How to Disable Hiberfil.sys in Windows 11

The hiberfil.sys file is a hidden system file created by Windows 11 to support the Hibernation feature, but it often consumes tens of gigabytes of valuable SSD storage space. This guide provides a straightforward method to completely disable the hibernation feature and automatically remove the hiberfil.sys file using the built-in Windows Command Prompt, freeing up drive space immediately.

What is Hiberfil.sys?

When your computer enters hibernation mode, Windows saves the current state of your system memory (RAM) to your storage drive inside hiberfil.sys. Because the file mirrors your system memory, it generally takes up 40% to 100% of your total installed RAM. If you have 16 GB or 32 GB of RAM, disabling this feature can instantly reclaim 6 GB to 30 GB or more of SSD space.

Steps to Disable Hiberfil.sys in Windows 11

To remove the file, you simply need to disable Windows Hibernation. Windows will automatically delete the hiberfil.sys file once the feature is turned off.

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
    • Press the Windows Key or click the Start button.
    • Type cmd or Command Prompt.
    • Right-click Command Prompt in the search results and select Run as administrator (or click “Run as administrator” in the right-hand panel).
    • Click Yes if prompted by User Account Control (UAC).
  2. Execute the Disable Command

    • In the Command Prompt window, type the following command:

      powercfg -h off

    • Press Enter.

  3. Verify the Storage Space
    • The command executes silently and returns to a new prompt line with no confirmation message.
    • Open File Explorer and check your primary drive (C:). The hiberfil.sys file is immediately deleted, and your available free space will increase accordingly.

Alternative: Reduce Hiberfil.sys Size Without Disabling Fast Startup

If you want to keep Windows Fast Startup enabled while still freeing up storage, you can reduce the size of the hibernation file instead of turning it off completely.

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

  2. Type the following command and press Enter:

    powercfg /h /type reduced

    This reduces the file size to roughly 20% of your installed RAM, preserving Fast Startup while freeing up the majority of the reserved space.

How to Re-Enable Hibernation

If you ever need to restore the hibernation feature and recreate the hiberfil.sys file, follow these steps:

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

  2. Enter the following command and press Enter:

    powercfg -h on

    Windows will immediately re-enable hibernation and allocate the full hiberfil.sys file back onto your system drive.