Windows 11 Hibernation doesn’t work properly after enabling Secure Boot

Understanding and Troubleshooting Hibernation Issues Post-Secure Boot Activation on Windows 11

Introduction

Enabling Secure Boot is often a necessary step for users seeking enhanced security and compatibility with certain applications or gaming setups. However, recent experiences highlight that turning on Secure Boot can sometimes lead to unintended system behaviors, particularly affecting power management features such as hibernation and sleep modes. This article explores the common symptoms, underlying causes, and potential solutions to address hibernation malfunctions after enabling Secure Boot on a Windows 11 system.

The Symptom Overview

Users may observe that after enabling Secure Boot in the BIOS:

• Hibernation no longer functions as expected. When selecting the Hibernate option, instead of the PC shutting down and saving its session state, it transitions to a black screen.
• Despite appearing to be off—LED indicators remain lit, and fans continue running—the system is technically still powered on.
• Attempting to interact with peripherals (e.g., moving the mouse) results in an immediate lock screen activation, skipping the usual Windows login process.
• Similar issues may manifest in sleep mode, indicating broader power state management problems.

Hardware Configuration

Typical system specifications associated with these issues include:

• Operating System: Windows 11 Pro (version 22H2 or newer, build 26100.4770)
• CPU: AMD Ryzen R5 5700X3D
• Motherboard: ASUS X570-i Strix
• RAM: 32GB DDR4-3600
• Graphics Card: NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti Founders Edition
• Graphics Drivers: Multiple versions tested, including 580.88, 580.97, and rollback to 577.00

Potential Causes

Several factors can contribute to this behavior:

1. Secure Boot Compatibility:
   Enabling Secure Boot may alter the boot and power management configurations, potentially conflicting with existing drivers or system settings.

2. Driver Conflicts:
   Graphics or chipset drivers might not be fully compatible with Secure Boot, leading to issues in entering low-power states.

3. Fast Startup and Hybrid Sleep Settings:
   Misconfigured fast startup or hybrid sleep modes may cause improper sleep or hibernate behavior under Secure Boot.

4. BIOS Settings and Firmware:
   Certain BIOS options related to power management, C-states, or firmware updates can influence resume and power-off behaviors.

Strategies for Resolution

To troubleshoot and resolve these issues, consider the following steps:

1. **Update BIOS Firmware