You most likely cannot do without your laptop, so you should keep it running at its optimal level. That also includes how you power it down when it's not in use.

So, should you let it remain in sleep mode? Or is it better to shut down your PC altogether? Let's explore both these power states and find out what's best to use and when.

What Is Sleep Mode on a Laptop?

You're likely familiar with the sleep mode on your laptop. It's when your laptop screen goes black after a period of inactivity. So is sleep mode bad for your laptop? What happens in sleep mode?

Sleep mode is a state in which your PC uses very little power. Whatever is running on your PC at that time, like websites, applications, and open documents, is saved on the PC's short-term memory, RAM (what is RAM?).

You can select after how much time your laptop should enter sleep mode from the Power & sleep settings on your PC.

In sleep mode, only your laptop's RAM draws power while the processor, hard disk, and other components are switched off to save on battery charge. Also, you don't have to worry about losing work when your battery drains because Windows and macOS automatically save all your work and turn off the PC if the battery is too low.

To access sleep mode, just press the power button on your laptop, or close your laptop's lid.

To come out of sleep mode on your laptop, press your laptop's power button. You might also be able to wake it by pressing any key on the keyboard, clicking the left or right mouse buttons on the touchpad, or opening the lid on your laptop.

What Happens When You Shut Down Your Laptop?

Shutting down your laptop completely powers it off. All programs, applications, and the operating system are closed, and all memory is cleared.

You're most likely to shut down your laptop when your work is done at the end of the day. Or, unless you're forced to do so when you encounter a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) error—in that case, it's best to long-press the power button for a few seconds to shut down your PC.

How Is Sleep Different From Shutdown?

There are two main differences between sleep and shutdown.

First is the bootup time. When you want your PC to come out of sleep, it will start up faster—it just takes a few seconds before you're back at your desktop. Since all work is saved to RAM, you can begin right where you left off.

To start a laptop that's shut down, it'll take a minute or more to boot up and even longer if you have a few apps configured to open when your PC starts up. Plus, you need to save all your work before shutting down your computer, or you will lose it.

The second difference is power consumption. You might have heard that you save more money and energy if you turn off your computer each night. However, as per Energy Star, the reality is that you only save a watt or two by turning off a computer vs. placing it in sleep mode.

Now that we've explored the differences, let's check out whether it is better to shut down your computer or just put your laptop to sleep.

Sleep vs. Shutdown: What's Best for Your Laptop?

If you're working on and off on your laptop through the day, or if you step out for lunch, it's best to let it sleep. Putting your laptop in sleep mode overnight is also fine if you plan to start work first thing in the morning.

Having your laptop go to sleep is also better as some components like the LCD panel, battery, and hard drive have a limited life cycle. So allowing them to sleep when not in use will extend their life.

Heat is also generated when your laptop is on, and heat is the enemy of all components. Because of this, you should always shut down your laptop before leaving it in a laptop sleeve or backpack for more than a few minutes. In enclosed spaces like these, laptops can easily overheat and suffer damage due to a lack of airflow.

Shutting down your laptop is better when you've finished your work and don't need the laptop for a longer duration, like over the weekend.

It's good to do, too, especially if you haven't shut it down for a few days. See, the longer your computer is on, the more programs, apps, and background processes will be running. With a shutdown, those things are reset, which is essential as constantly running programs tends to slow down your PC over time.

Most laptop owners know how a simple restart sometimes fixes an unresponsive app or an issue. A shutdown once or twice weekly will clear up your PC's RAM and free up memory and processing power.

Doing this could also help increase your device's lifespan—one of the main reasons why you should shutdown your computer every night.

Use Your Laptop With Care to Enjoy It for Years

Now you know what to choose between sleep vs. shutdown and what happens to your laptop in either of these states. In short, you should use both options in different situations. So use your laptop with thought and care to enjoy years of hassle-free performance.