Hibernate vs Sleep in Windows 10: What is the difference?

If you leave a Windows 10 system unattended for an extended period of time, it will enter a low-power mode known as Sleep. Hibernate, a low-power state mode in Windows 10, is comparable. Users can manually put the system in Hibernate mode from the power menu, just like they can put it in Sleep mode.

Hibernate Vs Sleep in Windows 10

Many users mix up Hibernate and Sleep modes. The two modes are similar, and your system will only enter these modes if you force it or if you haven’t used it in a long time. Which is superior, and what is the difference between the two?

Hibernate vs Sleep

The key distinction between Hibernate and Sleep mode is how and where data is saved.

Save state

When your computer goes into sleep mode, any open files (along with any unsaved data) are saved to the RAM.
When your computer enters Hibernate mode, any open files (together with any unsaved data) are written to the disk.

Power usage

Your system requires relatively little power to keep things operating when it is in Sleep mode.
When your computer is in Hibernate mode, it consumes no energy. It essentially shuts down the system.

Feature availability

Sleep mode is available on all Windows 10 PCs and is enabled by default.
Hibernate isn’t available on all Windows 10 PCs; for example, if your machine uses InstantGo, it won’t be available. Even if it is accessible on a system, it may not be enabled by default.

SSD damage

Sleep mode will not harm or diminish the lifespan of an SSD in any way.
Early generation SDDs have been reported to be damaged by hibernate mode, causing them to wear out faster. This isn’t an issue with newer SSDs.

Hard drive damage

Neither Sleep nor Hibernate mode can damage the hard disk.

Hardware indicator

While your system is in Sleep mode, LEDs on your system may continue to blink to signify its state, such as the power button or an SSD/HDD read/write indication.
All lights and indicators will turn off when your system is in Hibernate mode. You won’t be able to know if your system has been Shut Down or is in Hibernate mode until you push the power button.

Resume

Windows 10 will wake up significantly faster from Sleep mode than it will from Hibernate mode. The difference in time is significant.
By hitting the power button, touching a key on the keyboard, or clicking the mouse, a machine can be brought out of sleep state.
By hitting the power button, a system can be brought out of hibernation mode.

Should you Hibernate vs Sleep Windows 10?

Sleep and hibernation modes are frequently found on the same computer. You can pick and choose which you want to use, however in general;

If you will be away from your computer for a short amount of time, such as fifteen minutes or an hour, you should use Sleep mode.
If you’ll be away from your computer for an extended period of time but still want to pick up where you left off instead of restarting it, Hibernate mode is the way to go.

Windows 10 has a harder time resuming from Hibernate mode, so you might as well restart your computer. As a result, even if you intend to be away from your computer for an extended period of time, Sleep mode may be the best option.

Shut Down, Sleep, or Hibernate Windows 10

If you have the choice to shut down your machine, rather than putting it in Hibernate mode, you should do so.

We try to stay away from Hibernate mode because it takes so long for the machine to wake up. It’s possible that your machine will boot up lot faster.

The shut down is a user initiated action for unsaved data, which means you will be prompted to save your work before the machine is shut down.

The one significant downside of shutting down a system rather than hibernating it is that you will have to reopen your apps and data. You don’t have to do anything because hibernate mode saves the current state of the system.

Hybrid Sleep

Hybrid Sleep is a third mode in Windows 10. It’s a hybrid of Hibernate and Sleep modes in which;

Instead of RAM, data is written to the hard disk.
The memory is refreshed on a regular basis by the system.
Hibernate is faster than system resume, although Sleep is slower.
When the system is in Hybrid Sleep mode, it continues to use power.

Conclusion

Take a hint from their names if you’re having trouble remembering the difference between Hibernate and Sleep mode. Sleep is a light sleep state in comparison to hibernation, which is a considerably deeper sleep state. It’s possible that an app is to fault for your system’s inability to wake up from hibernation. You have the option of removing the app, staying in Sleep mode, or shutting down the system.