How to Delete Hiberfil.sys in Windows 10

If you’re looking to free up space on your Windows 10 PC, you’ve probably stumbled across a hidden system file called hiberfil.sys. This file can eat up several gigabytes of your hard drive — especially if you’re using a smaller SSD. So what is it, and how do you get rid of it?

What Is Hiberfil.sys?

Hiberfil.sys is a system file used by Windows to save the current state of your system when you enter hibernation mode. When your PC hibernates, it writes everything in RAM to this file so it can power off completely and pick up right where you left off.

If you never use hibernation, this file is just wasting space. The good news? You can delete it — and it’s easy.

How to Delete Hiberfil.sys

You can’t just delete hiberfil.sys like a regular file. It’s protected by the system. But you can disable hibernation, which will automatically remove the file.

Here’s how:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator

• Press Windows key, type cmd.
• Right-click Command Prompt, choose Run as administrator.

2. Disable Hibernation

In the command prompt window, type:

powercfg -h off

Then press Enter.

That’s it. This command disables hibernation and deletes hiberfil.sys.

Want to Re-enable Hibernation?

If you change your mind later and want to use hibernation again, you can bring it back.

Just open Command Prompt as Administrator and type:

powercfg -h on

Then press Enter. Windows will recreate the hiberfil.sys file.

Quick Notes

• Deleting hiberfil.sys means you won’t be able to use hibernation mode until you turn it back on.
• This won’t affect Sleep mode — just hibernation.
• You can save 4–10 GB or more, depending on your system’s RAM.

Final Thoughts

If you’re tight on space or just don’t use hibernation, deleting hiberfil.sys is a fast way to clean up. No extra tools needed. Just a simple command and you’re done.

Got questions or ran into issues? Drop a comment below and let’s sort it out.