Which are the SLEEP and HIBERNATE keys, and how do I wake up the computer?

David Coffeen 60 Reputation points
2026-02-10T19:48:38.4766667+00:00

In SETTINGS I have SLEEP and HIBERNATE options. Where are the keys to engage, and how do I wake up the computer later?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Sleep and Power on, off
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2026-02-12T14:27:18.41+00:00

Windows 11 doesn’t have special keyboard keys for Sleep or Hibernate.

-How to put the PC to Sleep or Hibernate:

-Start > Power > Sleep / Hibernate

-Alt + F4 on the desktop and choose Sleep

-Power button or closing the lid (you can set these to Sleep or Hibernate in Settings > System > Power > Additional power settings > Choose what the power buttons do)

How to wake it:

You can either tap the keyboard, move the mouse, or press the power button once.

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Answer accepted by question author

AI answer

2026-02-10T19:48:48.74+00:00

To engage the SLEEP and HIBERNATE options on your computer, you can typically find these settings in the Power Options menu within the Windows Settings. Here’s how you can access them:

  1. Open Settings: Click on the Start menu and select the Settings gear icon.
  2. Go to System: Click on "System" and then select "Power & sleep" from the left-hand menu.
  3. Sleep and Hibernate Options: Here, you can see options for when to put the computer to sleep. For hibernation, you may need to go to "Additional power settings" under "Related settings" and then adjust the settings for your power plan.

To wake up the computer after it has gone to sleep or hibernated, you can:

  • Press any key on the keyboard.
  • Move the mouse.
  • Press the power button on your computer.

Make sure that your device supports waking from sleep or hibernation, as some devices may have different settings or limitations regarding wake functionality.

References:

AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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Answer accepted by question author
Vikki-T 8,550 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-02-11T11:20:02.9533333+00:00

Dear David Coffeen, 

Thank you for your question and for sharing the details into Microsoft Q&A Forum. 

I understand the confusion here, seeing Sleep and Hibernate in Windows Settings can make it feel like there should be dedicated “keys” on the keyboard. In Windows, however, Sleep and Hibernate are power modes (software states) rather than required physical buttons on the keyboard. At first, I recommend that you review the information provided in both the AI generated answer and the Independent Advisor’s answer on your thread. Those replies typically include the most relevant information for this scenario. In addition, please take a moment to check the information below:

  1. Sleep and Hibernate mode 
  • Sleep is a low‑power state that lets you resume quickly where you left off.  
  • Hibernate saves your session and powers off more fully  

Because they are modes, Windows lets you enter them from menus/settings, and some keyboards may not have dedicated Sleep/Hibernate keys at all. 

  1. How to put the PC into Sleep or Hibernate 

Use the Windows Power menu 

  • Select Start 
  • Select Power 
  • Choose Sleep or Hibernate (if available)  

Use the hardware Power button or laptop lid 

  • Windows can be configured so that pressing the power button or closing the laptop lid triggers Sleep (or another action you choose).  
  • To configure this: 
    • In the Windows search box, type Control Panel > Power Options. 
    • Select Choose what the power buttons do.  
    • Set the action you want for the power button (and for laptops, the lid close action).  
    • Select Save changes. 
  1. If you see Hibernate in Settings but not in the Power menu 

Hibernate may need to be enabled/added to the shutdown options list: 

  • Control Panel > Power Options  
  • Select Choose what the power buttons do  
  • Select Change settings that are currently unavailable  
  • Under Shutdown settings, check Hibernate and Save changes  
  1. How to wake the computer up later 

Wake behavior can vary by device, but Microsoft guidance includes these options: 

  • Press the Power button to resume. 
  • Depending on the PC, you may also be able to wake it by pressing any key, clicking the mouse, or opening the laptop lid.  

For more information, please visit Shut down, sleep, or hibernate your PC - Microsoft Support 

I hope the guidance above helps clarify how Sleep and Hibernate work in Windows and how to resume (wake) your PC when you’re ready to use it again. Wishing you a smooth experience using these power modes so you can step away with confidence and return to your work quickly. Thank you so much for your understanding.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".  

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread. 

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  1. Rodrigo Queiroz 78,585 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-02-10T20:43:35.39+00:00

    Hi, I'm Rodrigo and I will help you.
    Some devices have the "Sleep" key on the keyboard, but not all.
    The Sleep and Hibernate options can be found under the Start Menu > "Power" option.
    To resume from hibernation, you can press the power button on the computer.
    To wake from sleep, moving the mouse, pressing any key on the keyboard, pressing the power button or opening the lid (in case of laptop devices), will wake up the system.

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  2. Rory Gates 240 Reputation points
    2026-05-24T16:33:25.8866667+00:00

    Hi David, please open a new text document and type the following commands:

    timeout /t 3600 /nobreak

    START %windir%\System32\rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState 0,1,0

    Then save it. Change the file extension from .txt to .bat and rename it Sleepyhead. Then run Sleepyhead.bat. This will put your system into sleep mode after one hours (3600 seconds). While your computer is in sleep mode, you can wake it up again by clicking a mouse button or a key on the keyboard and resume all your activities from where you left off. For example, the song you were playing will continue from where it left off. During this process, minimize the command prompt window but do not close it.

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