If something consumes a lot of hard drive space on our computer, that is the Hiberfil.sys file. These files are large, usually occupy several gigabytes and cannot be deleted as easily as we do with common files. But what is the Hiberfil.sys file and how can you delete it to free up space?
We usually run into it when we are running low on space and start looking to clean up and free up hard drive space from larger files.
But before talking about how to delete these types of files, let’s first see what a Hiberfil.sys file is and what its function is. We will also discuss whether it is advisable to get rid of them and what happens when we do.
What is a Hiberfil.sys file?
Windows has a tool called hibernation whose objective is to reduce the energy consumption of the computer while it is not operating. During this process, all the files that are running and the information they contain are stored in the Hiberfil.sys file.
This allows us to quickly access the programs we were working on when we take the computer out of hibernation. All this information will occupy a certain space on the hard drive, which is becoming larger and larger.
Hence the reason why when we come across this type of file, the first reaction is to try to eliminate or uninstall the program to have more space. And if you have already tried to eliminate it, you may have realized that it is not so easy to get rid of this type of file.
How can we delete them to get more storage space and how recommended is it to delete the Hiberfil.sys file? What alternative exists to prevent it from storing so much information if we conclude that it is not prudent to delete it?
How can we delete the Hiberfil.sys file?
If we want to permanently delete the hiberfil.sys file to recover all the space it covers, we must access the command prompt window. This is achieved by running the following commands:
- Access the start menu.
- Select the option: Execute.
- Write the command: cmd
- Press the Ctrl+Shift+Enter keys.
- Enter the command powercfg -h off.
- Press the key: Enter.
What we have done through this procedure is to enter the system with administrator privileges. By executing this command, we will simply have deactivated the hibernate option on our computer.
Thus we will have eliminated the Hiberfil.sys file and all the storage space it occupied on the hard drive or SSD. But we have also disabled our computer from hibernate function and probably battery saving mode will be disabled in case you use Laptop.
It should be noted that this process is reversible and by executing the same steps already indicated, we can once again have this system tool.
What other options are there to free up space?
As we have already seen, the Hiberfil.sys file is an indispensable part of the functioning of the hibernation mode of computers. It is the one that allows the system to go into energy saving mode when we are absent from the computer for a long period of time. This function also helps to prolong the useful life of our computer.
However, it tends to take up a lot of hard drive or SSD space, which is why many often want to be able to remove it. But by doing so, they also remove the hibernation state that allows you to quickly recover the programs in use before the pause. This may also affect other energy saving options and associated programs.
However, there is another option to get rid of the heavy Hiberfil.sys file without the risks that this could cause. The most practical and safest thing is to disable hibernation in Windows 10 of our computer.
The correct way to do it is to follow these steps: Start Menu > Control Panel > Power Options > Hibernate (uncheck)
In Windows 10 you must follow the following process: Settings> System> Start/shutdown and sleep> Additional power settings> Shutdown settings> Hibernate (uncheck).
In this way you disable the hibernation mode, avoiding generating the Hiberfil.sys file, being able to re-enable it when you consider it necessary.
