What Is Windows Fast Startup? (And Why You Should Disable It)

Windows Fast Startup is a feature that was introduced in Windows 8 and later versions. It is designed to shorten the time it takes for your PC to boot up by storing some system files and drivers in a hibernation file. When you turn on your PC, instead of going through a full boot process, the system resumes from the saved file. This result in much faster boot up times compared to a cold start.
Fast Startup was intended to make life easier for users who want to get into their machines quickly, but it’s not always a good thing. In fact, there are some good reasons to disable it.
One of the main reasons is that Fast Startup can cause problems with dual-boot systems. Dual-booting means having two or more operating systems installed on the same computer, and you can choose which one to use when you start up. But if Fast Startup is enabled on one of the operating systems, it can cause problems with the other one. For example, if you have Linux installed on your computer alongside Windows and Fast Startup is enabled, you might not be able to access your Linux partition because it will be flagged as unclean.
Another reason to disable Fast Startup is that it can cause issues with some hardware devices. For example, if your computer has a USB Type-C port, disabling Fast Startup might resolve issues with USB-C devices not being recognized or detected.
Additionally, depending on how your PC is set up, Fast Startup could cause problems with login and password prompt. It might not recognize your password when waking from sleep, and you may have to restart your computer.
Another major issue with Fast Startup is that it can lead to startup repair issues. It is easier to perform a startup repair on a computer that booted up from scratch rather than from a hibernation file. Moreover, if you ever need to boot in safe mode, fast startup will prevent it from happening because you are required to start your computer from scratch to gain access to safe mode.
To disable Fast Startup, go to Control Panel, then to Power Options, and select “Choose what the power buttons do” from the left-hand side panel. From there, click on “Change settings that are currently unavailable,” then uncheck the “Turn on fast startup (recommended)” option.