What Fast Start does and why you might disable it

Fast Start (also called Fast Startup) is a Windows feature that saves your computer's memory state when you shut down, so the next time you start it up, Windows loads faster. Instead of a full restart, Windows wakes from a partial hibernation. For most people this works fine, but it can cause problems: devices may not initialize properly, updates may not install correctly, and some hardware conflicts become harder to diagnose.

You might disable Fast Start if your computer won't wake from sleep, if updates keep failing to install, if you're troubleshooting a hardware problem, or if you're preparing to sell or give away the machine. Disabling it forces a complete shutdown and full restart each time, which takes longer but gives Windows a clean slate.

Key Takeaways

  • Fast Start saves your system state to disk so Windows boots faster, but can interfere with updates and hardware detection.
  • You disable Fast Start through the Power Settings control panel, not through a restart menu or BIOS.
  • After you disable it, your next shutdown will be a full shutdown, and the restart after that will take noticeably longer than usual.
  • Disabling Fast Start does not delete files or change your passwords — it only changes how Windows shuts down and starts up.

How to disable Fast Start on Windows 10 and Windows 11

Open the Control Panel by typing control panel into the Windows search box (the magnifying glass icon on the taskbar) and pressing Enter. In the Control Panel window, find the search box in the top right corner, type power options, and click the result that says "Power Options".

On the left side of the Power Options window, you will see a link that says Choose what the power button does. Click it. At the top of the next window, you will see a blue link that says Change settings that are currently unavailable — click that link. This unlocks the Fast Start checkbox so you can change it.

Scroll down in that same window until you see a checkbox labeled Turn on fast startup. The checkbox will have a checkmark in it. Click the checkbox to remove the checkmark. Then click the Save changes button at the bottom of the window. You can now close the Control Panel.

What happens after you disable Fast Start

The next time you shut down your computer (using Shut down from the Start menu, not Restart), Windows will perform a full shutdown instead of saving its state. This shutdown may take a few seconds longer than usual because Windows is closing all programs completely.

The restart after that will take noticeably longer — often 30 seconds to a minute longer than you are used to. This is normal. Windows is loading everything fresh from the hard drive instead of waking from a saved state. After that first full restart, subsequent restarts will continue to take this longer time until you re-enable Fast Start.

If you notice that your computer is now starting up much more slowly and you want to turn Fast Start back on, follow the same steps and click the checkbox again to put the checkmark back.

When to disable Fast Start for troubleshooting

If Windows Update keeps failing or stalling, disabling Fast Start and doing a full restart often fixes the problem. Updates need a clean boot environment to install properly, and Fast Start can prevent that. After the update finishes, you can turn Fast Start back on if you want.

If a device (printer, external drive, graphics card) is not being recognized, try disabling Fast Start, doing a full shutdown, waiting 10 seconds, and then restarting. Devices sometimes fail to initialize when Windows wakes from a saved state but initialize fine on a full boot.

If you are preparing to sell, donate, or recycle your computer, disable Fast Start before you wipe the drive. A full shutdown ensures that temporary files and cached data are cleared more completely than a Fast Start shutdown would.

Difference between Restart and Shut Down with Fast Start disabled

When Fast Start is on, both Restart and Shut Down followed by a manual power-on will be fast. When Fast Start is off, Shut Down will do a full shutdown, but Restart will sometimes skip the full shutdown step and go straight to reloading Windows. If you need a complete fresh boot for troubleshooting, use Shut Down, wait a few seconds, and then press the power button to start again — do not use Restart.

This distinction matters most when you are troubleshooting a specific problem. Restart is faster but may not clear the issue; Shut Down followed by a manual power-on is slower but more thorough.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling Fast Start delete my files or lose my passwords?

No. Disabling Fast Start only changes how Windows shuts down and starts up. Your files, passwords, and all your settings remain exactly as they are. The only change you will notice is that startup takes longer.

Can I disable Fast Start on Windows 7 or older versions?

Fast Start does not exist on Windows 7 or earlier. It was introduced in Windows 8. If you are running Windows 7, your computer already does a full shutdown every time, and there is nothing to disable.

What if I cannot find the "Turn on fast startup" checkbox?

Make sure you clicked the blue link that says "Change settings that are currently unavailable" — without that step, the checkbox will be grayed out and you cannot click it. If you still do not see it, you may not have administrator rights on your account. Ask the account owner to make the change, or contact your IT department if this is a work computer.

Does disabling Fast Start use more electricity?

Slightly. A full shutdown uses a bit more power during the restart process than waking from Fast Start does. The difference is small — a few cents per month on a typical electric bill — and most people disable Fast Start for troubleshooting reasons rather than to save power.

Should I disable Fast Start permanently or just for troubleshooting?

Most people leave it on. Disable it only if you are actively troubleshooting a problem (updates failing, devices not recognized) or preparing to recycle the computer. Once the problem is solved, turn it back on to get the faster startup times back.