Managing the Windows 10 Fast Startup feature can be frustrating. I’ve had my fair share of confusion, thinking it’d speed up my system only to find certain issues cropping up. You might be wondering if it’ll boost your boot time or quietly cause trouble behind the scenes. It doesn’t help that the settings can sometimes be hard to find, especially when Hibernate is disabled. I’ll guide you through these steps, so you can confidently choose what works best for your system.
How to Enable Windows 10 Fast Startup
Fast Startup in Windows 10 is designed to shorten the boot time when you turn your system on. It does this by saving system information to a file during shutdown, somewhere between a full shutdown and hibernation. If you're mostly looking for quicker startups and don't deal with many driver issues or OS switching, this feature can be super useful.
Steps to Enable Windows 10 Fast Startup:
Step1: First of all, click the Start button at the bottom left of your screen and type “Control Panel” in the search bar. Select it from the results.
Step2: Then to access power options, Inside the Control Panel, go to “Hardware and Sound.”
Step 3: Then navigate to “Power Options” and from the options below it, select “Change what the power buttons do.”
Step 4: Once the new screen appears, at the top of the window, click on “Change settings that are currently unavailable” to make the shutdown settings editable.
Step 5: Then under the “Shutdown settings” section, check the box labeled “Turn on fast startup (recommended).” and don’t forget to click “Save changes” at the bottom to apply the settings.
This is a simple fix. You won’t need any special tools or tech skills. If you’re looking for faster boots with minimal effort, enabling Windows 10 Fast Startup is a great place to begin.
How to Disable Windows 10 Fast Startup
There’s a trade-off to everything, and Fast Startup is no exception. If you’re experiencing issues like Windows updates not installing correctly or drivers acting weird, disabling Fast Startup might help. For dual-boot users or those working with external hardware often, system stability usually trumps speed.
Steps to Disable Windows 10 Fast Startup:
Step1: First of all, click the Start button at the bottom right of your screen and type “Control Panel” in the search bar. Select it from the results.
Step2: Then to access power options, inside the Control Panel, go to “Hardware and Sound.”
Step 3: Then navigate to “Power Options” and from the options below it, click “Change what the power buttons do.”
Step 4: Once the new screen appears, at the top of the window, click on “Change settings that are currently unavailable” to make the shutdown settings editable.
Step 5: Then to disable fast startup, uncheck the box next to “Turn on fast startup.” Click “Save changes” to finalize your settings.
This approach is just as easy to follow. If you’ve been having boot conflicts or your PC’s acting up after updates, disabling Windows 10 Fast Startup might just solve your problems.
What If You Don’t See Windows 10 Fast Startup Option?
You might follow the steps above only to find that the option to enable or disable Fast Startup is missing entirely. Don’t panic, it usually means Hibernate is turned off or your hardware doesn’t support it. Let’s fix it quickly so you can move forward.
Steps to Fix Missing Fast Startup Option:
Step 1: First of all, click the Start button on the bottom left of your screen, search “Command Prompt” in the search bar and choose “Run as administrator” on the right side of your screen.
Step 2: Then, as the Command Prompt window appears, type the command: “powercfg /hibernate on”. Hit “Enter” on your keyboard and it will re-enable Hibernate if it is turned off.
Step 3: Now return to the Control Panel as explained in the methods above and follow the instructions. The Fast Startup option should now appear.
This step involves a bit of command-line work, but it’s still beginner-friendly. You just need to follow each step exactly. For many users, enabling Hibernate restores access to Fast Startup in seconds.
Using WPS Office After Configuring Windows 10 Fast Startup
Once you’ve optimized your system using Windows 10 Fast Startup, you’ll probably want your productivity tools to match that efficiency. That’s where WPS Office comes in, a sleek, free suite that launches fast and keeps your workflow tight. With its clean interface and compatibility with Microsoft Office formats like DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX, it offers a smooth experience for users transitioning from Microsoft's suite. it's perfect for students, professionals, and creators alike.
WPS Office doesn't just open fast, it also lets you multitask like a pro with tabbed documents and built-in cloud support. Plus, it’s lightweight, so it won’t drag your system down when you’re on a productivity sprint. I’ve personally used it for both class prep and freelance work, and it’s been incredibly reliable without ever crashing or slowing me down.
Why WPS Office is a Great Companion:
Speedy Performance: WPS Office is lightweight and launches almost instantly, it will suit you the most if you prefer quick system boot.
Free Suite: You get access to Writer, Spreadsheet, and Presentation tools without any cost. You don't need to pay for basic office features.
Broad Compatibility: It supports formats like WPS Excel, PDF to Word or PowerPoint, so you won’t struggle with opening files from other platforms.
Productivity Boost: Unlike other platforms, the user interface is minimalistic and efficient. You can get started on tasks right away with no lag or clutter.
If you prefer tools that just work, no fluff and no setup headaches, WPS Office is a great fit. It’s especially good for users who want to make the most of their speedy startup environment. In my case, I’ve used it during tight deadlines when I needed something quick and dependable, no crashes, no lag, just smooth multitasking. It's become my default for everything from writing documents to editing presentations.
FAQs
Q1: Does enabling Fast Startup affect Windows updates?
Yes, in some cases. Fast Startup can delay or interfere with updates because the system doesn’t do a full shutdown, which some updates require.
Q2: Is Fast Startup the same as Hibernate?
Not exactly. Fast Startup uses a mix of normal shutdown and hibernation. It doesn’t save your current session, just the system kernel.
Q3: Should I disable Fast Startup on a dual-boot PC?
Yes. If you’re dual-booting with Linux or any other OS, Fast Startup can cause filesystem inconsistencies.
Summary
Knowing how to enable or disable Windows 10 Fast Startup can make a noticeable difference in how your system performs. If speed is your priority, enabling it offers faster boot times with minimal effort. If stability or compatibility matters more, especially when using updates or dual-boot setups, disabling it is the safer call. Whatever route you choose, pairing it with WPS Office gives you a complete solution, fast startup, fast tools, and zero interruptions. Now, you can boot up, launch your office suite, and get productive without missing a beat.
