To turn fast startup on or off in Windows 10, open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do. Select Change settings that are currently unavailable, then check or clear Turn on fast startup (recommended). Select Save changes.
Fast startup is on by default. It only affects Shut down. Restart always does a full startup.
Applies to: Windows 10. You need an administrator account. Checked against Microsoft Support and Microsoft Learn on September 25, 2026.
Turn fast startup off or on
- Press Windows + R, type
powercfg.cpl, and press Enter. Or open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options. - Select Choose what the power buttons do on the left.
- Select Change settings that are currently unavailable.
- Under Shutdown settings, clear Turn on fast startup (recommended) to turn it off, or check it to turn it on.
- Select Save changes.
What fast startup does
When you select Shut down, Windows signs you out but saves the core of Windows to a file on your drive, like a partial hibernate. The next startup loads that file, so it’s quicker.
Microsoft recommends leaving it on. Restart skips it, so restarting is still the best first fix when something goes wrong.
When to turn fast startup off
- You can’t get into BIOS: the startup key prompt may be skipped. See how to enter BIOS or UEFI in Windows 10.
- Wake on LAN won’t wake a shut-down PC: Windows doesn’t arm the network adapter in this state. See how to set up Wake on LAN in Windows 10.
- You dual-boot Linux: Windows may leave your drives locked, so the other system can’t safely use them.
- A USB device or driver misbehaves after startup: Microsoft suggests trying with fast startup off.
Do a full shutdown once without changing the setting
Hold Shift while you select Start > Power > Shut down. Or open Command Prompt and type shutdown /s /t 0.
If the fast startup option is missing
Fast startup needs hibernation. Open Command Prompt as administrator, type powercfg /hibernate on, and press Enter. Then check Power Options again.
If it’s still missing, your PC or your organization may not support it.
Frequently asked questions
Should I turn off fast startup?
Only if you have one of the problems above. For most PCs, leaving it on is fine.
Does fast startup slow down Windows?
No. It only changes how Windows starts after a shutdown.
Does fast startup affect updates?
Some updates finish during a restart. If an update keeps asking, select Restart, not Shut down.
Why does Task Manager show days of uptime after I shut down?
With fast startup on, Shut down saves part of Windows instead of closing it, so the Up time counter on the Performance tab keeps going. Restart the PC, or turn off fast startup, and the counter resets.
Should I turn it off if I dual-boot Linux?
Yes. Fast startup leaves your Windows drives locked, so Linux may only open them as read-only or show errors. Turn it off so both systems can use the drives safely.
Fast startup stops me from getting into the BIOS. What can I do?
Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery and select Restart now under Advanced startup. Then select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings. This works whether fast startup is on or off.
Can I turn fast startup off from Command Prompt?
Yes. Turning hibernation off also turns off fast startup. In an admin Command Prompt, run powercfg /hibernate off. Run powercfg /hibernate on to turn both back on.
Fast Startup also keeps the uptime counting after you shut down. See how to check uptime in Windows 10.
For more ways to start faster, see how to disable startup programs in Windows 10. Microsoft’s article is Wake on LAN (WOL) behavior in Windows 10, which explains fast startup and how to turn it off. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.
Related: how to keep Num Lock on in Windows 11.
Related: How to Disable Fast Startup in Windows 11.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.