Should You Turn Your Computer Off at Night?

Experts weigh in on whether it's better to shut down or put your PC to sleep when not in use.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Many people wonder whether it's better to shut down their PC each night or simply put it to sleep, and what impact each choice has on performance. While there used to be concerns about mechanical wear on older computers, modern solid-state storage devices have eliminated that risk. Experts recommend putting laptops into hibernate mode if they won't be used for an extended period, as it uses little to no power. For desktops used for 1-2 hours per evening, the choice between sleep mode and shutdown comes down to personal preference and convenience.

Why it matters

As more people work and learn from home, understanding the best practices for managing computer power usage has become an important consideration for both efficiency and environmental impact. The decision to shut down or put a computer to sleep can affect startup times, power consumption, and the long-term health of the device.

The details

Older computers with mechanical hard drives used to benefit from being shut down regularly to avoid wear on the spinning parts. But modern solid-state storage devices have eliminated that concern. Now the main factors are startup time and convenience. Sleep mode puts the computer in a low-power state that retains data in memory, allowing for a faster resume. Hibernate mode saves the current state to the startup drive, using even less power but taking longer to resume. Experts recommend hibernate mode for laptops that won't be used for extended periods, while the sleep vs. shutdown decision for desktops used daily comes down to personal preference.

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The players

Julian Jimenez Burgos

Trains repair technicians at UBreakiFix by Asurion in Orlando, Florida.

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What they’re saying

“In the past, shutting your computer down every night was recommended, because older storage devices like hard disk drives had mechanical spinning parts that could wear out if they were kept running constantly.”

— Julian Jimenez Burgos, Trainer, UBreakiFix by Asurion

What’s next

Microsoft recommends putting a Windows 11 laptop into Hibernate mode if it won't be used for an extended period, as it uses little to no power. Users can adjust their power settings to control what happens when the laptop is plugged in, on battery, or when the power button or lid is used.

The takeaway

For most modern computers, the decision to shut down or put the device to sleep at night comes down to personal preference and convenience. Solid-state storage has eliminated concerns about mechanical wear, so the main factors are startup time and power usage. Understanding the different power modes can help users optimize their computer's performance and efficiency.