System file page

Can I Delete hiberfil.sys?

hiberfil.sys is the Windows hibernation file. You should not delete it manually, but you can remove it by turning off Hibernate.

Short answer: Do not delete the file manually. Disable Hibernate with an administrator command if you do not use Hibernate or Fast Startup.

What hiberfil.sys does

Windows uses this file to save memory contents when the computer hibernates. It can be several gigabytes because it is linked to installed RAM and power settings.

How to remove it

Open Command Prompt or PowerShell as administrator and run:

powercfg /hibernate off

To restore Hibernate later, run:

powercfg /hibernate on

Tradeoff

You lose Hibernate. Some systems may also change Fast Startup behavior. Sleep still works separately on most PCs.