Hiberfil.sys is a system file in Windows that stores the contents of your computer's RAM (Random Access Memory) when you put your system into hibernation mode. When you hibernate your computer, Windows saves the current state of your system, including open applications, documents, and settings, to the hard drive. This allows your computer to resume where it left off when you restart it.
If you have , it could occupy over 25GB of space. How to Delete hiberfil.sys in Windows 11
This guide covers what hiberfil.sys does, how to delete it safely, and how to shrink it if you still need hibernation. What is hiberfil.sys? hiberfil sys windows 11
Windows 11 uses hiberfil.sys for three main features:
The size of hiberfil.sys is directly tied to your installed RAM. By default, Windows reserves a file size roughly equal to of your total RAM to ensure there is enough room to dump your memory data. Hiberfil
Using powercfg /h /type reduced keeps the file for Fast Startup but disables full Hibernation.
You’re digging through your Windows 11 C: drive, trying to figure out why a 256GB SSD feels more like 100GB. You enable "Show hidden files," and suddenly a massive chunk of space is claimed by a mysterious file named . If you have , it could occupy over 25GB of space
You cannot simply press "Delete" on this file. Windows protects it. If you force delete it, Windows will just recreate it at the next boot.