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Windows 11 stores hibernation data in a protected system file named C:hiberfil.sys. The file can consume several gigabytes, depending on your installed memory and Windows configuration. If you never use Hibernate or Fast Startup, you can disable the feature with Microsoft’s supported powercfg command. Windows then removes hiberfil.sys automatically.
Do not delete the file manually, and do not confuse hiding the Hibernate button with disabling hibernation. The reliable method is to run powercfg /hibernate off in an elevated terminal.
What disabling hibernation changes
When hibernation is enabled, Windows saves system state to hiberfil.sys before entering the S4 power state. The file is also used by Fast Startup, which Microsoft refers to as hiberboot.
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Running powercfg /hibernate off disables the hibernation feature and removes the hibernation file. As a result:
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- The Hibernate command is no longer available.
- Fast Startup is disabled because it requires a hibernation file.
- Disk space previously reserved for
hiberfil.sysbecomes available. - Sleep and normal shutdown continue to work.
This does not change ordinary sleep timeouts. Those are configured separately in Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen, sleep, & hibernate timeouts.
Disable hibernation and remove hiberfil.sys
- Open the Start menu and type Terminal, Command Prompt, or PowerShell.
- Right-click the result and select Run as administrator. Select Yes if User Account Control asks for permission.
- Run this command:
powercfg /hibernate off- Close the terminal window.
The command normally produces no confirmation message. That is expected. Windows disables hibernation and removes C:hiberfil.sys as part of the operation.
Windows 11 22H2 and later commonly opens Command Prompt and PowerShell inside Windows Terminal. That changes the terminal application hosting the command, not the powercfg syntax.
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hiberfil.sys is hidden and protected by default, so it may not appear in File Explorer even when it exists. You can check the result from an administrator terminal with:
dir /a C:hiberfil.sysIf hibernation was disabled successfully, the command should report that the file cannot be found. You can also check the root of the system drive after enabling protected operating-system files in File Explorer, although using the command is less likely to result in accidental changes to system files.
Re-enable hibernation later
To restore hibernation and recreate the hibernation file:
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powercfg /hibernate onRun the command in an administrator terminal. Windows recreates the file as needed. The Hibernate option may also become available again in the power menu, depending on the device and its supported power states.
What the Control Panel Hibernate checkbox actually does
You can control whether the Hibernate command appears in Windows’ shutdown options through Control Panel:
- Search the taskbar for Control Panel and open it.
- Select System and Security > Power Options.
- Select Choose what the power buttons do.
- Select Change settings that are currently unavailable.
- Under Shutdown settings, select or clear Hibernate.
- Select Save changes.
Clearing this checkbox only hides the Hibernate command from the shutdown menu. It is not the documented way to disable hibernation, and it does not necessarily remove hiberfil.sys. Use powercfg /hibernate off when your goal is to disable the feature and reclaim the file’s disk space.
Do not use the current Settings page for this
Current Windows 11 uses this path for power timeouts:
Start > Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen, sleep, & hibernate timeouts
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That page includes settings such as Turn my screen off after and Make my device sleep after. Despite the wording, these dropdowns do not disable hibernation and do not remove hiberfil.sys.
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The older Settings > System > Power & sleep path is commonly copied from Windows 10 guides and is not the current Windows 11 location.
Should you use a reduced hiberfile instead?
If you want to keep Fast Startup but do not need full hibernation, Windows supports a reduced hibernation file. Microsoft calls the feature that uses this reduced file hiberboot. It is not the same as disabling hibernation: a reduced hiberfil.sys remains on the drive.
To configure a reduced hiberfile, run these commands in an administrator terminal:
powercfg /hibernate /size 0
powercfg /hibernate /type reducedThe first command returns the file sizing to operating-system management and enables hibernation. The second selects the reduced type. Use this option only if you want to retain hiberboot/Fast Startup. If the objective is to remove hiberfil.sys entirely, use:
powercfg /hibernate offWhy is hiberfil.sys so large?
Windows sizes the hibernation file as a percentage of installed physical memory rather than always making it exactly the same size as RAM. The default size cannot be smaller than 50 percent of installed memory. The file can therefore be several gigabytes on a PC with 8 GB, 16 GB, or more RAM.
Windows also supports the /size option, but using a size command enables hibernation; it is not a way to remove the file. A custom default size, or a HiberFileSizePercent value of at least 40 in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlPower, is treated as a full hiberfile configuration. Editing this registry value is unnecessary for the normal disable operation.
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If Hibernate is missing already
Hibernate is not available on every Windows 11 computer. Microsoft specifically notes that PCs using InstantGo may not provide a Hibernate option. Therefore, a missing checkbox in Control Panel does not automatically mean that Windows is hiding a setting or that you need administrator access.
To see which sleep states the PC supports, open an administrator terminal and run:
powercfg /availablesleepstatesThe command lists available sleep states and may explain why a state cannot be used. Hibernation corresponds to the S4 system power state.
Troubleshooting after changing power states
If a USB device, dock, display, or other connected hardware behaves incorrectly after sleep or hibernation, disconnect and reconnect it or restart the PC. Also install current drivers for the affected device. Disabling hibernation is not a substitute for correcting a driver or firmware problem.
If powercfg /hibernate off returns an access or privilege error, close the window, open Terminal again with Run as administrator, and retry. If the command succeeds but you still see an old Hibernate menu entry, sign out or restart Windows so the power menus refresh.
Quick command reference
| Goal | Command | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Disable hibernation | powercfg /hibernate off |
Disables hibernation and removes hiberfil.sys. |
| Enable hibernation | powercfg /hibernate on |
Re-enables the feature and recreates the file as needed. |
| Use a reduced hiberfile | powercfg /hibernate /size 0powercfg /hibernate /type reduced |
Retains a smaller file for hiberboot/Fast Startup. |
| Inspect supported sleep states | powercfg /availablesleepstates |
Reports available states and reasons for unavailable ones. |
FAQ
Does disabling hibernation delete hiberfil.sys?
Yes. Running powercfg /hibernate off in an elevated Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal disables the feature and removes the system hibernation file as part of the operation.
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Can I delete hiberfil.sys manually?
No. Use powercfg /hibernate off instead. The file is a protected system file, and Microsoft’s documented feature-control method is the powercfg command.
Does hiding Hibernate in Control Panel remove hiberfil.sys?
No. Clearing the Hibernate checkbox under Control Panel’s Shutdown settings changes the shutdown menu only. It is different from disabling the hibernation feature.
Will disabling hibernation break Sleep?
No. Normal Sleep remains available, although the sleep states supported by a particular PC depend on its hardware, firmware, and drivers.
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Yes. Fast Startup uses the hibernation file, so disabling hibernation also removes the file required for Fast Startup.
Why can’t I find Hibernate in Windows 11?
Hibernate is not supported on every PC. Microsoft notes that systems using InstantGo may not show the Hibernate option. Run powercfg /availablesleepstates to inspect the states supported by your machine.
The Bottom Line
To disable hibernation and remove hiberfil.sys in Windows 11, open an administrator terminal and run powercfg /hibernate off. Do not rely on the Settings timeout controls or the Control Panel checkbox: those change power-menu visibility or sleep timing, not the hibernation feature itself.
