Windows PC 2022: How to Properly Shutdown Your PC

Sophie Webster, Tech Times 03 March 2022, 12:03 am

Sometimes, after using your computer for so long, you need to shut it down to refresh the settings. However, thanks to "Fast Startup," you might not be shutting down your Windows PC all the way, with a fresh OS reload on the next power-up.

Here's how you can make sure that your computer shuts down properly.

Windows PC Startup: Stealth Hibernation

Usually, you do not need to shut down your PC. Sleep mode can place your PC into a low-power state that is fast to resume whenever you need to use your computer again, according to HowtoGeek.

However, there are times when you might need to shut down your computer in a way that forces Windows 10 or Windows 11 to reload completely when you start it back up.

With a feature called Fast Startup, introduced in Windows 8 and still present in Windows 10 and Windows 11, many computers that support hibernation mode actually shut down to a state similar to hibernation, which saves the state of the operating system to a file called hiberfil.sys. This allows Windows to load fast when you power up your PC again.

Also Read: How to Screen Share On FaceTime When Using A Windows PC

So if Fast Startup is enabled on your PC and you choose "Shut Down" in the Start menu, you are not getting a clean restart, when you power it back up again, according to Digital Unite.

How to Disable Fast Startup Mode and Shut Down Completely

First, it is important to know that not all computers support Fast Startup mode. So your PC might be shutting down completely.

One you can detect a traditional slow startup is if your computer takes longer to restart that it takes to perform a cold boot when you first turn on your computer. You will see another way to tell in the steps ahead.

To be able to disable Fast Startup, first open Control Panel in Windows 10 or Windows 11 by opening the Start menu and typing control panel, then clicking the Control Panel icon when it appears.

When the Control Panel pops up, click "Hardware and Sound," and under "Power Options," click "Change what the power buttons do."

On the "Define power buttons and turn on password protection" page, first click the "Change settings that are currently unavailable" link near the top of the page.

Then look under the "Shutdown Settings" section near the bottom. If you see "Turn on fast startup," remove the checkmark beside it. Choose "Save Changes" and close Control Panel.

The next time you shut down your computer, it will shut down completely without any hibernation. And the next time you turn it on again, you will get a clean boot with a full reload of Windows, according to The Spectrum.

Just Restarting Works Too

To restart your computer, click Start menu, then select the power icon, located on the left side in Windows 10 and on the right side in Windows 11. In the menu that pops up, choose "Restart."

Your computer will restart completely with a fresh reload of Windows, which will solve temporary problems that you may have.