How to Disable Hibernation Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

By / October 16, 2025

Windows 11 comes packed with power management features designed to balance performance and energy efficiency. One such feature is Hibernation mode — a power-saving state that saves your session to the hard drive and shuts down your computer completely. While it’s helpful for laptops, many desktop users or SSD owners prefer to disable hibernation in Windows 11 to free up storage space and improve system performance.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to disable hibernation in Windows 11 step by step, explain what it does, why you might want to turn it off, and how to re-enable it later if needed.

🧠 What Is Hibernation in Windows 11?

Hibernation is a power-saving mode that saves the current state of your open files, apps, and settings to your system drive (usually on a file called hiberfil.sys) before shutting down your PC completely. When you power it back on, Windows restores your previous session exactly as you left it.

How Hibernation Differs from Sleep Mode

Feature Sleep Mode Hibernation
Power Usage Low Almost none
Resume Speed Fast Slower
Saves Work to RAM Hard drive (hiberfil.sys)
Ideal For Short breaks Long-term power saving or laptops

If you’re using a desktop PC or a SSD with limited storage, disabling hibernation can save several gigabytes of disk space and simplify power management.

⚙️ Why Disable Hibernation in Windows 11?

There are several reasons users prefer turning off hibernation:

  1. Free up disk space: The hiberfil.sys file can take up several gigabytes — roughly 75% of your installed RAM size.

  2. Improve performance: Reducing power management tasks can streamline your system’s behavior.

  3. Avoid unwanted wake-ups: Some PCs accidentally resume from hibernation, especially when connected to external devices.

  4. SSD longevity: Disabling hibernation reduces unnecessary write operations to SSDs.

  5. Simplify shutdown options: If you rarely use it, removing it makes your Power menu cleaner.

🧩 How to Check If Hibernation Is Enabled

Before disabling it, let’s check whether it’s currently active on your system.

✅ Steps to Check Hibernation Status:

  1. Press Windows + X and select Windows Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).

  2. Type the following command and press Enter:

    powercfg /availablesleepstates

  3. Look for the Hibernation entry.

    • If it says “Hibernation: Available”, it’s enabled.

    • If it says “Hibernation: Not available”, it’s already disabled.

🧭 How to Disable Hibernation in Windows 11 (Step-by-Step)

There are a few methods to disable hibernation in Windows 11. We’ll go through the Command Prompt, Power Options, and Registry Editor methods — pick whichever suits you best.

🖥️ Method 1: Disable Hibernation Using Command Prompt (Recommended)

This is the quickest and most reliable way.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + S and type cmd.

  2. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

  3. In the window, type the following command and press Enter:

    powercfg -h off

  4. Close the Command Prompt window.

That’s it — hibernation is now disabled.

👉 What happens next:

  • The hiberfil.sys file is automatically deleted.

  • “Hibernate” disappears from your Start menu and power options.

⚡ Method 2: Disable Hibernation via Power Options

Although not always available in all builds, you can try this through Control Panel.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + R, type control, and hit Enter.

  2. Go to Hardware and Sound → Power Options.

  3. Click Choose what the power buttons do on the left panel.

  4. Select Change settings that are currently unavailable.

  5. Under Shutdown settings, uncheck Hibernate.

  6. Click Save changes.

If the Hibernate checkbox isn’t visible, use the Command Prompt method instead.

🧱 Method 3: Disable Hibernation Using Registry Editor (Advanced)

⚠️ Warning: Editing the registry can cause system issues if done incorrectly. Proceed carefully.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.

  2. Navigate to:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power

  3. Find the HibernateEnabled key.

  4. Double-click it and change the Value data to 0.

  5. Click OK and restart your computer.

💡 How to Re-Enable Hibernation in Windows 11

If you ever change your mind, you can easily re-enable hibernation.

Steps:

  1. Open Command Prompt (Admin).

  2. Type:

    powercfg -h on

  3. Press Enter and restart your computer.

✅ You’ll now see “Hibernate” return to your Power menu.

🧮 How to Verify Hibernation Is Disabled

After turning it off, make sure it’s completely gone.

Steps:

  1. Open File Explorer and go to your C: drive.

  2. Enable viewing of hidden and system files:

    • Click View → Show → Hidden items.

  3. If you don’t see a file named hiberfil.sys, hibernation is successfully disabled.

🛠️ Troubleshooting: Common Issues When Disabling Hibernation

1. “Access Denied” Error in Command Prompt

Make sure you’re running Command Prompt as administrator.

2. Hibernate Option Still Appears

Restart your PC after running powercfg -h off. It ensures all UI changes take effect.

3. Hiberfil.sys Still Visible

Try deleting it manually after confirming hibernation is off. If not possible, reboot and try again.

🔋 Should You Disable Hibernation in Windows 11?

Let’s weigh the pros and cons.

Pros Cons
Frees up disk space You lose the ability to save sessions
Improves boot/shutdown speed Slightly slower resume time from full shutdown
Reduces SSD writes Laptop battery life may be impacted
Simplifies power options Hybrid sleep won’t work

If you’re using a desktop or SSD with limited space, disabling hibernation is generally a good idea. Laptop users who rely on saving sessions might want to keep it enabled.

🧰 Bonus: How to Remove “Hibernate” from Power Menu Only

If you want to keep hibernation enabled but hide the option from your Power menu:

Steps:

  1. Go to Control Panel → Hardware and Sound → Power Options.

  2. Click Choose what the power buttons do.

  3. Select Change settings that are currently unavailable.

  4. Uncheck Hibernate under Shutdown settings.

  5. Click Save changes.

This hides it without disabling the feature completely.

🧠 Quick Recap: Disable Hibernation in Windows 11

Method Steps Summary
Command Prompt Run powercfg -h off
Control Panel Uncheck Hibernate in Power Options
Registry Editor Set HibernateEnabled to 0
Re-enable Later Use powercfg -h on

🏁 Conclusion

Disabling hibernation in Windows 11 is an easy and effective way to free up disk space, boost performance, and streamline power settings, especially if you rarely use it. Whether you’re optimizing a desktop PC or extending the lifespan of your SSD, turning off hibernation is a smart tweak that takes less than a minute.

You can always re-enable it with a single command if you change your mind later — so experiment and see what works best for your workflow.

❓ FAQs About Disabling Hibernation in Windows 11

1. Is it safe to disable hibernation in Windows 11?

Yes, it’s completely safe — Windows will function normally without it. You’ll just lose the option to hibernate.

2. How much space does hibernation take up?

The hiberfil.sys file usually takes 75% of your installed RAM. For example, if you have 16 GB RAM, it may consume around 12 GB.

3. Does disabling hibernation affect sleep mode?

No, sleep mode works independently and won’t be affected.

4. Can I delete hiberfil.sys manually?

You shouldn’t delete it manually. Use the powercfg -h off command instead — it automatically removes the file safely.

5. How do I check if hibernation is really disabled?

Run powercfg /availablesleepstates in Command Prompt. If it says “Hibernation: Not available,” it’s disabled.

🔑 Key Takeaways

  • Hibernation saves your session to disk for full power-off resumes.

  • Use powercfg -h off in Command Prompt to disable it.

  • This frees several GB of space and may enhance SSD longevity.

  • You can re-enable anytime using powercfg -h on.

  • Ideal for desktops and SSD users who don’t use the Hibernate feature.

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