hiberfil.sys is a system file in Windows that allows your computer to hibernate or enter a low-power state. When you put your computer into hibernation, the operating system saves the current state of your computer to the hiberfil.sys file on your hard drive. This file contains the data that was in RAM, allowing your computer to resume where it left off when you restart.
To do this, open Command Prompt as Administrator and type:
In the window that appears, type the following command and press Enter:
Press the , type cmd .
Are you tired of seeing the hiberfil.sys file taking up valuable space on your Windows computer? Do you want to delete it and free up some disk space? You're in the right place! In this article, we'll explain what hiberfil.sys is, why you might want to delete it, and provide a step-by-step guide on how to do so safely.
You can also disable hibernation and delete hiberfil.sys using the Control Panel:
Most Windows users are familiar with "Sleep" mode. When you put your computer to sleep, it enters a low-power state. The RAM stays active, keeping your open documents and apps ready to go, but the computer uses very little power. hiberfil.sys delete
You can set the file type to "Reduced." This creates a smaller hiberfil.sys file sufficient for the Fast Startup feature, but not large enough to handle a full user hibernation.
If you never use Hibernate and want to reclaim that disk space, you can disable the feature via the Command Prompt. This will automatically delete the file.
Thus, the decision of whether to delete hiberfil.sys hinges on a cost-benefit analysis tailored to the user’s hardware and habits. For a desktop PC that is always plugged into mains power, rarely shut down, or equipped with a large SSD, the benefits of deleting the file are minimal. The recovered space may be less valuable than the convenience of a faster boot. Conversely, for a laptop user with a cramped SSD who strictly uses Sleep mode and never Shuts down, disabling Hibernate and reclaiming gigabytes for essential files might be a rational choice. For those who wish to keep Fast Startup but need space, Windows offers a compromise: a "reduced" or "light" version of hiberfil.sys . By using the command powercfg -h -type reduced , the file shrinks to roughly 20% of RAM, enough for Fast Startup but insufficient for full Hibernate. hiberfil
To "delete" the file, you have to disable the feature that creates it.
The hiberfil.sys file is the container where that snapshot is stored. Because it has to hold everything in your RAM, the file is usually about 40% to 75% of your total RAM size. If you have 16GB of RAM, this file could easily take up 6GB to 12GB of space on your drive.