How to Disable Hibernation (and Remove hiberfil.sys) in Windows 11

Windows 11, known for its sleek interface and advanced features, continues to provide flexibility in managing system resources and power settings. One such feature is hibernation, which allows the operating system to save the current session to the disk, allowing for a quick resume while conserving power. Although it is a powerful tool for saving sessions, some users may wish to disable hibernation for various reasons. This could include freeing up disk space, enhancing system performance, or simply because they don’t find the feature useful. This article will guide you through the process of disabling hibernation on Windows 11 and removing the hiberfil.sys file that stores the hibernation data.

Understanding Hibernation in Windows 11

Before proceeding to disable hibernation, it’s essential to understand what it does and why you might want to turn it off. Hibernation is a feature designed to save the current state of the system—open applications, files, and settings—onto the hard drive. This saved state is stored in a file called hiberfil.sys, located in the root directory of your system drive (usually C:).

When hibernation is enabled, and your computer enters this state, it will use no power, making it convenient for laptops and tablets. When you power on the device again, it will restore your previous session, allowing you to pick up right where you left off.

However, there are scenarios where it may not be needed or desired:

Freeing Up Disk Space: The hiberfil.sys file can consume several gigabytes of space—sometimes more than the amount of RAM installed. If you’re low on disk space, disabling hibernation and deleting this file can provide you with some much-needed room.
Performance: Some users report that disabling hibernation can lead to faster boot times and improved overall performance, especially on systems with slow storage drives.
Preference: Not everyone prefers the hibernation feature, especially those who usually shut down or restart their computers.
Compatibility Issues: In some instances, certain applications or features may have compatibility issues with hibernation.

How to Disable Hibernation in Windows 11

Disabling hibernation involves a few simple steps, mostly executed through the Command Prompt. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt with Administrative Privileges

Search for Command Prompt: Click on the Start button or press the Windows key on your keyboard. Type “Command Prompt” in the search bar.
Run as Administrator: In the search results, right-click on “Command Prompt” and select “Run as administrator.” This will open the Command Prompt with elevated privileges, which is necessary for executing commands to change system settings.

Step 2: Check the Current Power Settings

Before making changes, you may want to verify whether hibernation is currently enabled. You can do this by typing the following command in the Command Prompt window:

powercfg /a

This command will display the available sleep states on your device. Look for “Hibernate” in the list. If it shows that hibernation is available, you’re ready to disable it.

Step 3: Disable Hibernation

To disable hibernation, type the following command into the Command Prompt and press Enter:

powercfg /h off

This command will turn off the hibernation feature and, consequently, delete the hiberfil.sys file from your storage system. You should see a response indicating that the command was successful.

Step 4: Verify Hibernation is Disabled

To confirm that hibernation is indeed turned off, you can repeat the command from Step 2:

powercfg /a

This time, the output should indicate that “Hibernate” is not available, confirming that you have successfully disabled the feature.

Step 5: Close Command Prompt

You can close the Command Prompt window by simply typing exit and pressing Enter, or by clicking the close button in the upper-right corner.

After Disabling Hibernation: What to Expect

After disabling hibernation, the following changes will occur:

No hibernation: Your PC will no longer enter hibernation mode, even if you select it as a power option.
Improved space: If the hiberfil.sys file has been successfully removed, you should notice that a significant amount of disk space has been freed up, especially on systems with large amounts of RAM.
Different power behavior: Your computer will still support sleep mode, and you can still shut down or restart your computer as per your usual routine.

Re-Enabling Hibernation (Optional)

If you find that you want to re-enable hibernation in the future, the process is equally simple:

Open Command Prompt with administrative privileges again.
Type the following command and press Enter:

powercfg /h on

Close the Command Prompt. Hibernation will now be re-enabled, and the hiberfil.sys file will be recreated on your drive.

Additional Considerations

While disabling hibernation is a straightforward process, there are a few things you may want to keep in mind:

Power Settings

Disabling hibernation will not affect other power settings on your system. You can still manage sleep mode, turn off the display, and adjust other power-related features using the Settings app:

Open Settings: Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
Navigate to Power & battery: Click on “System” on the left sidebar, and then select “Power & battery.”
Adjust settings: From here, you can customize when your device will sleep, as well as other energy-saving settings.

Impact on Fast Startup

If you use Fast Startup—a feature that speeds up boot times by saving your system state to a hibernated file—the disabling of hibernation will also impact this feature. Fast Startup relies on some aspects of hibernation to function effectively. Therefore, with hibernation off, you may notice longer boot times.

Compatibility with Dual Boot Systems

If you’re running a dual-boot system (for example, Windows alongside Linux), it’s advisable to keep hibernation disabled. This is because the hibernation file can interfere with file system access between operating systems.

User Account Control (UAC)

If you have User Account Control enabled, you may occasionally be prompted for administrative credentials (or prompted with a UAC warning) when making system changes. This is standard behavior to prevent unapproved changes to your system.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While the process to disable hibernation is generally straightforward, you may encounter issues. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

Hiberfil.sys Still Exists

Even after disabling hibernation, if you find that the hiberfil.sys file is still present, ensure you have followed all steps correctly. Sometimes, it may take a moment for the system to fully delete the file.

Command Prompt Error

If you receive an error while executing commands in the Command Prompt, ensure you are running it as an administrator. If the error persists, check that you have the appropriate permissions set on your system.

Unresponsive Settings Menu

If you try adjusting power settings via the Settings app, and it appears unresponsive, consider restarting your computer. Sometimes, system processes can behave unpredictably and need a refresh.

Re-enabling Hibernation

If you decide to re-enable hibernation and the command doesn’t seem to work, ensure that your system is updated. Outdated drivers or Windows updates can sometimes cause glitches.

Conclusion

Disabling hibernation and removing the hiberfil.sys file in Windows 11 can be an effective way to free up valuable disk space and streamline your system performance. Following the step-by-step guide above, you can easily toggle this feature on or off according to your needs. Whether you prefer to maintain quick access to your devices through standard shutdowns or simply want to optimize your storage, managing hibernation settings gives you the control you need. Always remember to reassess these preferences as your usage patterns and system requirements may evolve over time.