Ever noticed a mysterious file on your Windows computer called hiberfil.sys? It’s big. It’s hidden. And it might be taking up a lot of your hard drive space. But don’t panic! This file is actually doing something quite helpful for your computer.
So, What Is hiberfil.sys?
hiberfil.sys is a system file used by Windows. It’s connected to a feature called Hibernate. Hibernate is like a supercharged version of Sleep mode.
When you shut down your computer using Hibernate, instead of closing everything, Windows pauses all your programs and saves the current state. Then it puts all that data into the hiberfil.sys file.
When you turn your PC back on, it opens that file and puts everything back, just as you left it. Like magic!
Why Does Windows Use It?
The main goal of hiberfil.sys is speed and energy saving. Think of it as a way to comfortably pick up where you left off without using much power.
Here’s why Windows likes using it:
- Faster boot-ups: Hibernate is quicker than starting from scratch.
- Power saving: No electricity needed while your system is hibernating.
- Convenience: Reopens all your windows and programs!
Is It Taking Up a Lot of Space?
Yes, it might be. The size of hiberfil.sys is usually around 75% of your RAM size. So, if you have 16 GB of RAM, hiberfil.sys could be taking up around 12 GB of disk space!
That’s a decent chunk. But remember, it’s saving all your RAM’s contents, so it needs the room.
If you’re low on disk space and don’t use Hibernate, you might consider disabling it. But be careful—you’ll lose the Hibernate option and related fast boot features.
Can You Delete It?
You can’t just delete hiberfil.sys like a normal file. Windows won’t let you. But you can disable Hibernate, and Windows will automatically remove it for you.
Here’s how:
- Click Start and type cmd.
- Right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
- Type this: powercfg –h off
- Press Enter.
Just like that, Hibernate will be off, and the hiberfil.sys file will vanish.
Miss Hibernate already? You can bring it back by typing powercfg -h on using the same steps.
Should You Keep It?
That depends on how you use your computer.
- Keep it: If you use Hibernate or need fast startups.
- Turn it off: If you never use Hibernate and want to save space.
Pro Tip: On laptops, Hibernate is very useful when your battery is low. It saves your work so nothing gets lost when shut down.
Fast Boot and hiberfil.sys
Even if you never hit the Hibernate button, your PC might still be using hiberfil.sys. That’s because of a feature called Fast Startup. It speeds up your computer’s boot time after shutting down.
Fast Startup works by saving part of the system to hiberfil.sys. So if you disable it, Fast Startup will also stop working.
Final Thoughts
hiberfil.sys can seem like a mysterious space hog, but it’s actually quite helpful. It saves time, energy, and even your sanity if your battery runs out.
Now that you understand it, you can decide whether to keep it or turn it off. Either way, you’re now a bit more of a Windows whiz!
