Windows gives its users pretty robust controls over how a laptop or computer handles its power options. But by default, the Windows Hibernate option is one that is not readily accessible.

If you often need the Hibernate option as part of the Power menu, keep reading as we will walk you through the steps of how you can add it permanently to the Windows 10 Start menu.

What's the Difference Between Hibernation and Sleep Mode?

There's only a small difference between Hibernate and Sleep modes.

In Sleep mode, the computer is in what is called a low-energy state, and power is cut from the display, hard drive, and ports. The only component that is still powered during sleep mode is RAM.

In Hibernate mode, power is cut from all of the above, as well as the RAM. This means that if you have a power outage in your home or office, you're ensuring no data loss. It's essentially the same as turning off your computer or laptop without having to close all your files and program.

Turning your computer back on from Sleep mode is also a little faster than turning it back on from Hibernate mode.

How to Add a Hibernate Option to the Windows 10 Start Menu

By default, Hibernate mode is not included in the power options in the Windows 10 start menu:

Power menu in Windows 10.

Here's what you need to do to add it:

  1. Open Power Options. There are two ways you can do this: either right-click the battery icon in your system tray and click Power Options, or open the Control Panel and click Power Options.
  2. Click Choose what closing the lid does or Choose what the power buttons do.
  3. If you don't see Hibernate under Shutdown settings, click the link Change settings that aren't currently available.
  4. Under Shutdown settings, you should know see Hibernate as an option. Toggle the feature on with the checkbox so that Hibernate appears in the Power menu.
Control Panel settings in Windows 10.

Once you've done that, you should now see Hibernate among the options when you click the Power button in the Start menu.

Now if you'd rather put your computer in Hibernate rather than Sleep mode, it's just a few clicks away.

Power menu in Windows 10.

If Hibernate is not available as one of the shutdown settings, the option is not enabled on your system. In this case, you can use Command Prompt or Registry Editor to enable it.

How to Enable the Hibernate Option With Command Prompt

If you prefer changing your system settings by running a command line, you use Command Prompt to enable Hibernate. Launch Command prompt with administrative rights and use the powercfg.exe /hibernate on command line. Exit Command Prompt and reopen Control Panel. The Hibernate option should now be available.

Note: If you want to deactivate the Hibernate option, go through the above steps and run the powercfg.exe /hibernate off command line.

How to Enable the Hibernate Option With Windows Registry

You can also enable the Hibernate option using Registry Editor. Here is how you can do it:

  1. Press Windows key + R to bring up a Run dialog.
  2. Type regedit and press Enter.
  3. In the Registry Editor window, use the left-hand menu to navigate to Computer > HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > Power.
  4. In the right pane, locate and open HibernateEnabled.
  5. Set Base to Hexadecimal and Value data to 1.
  6. Restart your computer.
Hibernation in the Registry editor

Note: If you want to deactivate the Hibernate option, go through the above steps, bu at step five set Value data to 0.

Customize Your Computer Power Settings

Hibernate should now be part of the Power options that you can use at any time. And Windows has plenty of Power options that you can use such as controlling what the power button does and there’s even an Ultimate performance power plan that you could try.