Do you want to use hibernation on your Windows notebook what does it need to have?

The power and sleep settings on Windows 10 are similar to previous versions of Windows, but you access them a bit differently, and with a few more options. To help you set up your computer, here is a guide to Windows 10 power and sleep settings.  

Power settings

Windows 10 offers several power plans to help you manage how your device uses power. The different power settings can help you control system performance, conserve battery life or both. 

By default, Windows 10 comes with three power plans: 

• Balanced – the best plan for most users. This option automatically balances system performance and energy usage by adjusting to full performance when you need it and power-saving mode when you don’t. 
• High performance – the best plan for maximizing screen brightness and increasing system performance. It uses more energy, however, so it will drain your battery the fastest.
• Power saver – the best plan to extend your battery life. This option saves energy by reducing computer performance and screen brightness to give you the most juice from your current battery charge.

You can also create a custom power plan with your own settings, based on a combination of the three power plans. 

Accessing power settings

Setting up your power options on Windows 10 is different from but easier than it was on previous versions. You can access your power settings in three steps:

1. Type in “Power options” in the Windows 10 search bar.
2. Click on the Power Options control panel under the Best Match search results.
3. Choose a power plan or click on “Change plan settings” to modify a plan or create your own custom power plan.

Sleep settings

Sleep mode conserves energy by putting your computer into a low-power state and turning off your display when you’re not using it. Instead of completely shutting down your computer and later rebooting, you can put it in sleep mode so that when it wakes up, it will resume where you left off.

Windows 10 also puts your computer to sleep automatically. The sleep settings let you choose when the computer should go to sleep and, if you wish, when it should automatically wake up. 

To adjust sleep settings, go to the Power Options control panel. Choose a power plan and click on “Change plan settings.” There you will be able to set how long [in minutes] after being idle the display should turn off and when to put the computer to sleep. 

Hibernation settings

Hibernation is similar to sleep mode but uses even less power, as it essentially turns your computer off and saves its current settings so you can go back to where you left off. It is ideal if you will be away from your computer for an extended time.

To set your hibernation settings, go through the process of setting up your sleep settings. There you will find a “Hibernate after” option, where you can indicate how long [in minutes] after being idle the computer should go into hibernation mode. 

Manual activation

If you wish to immediately put your computer in sleep or hibernation mode without it going idle first, Windows 10 lets you activate either manually. 

To set up manual sleep or hibernation, go to your Power Options control panel. Click on “Choose what the power button does” on the left navigation bar, and then “Change settings that are currently available.” There you will be able to choose whether your computer should sleep or hibernate when you press the power button or close your lid. You can also use different settings when your computer is running on battery power versus when it is plugged in.

Additionally, you can access shutdown settings so that the Sleep and Hibernate buttons appear on the Power menu. Make sure both boxes next to Sleep and Hibernate are checked in your shutdown settings. This way, all you have to do is click on the Start menu, select Power, and choose Sleep or Hibernate. 

Wake settings

Windows 10 can also wake your computer up from sleep or hibernation mode, even when you’re not around. 

To create wake times, click on “Change advanced power settings.” There you can set up and modify events and times for your computer to automatically wake up. 

When your computer turns back on from sleep or hibernate mode, by default, Windows 10 will require you to enter a password. If you wish to skip the password – so your computer wakes up automatically signed in – you can disable it by going into your account settings. Just go to Settings, click on Accounts, choose Sign-in Options and select Never from the dropdown menu.

Symptoms

Cause

Shut down

To turn your personal computer off completely:

1. Select Start
   , then select Power > Shut down.

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Sleep

Sleep mode uses little power. Your personal computer technically stays on, but all actions on your personal computer are stopped, any open documents and applications are put in memory. You can quickly resume normal operation within a few seconds. Use sleep mode when you are going to be away from your personal computer for a short time.

To make your personal computer sleep:

1. Select Start
   , then select Power > Sleep.

OR:

1. Select Start
   , then select Settings > System > Power & Sleep > Additional power settings.
2. Perform one of the following:
   1. If you are using a desktop, tablet, or laptop, select Choose what the power buttons do. Next to When I press the power button, select Sleep, and then select Save changes.
   2. If you are using a laptop, select Choose what closing the lid does. Next to When I close the lid, select Sleep, and then select Save changes.
3. Press the power button on your desktop, tablet, or laptop, or close your laptop's lid to make your personal computer sleep.

NOTE: You can resume working by either pressing your personal computer's power button, pressing any key on the keyboard, clicking a mouse button, or opening the lid on a laptop. For more details about your personal computer, go to the computer manuals at www.dell.com/support.

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Hibernate

Hibernate mode uses less power than sleep mode and is available for laptops. It takes a bit longer to resume than sleep mode does, but it will resume everything where you left off once the personal computer is powered back on. Use hibernate mode when you will not be using your personal computer for an extended time.

To hibernate your personal computer:

1. Select Start
   , then select Settings > System > Power & sleep > Additional power settings.
2. Select Choose what the power button does, and then select Change settings that are currently unavailable. Under Shutdown settings, select the Hibernate checkbox [if it is available], and then select Save changes.
3. You can hibernate your personal computer by selecting Start, and then select Power > Hibernate.

NOTE: For further reading on the introduction of Modern Standby, read this Microsoft document on the topic and the changes in standby behavior.

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Resolution

Change the power plan

To change the power plan in Windows 11 and Windows 10, perform these actions:

1. Start
   , then type "sleep."
2. Select Power and Sleep settings, then select Additional power settings at the bottom of the screen. The Power Options window appears.
3. Select Balanced [recommended], Power saver, or select Create a power plan on the left side of the screen.
4. Customize your plan settings as wanted.

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Stopping your computer from turning itself on while in hibernation

1. Update the computer's BIOS to the latest version.
2. For optimum performance, it is recommended that you install the latest drivers on your computer.

   NOTE: Using the SupportAssist application provides automatic computer updates. For more information about SupportAssist, browse to the SupportAssist for PCs and tablets page.

3. Be sure that your computer is running with the latest updates for Windows. Browse to the Windows Update website to be sure that your computer is fully updated.
4. You can prevent your network adapter from waking your computer up automatically. To change the network settings, perform the following steps:
   1. Press and hold the Windows [
      ] key, and then press the q key.
   2. In the Search box type device manager.
   3. Click or touch Device Manager [Control panel] in the list of programs.
   4. Click the plus [+] to the left of Sleep.
   5. Click the arrow to the left of Network adapters.
   6. Right-click the Wireless or Ethernet and select Properties.
   7. Click the Power Management tab and ensure the Allow this device to wake up the computer box is cleared.

      NOTE: Do this for both the Wireless and Ethernet adapters.

   8. Click OK.
   9. Close out of the Device Manager.
5. You can prevent any program from waking your computer up automatically or allow for major Windows computer events only by changing the wake timers. To change the wake timers settings, perform the following steps:
   1. Press and hold the Windows [
      ] key, and then press the q key.
   2. In the Search box type power options.
   3. Click or touch Power & sleep settings [System settings] in the list of programs.
   4. Click Additional power settings.
   5. Click Change plan settings.
   6. Click Change advanced power settings.
   7. Click the plus [+] to the left of Sleep.
   8. Click the plus [+] to the left of Allow wake timers.
   9. Click On battery and using the dropdown menu and change to the wanted setting.
   10. Click Plugged in and using the dropdown menu and change to the wanted setting.

       NOTE: In Windows 11 and Windows 10, the Important Wake Timers Only option wakes your computer only for major Windows computer events. Try setting your wake timers to Important Wake Timers Only to see if it solves your issue. When your computer is still waking up more often than wanted, you can always set the wake timers to Disabled.

   11. Click OK.

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Additional Information

NOTE: Offers are only available for US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, China, and Japan personal computer customers. Server and Storage not applicable.

When might you use the hibernation mode on a notebook?

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