| Pros of Removing hiberfil.sys | Cons of Removing hiberfil.sys | | :--- | :--- | | (3-10+ GB) | Loses Fast Startup – boot times will be slower. | | Reduces write cycles on an SSD (minor benefit) | Loses Hibernation – no saving session state on shutdown. | | Simplifies backup imaging (smaller system image) | Sleep mode still works , but a power loss during sleep loses unsaved data. |
It supports two key Windows features:
While useful, this file often takes up in disk space. If you have 32GB of RAM, that is roughly 13GB to 25GB of storage gone. For users with limited SSD space who don't use Hibernation, disabling it is an easy way to reclaim several gigabytes. How to Disable hiberfil.sys in Windows 11 windows 11 disable hiberfil sys
Note: Editing the registry carries a small risk. Always back up your registry before making changes.
If you are an SSD user with plenty of space and you use a laptop, keeping Hibernation enabled is convenient. However, if you are tight on storage or troubleshooting boot errors, using the Command Prompt command powercfg.exe /hibernate off is a safe and effective way to clean up your system. | Pros of Removing hiberfil
If you want to keep Fast Startup but don’t need full Hibernation, you can reduce hiberfil.sys to about instead of 100%.
Technically yes, using powercfg /h /size and directory junctions, but . The system needs low-level access to this file during boot, before other drives are initialized. Moving it often leads to boot failures. | It supports two key Windows features: While
You're looking for a way to disable the hiberfil.sys file in Windows 11.
Major updates or driver changes may reset power settings. Simply re-run the powercfg /h off command.
You likely need to run the terminal . Also, try running disk cleanup as admin or restart your PC.
When you turn your computer back on, Windows reads this file and restores your session exactly where you left off. The size of the file is roughly 40–75% of your total installed RAM. If you have 16GB of RAM, this file could be taking up nearly 8GB of space.