click Hibernation, as highlighted below.

How to hibernate a Windows 11 PC using the Win+X power user menu

Using the Power User menu, one can also put a Windows 11 computer into Hibernation. This menu provides more administrative tasks that are unavailable to a normal user.

To use the Power User menu to hibernate a Windows computer, right-click the Start button or press the Win + X keys on your keyboard, then click Shut down or sign out and select Hibernate to put a computer to sleep.

How to hibernate a computer using keyboard shortcuts

As mentioned above, multiple ways exist to hibernate a Windows PC. You can use keyboard shortcuts to bring up the Shut Down window.

Press your keyboard’s ALT + F4 keys to open the shutdown windows dialog box. Then, select Hibernate from the options.

Or press the CTRL + ALT + DEL keys on your keyboard to bring up other command options, then click on the power button icon at the bottom right, and click Hibernate to put a computer to sleep.

That should do it!

Conclusion:

• Hibernating a Windows 11 PC is essential to temporarily put a computer to sleep without losing the current session.
• Various methods enable users to hibernate their PCs efficiently by pressing the power button, using the Start menu, Win+X power user menu, keyboard shortcuts, and dedicated hibernation buttons.
• Windows offers different sleep or hibernation modes, such as Hybrid sleep and Modern Standby, enhancing the user experience and power management.
• Resuming from hibernation is simple, typically achieved by pressing any key on the keyboard or opening a laptop lid.
• Users should choose the most suitable hibernation method based on their preferences and available options.