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How to Turn Off the Hard Disk in Power Options
The hard disk will stop spinning after the set idle period
3 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Recently, some users have reportedly made inquiries as to know what it means to turn off the hard disk in Windows power.
Getting familiar with what the option brings to bear the fact that an opportunity in Windows 11 enables the user to turn off hard disk drives for a specified period.
What does turning off the hard disk mean?
Turning off the hard disk is a part of power management options that enable users to conserve their system’s energy.
Depending on the selected power plan, the user can decide to enable or disable it out of the box. For instance, it can be enabled in the Balanced and Power Saver power profiles and disabled in thePerformance power plan.
Moreover, when enabled, your hard disk drive will be turned off after your PC is idle during the specified period. Turning off the hard disk is similar to enabling theSleep Mode in a system.
Although, when next your software accesses the drive, it will take a few seconds before the drive starts spinning and give access to files.
How do I turn off the hard disk in Windows power options?
1. Use Control Panel
This should be an easy way to turn off hard disk in Windows power options. However, you can also learnhow to tweak other system settingsin Control Panel.
2. Use Command Prompt
Make sure not to set the idle period to a few minutes. It can wear out your HDD and trash its head.
For users whocan’t access Command Prompt as administrator, you should check this guide for a quick fix.
Many of our readers asked:Does turning off the hard disk affect SSDs?No, it doesn’t, since it has no moving parts, unlike the HDD.
For users willing to know how safe it is to turn off a hard disk on HDD, it is recommended to keep the disk spinning than to make it stop and start all the time. This will help prevent HDD wear out.
Further, you can learnhow to fix any Windows 11 disk errorby following the solutions provided in this guide.
If you have further questions or suggestions, do not hesitate to use the comments below.
More about the topics:hard drive,Windows 11
Loredana Harsana
Windows Software Expert
Loredana is a passionate writer with a keen interest in PC software and technology. She started off writing about mobile phones back when Samsung Galaxy S II was on top of the world and she fell in love with tech of all sorts.
Whenever she’s not at her work desk, you’ll find her enjoying refreshing tea flavors, spilling stories on paper, and listening to the radio.
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Loredana Harsana
Windows Software Expert
Loredana is a tech enthusiast who tackles mobility, privacy, and networking in easy-to follow guides for everyone.
