Where Is hiberfil.sys on Windows?
hiberfil.sys is the hidden system file Windows uses for hibernation and Fast Startup. It sits in the root of the system drive and is managed with powercfg.
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hiberfil.sys lives in the root of the drive where Windows is installed, usually C:\hiberfil.sys. The Windows Kernel Power Manager reserves it during setup.
Size tracks installed RAM and settings, often around 40 percent of RAM on modern releases. The file is locked while Windows runs and cannot be deleted like a normal file.
Where Windows stores this, by platform
C:\hiberfil.sys
Hidden protected operating system file in the system drive root. To view it, show hidden files and clear Hide protected operating system files in Folder Options. Do not delete it directly. Use powercfg to manage it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove hiberfil.sys?
Run Command Prompt as administrator and run powercfg -h off. This disables hibernation and removes the file. Run powercfg /hibernate on to restore it.
How do I shrink hiberfil.sys instead of deleting it?
Use powercfg /hibernate /size with a value from 40 to 100, for example powercfg /hibernate /size 60. Use powercfg /a to check the hibernation file type. Reduced type keeps Fast Startup with a smaller file.
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