This article was originally published on 2023-03-17 and migrated here from an old blog. Edited by: Hermes

Can the hiberfil.sys file on the C drive be deleted?

What is hiberfil.sys?

hiberfil.sys is the hibernation file of the Windows operating system, used to save the system's memory state to the disk.

Can it be deleted?

Yes, it can be deleted, but it is recommended to delete it by disabling the hibernation feature.

Deletion Steps

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
2. Disable Hibernation

powercfg.exe /hibernate off

3. Delete the File (the system will automatically delete it after disabling)

del C:\hiberfil.sys

Re-enable Hibernation

powercfg.exe /hibernate on

Notes

• ⚠️ Deleting hiberfil.sys is safe, but you will no longer be able to use the Windows hibernation feature
• 💾 This file typically occupies disk space equivalent to the size of your RAM
• 🔋 If you frequently use the hibernation feature, it is recommended to keep this file