Hibernation support is disabled by default on every Surface devices since Microsoft introduced new modern standby feature on them. The modern standby allows your surface benefits from instant on/off, background activity while the system is off, and simplified wake story feature.
Even modern standby allows you to resume your work instantly but it does drain a bit of your battery juice. If you plan not resume your anytime soon, you should hibernate your Surface to completely stop the battery drain. In this article, I will guide you how you can hibernate your Surface right from the power menu in the start menu.
Note The following instruction is only applicable for Surface PCs that operate with Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 Home or Pro. Windows 8.1 RT does not support hibernation.
- Applicable for: Surface Pro, Surface Pro 2, Surface Pro 3, Surface Pro 4, Surface Pro (2017), Surface Book, Surface Laptop, and Surface Studio.
- Not Applicable for: Surface RT and Surface 2.
- How to check Hibernate option in System Power Settings
- Turning on Hibernation Support via Command Line or PowerShell
1How to check Hibernate option in System Power Settings
Here is how you can check whether hibernation is turned on or off on your Surface.
- Right click on battery icon in the system tray
- Click Power Options
- Click Choose what the power buttons do
- You will see that there are no Hibernate option under the Shutdown settings
2Turning on Hibernation Support via Command Line or PowerShell
To turn on hibernation support on your Surface.
- Right click on Start icon
- Click on Windows PowerShell (Admin)
- In the Windows PowerShell, type powercfg /h on, press Enter
- Now when you go back to Power Options > System Settings, you will see that Hibernate is available in Shutdown settings.
- Now you can hibernate your Surface right from power menu in the start menu.
COMMENTS
Let us know what you think!
We appreciate hearing your thoughts, questions, and ideas about “How to enable Hibernation support on Microsoft Surface”.
I followed this guide but hibernate is still not available
I had the exact same issue with my Surface Pro 4, but Microsoft support chat resolved it using the command prompt.
From my chat,
“Please type command prompt on the search tab beside windows logo button and then right click the command prompt and then tap on run on Admin
And then click on yes.
Then type this command.
powercfg /H ON
powercfg /H /TYPE FULL
powercfg /A”
Then go back to your power settings and Hibernation mode should be available.
Good luck!
Hit enter between each command. Sorry for the lack of steps. each command begins with powercfg.
I have search and search for this. THANK THANKS THANKS !!!
tanks tanks tanks
This is not wroking on a Surface Pro 4, Windows 10, May 2019 Update.
Same to me. Nothing happens. Surface pro 4 unavailable for hibernate.
Worked for me.
Thanks.
Windows 10 pro on Surface Pro 4
Well, Hibernate is available, but there is still drain of battery juice on my Surface Pro (2017). I am very disappointed with this feature.
I have a question or two. I have several damage Surfaces of various models. Since I have wipe drives of of the old Windows 10 when I try to re image them with the current Widows 10 (downloaded from Microsoft) I get as far as the partition screen. It shows that the drive is locked. How do I undo this lock.
I’m a volunteer at Willows Creek Computer Connection, S. Barrington, IL these damage Surface were donated as part of a donation lot.
I’m playing with the ones that can not be given out (to schools).
I ran Surface Erase on them to clean the drive of past Windows and programs.
Any free back would be helpful.
[email protected]
Awesome…wish I’d found this solution sooner….computer kept crashing with battery drain on sleep.
This solution worked perfect for me. Thanks so much!