Windows has multiple sleep or hibernation modes: A Hybrid sleep is a type of sleep state that combines sleep and hibernation. A Modern Standby also enables an instant On and Off user experience similar to mobile devices while also connected to networks in low power idle mode. Before your PC goes into hibernation, Windows saves your desktop session, including work, open documents, and programs to the hiberfile (C:\hiberfil.sys) on your hard drive before turning off the computer. On most PCs, one can resume using the power button. In some cases, pressing any key on the keyboard or opening a lid on the laptop may wake the PC from hibernation. So, whatever method you use to put a Windows PC into hibernation, you’ll want to pick a method that works best for you.

How to hibernate a PC by pressing the power button

On most PCs, simply pressing and releasing the power button will put a Windows computer into hibernation. Not all PCs have a hibernation feature. If your PC has a dedicated sleep or hibernation button, press that button to put the PC to sleep. Or hit the computer’s physical power button to put a computer to sleep or hibernation.

How to hibernate a PC from the Start

The normal and more common way to put a Windows 11 PC into hibernation is from the Start menu. The Start menu is a button on the Taskbar in the middle of your screen. To put a Windows 11 computer to sleep, click on the Start button on the Taskbar, then select the power button icon, and click Hibernation as highlighted below.

How to hibernate a Windows 11 PC using the Win+X power user menu

One can also put a Windows 11 computer into hibernation using the Power User menu. This menu provides more administrative tasks that are not available to a normal user. To use the Power User menu to hibernate a Windows computer, right-click on the Start button or press the Win + X keys on your keyboard, then click Shut down or sign out and select Hibernate to put a computer to sleep.

How to hibernate a computer using keyboard shortcuts

As we mentioned above, there are multiple ways to hibernate a Windows PC. You can use keyboard shortcuts to bring up the Shut Down window. Press the ALT + F4 keys on your keyboard to bring up the shutdown windows dialog box. Then select Hibernate from the options. Or press the CTRL + ALT + DEL keys on your keyboard to bring up other command options, then click on the power button icon at the bottom right, and click Hibernate to put a computer to sleep. That should do it! Conclusion: This post showed you how to put a Windows 11 PC into hibernation. If you find any error above, please use the comment form below to report.