How to Turn Off and Disable Hibernation in Windows Vista

Hibernation is enabled by default in Windows Vista, and is one of the seven options (i.e. Hibernate) that appears on the Vista shutdown menu. Hibernate your Vista system will enable you to quickly restore to existing system state and intact workspace instead of start afresh, run programs and open your documents one by one again. If you do not use the hibernate feature in Vista, and want to delete hiberfil.sys and then recover the space occupied by the big hibernation storage file, the hibernation function can be turned off and disabled.

Unlike Windows XP, users cannot turn the hibernation on or off via Vista GUI interface anymore. Previously users can enable or disable hibernation via Power Options applet in Control Panel. This option no longer available in Windows Vista, which also enables Hibernate ability and creates hiberfil.sys by default. Instead, users have to rely on command line utility Powercf and Disk Cleanup Wizard to disable hibernation in Vista. Microsoft KB920730 provides details on how to disable and turn off hibernation on computer running Vista system. You must log on to Vista with user account in Administrators group to perform these action.

  1. Click Start, and then type cmd in the Start Search box.
  2. In the search results list, right-click Command Prompt or Cmd, and then click Run as Administrator on the pop up contextual menu.
  3. If you are prompted by User Account Control for permission, click Continue.
  4. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

    powercfg.exe -h off

  5. Type exit, and then press ENTER.

Another easier workaround for those who’re not comfortable to work with command line is to disable hibernation and hybrid sleep feature in Windows Vista is by using Disk Cleanup wizard tool, the built-in Windows disk cleaner to delete hiberfil.sys file. The hibernation file must be enabled to access the hybrid sleep feature and the hibernation feature in Windows Vista.

  1. Click Start button, then go to All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools, and run Disk Cleanup.
  2. Choose which files to clean up, either My files only or Files from all users on this computer is fine.

    Disk Cleanup Options

  3. On “Drive Selection”, select the Windows Vista boot drive to clean up. Note that you must select the drive where Vista is installed, which normally is also the boot drive (C:) as hiberfil.sys file will be located on the root folder of it.

    Disk Cleanup Drive Selection

  4. Once Disk Cleanup finishes scanning the system, Disk Cleanup for Vista window will open.
  5. Select and tick the check box next to the Hibernation File Cleaner.

    Hibernation File Cleaner

    You can select or deselect other type files to clean or preserve from the available items or options in the list provided.

  6. Click OK button when done.
  7. Hibernation will now be removed and disabled.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 25th, 2007 at 12:05 am and is filed under Windows Vista. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

20 Responses to “How to Turn Off and Disable Hibernation in Windows Vista”

  1. Roney
    December 9th, 2009 14:10
    20

    what if i used the disk cleaning method and the hibernate feature is gone and i want to reactivate it.

  2. Rui
    December 7th, 2009 23:42
    19

    Thanx for the trick. It is right decision to turn off hibernation sice I not using it. and it cost 3 GB on my only 16GB SSD. and I can not turn it off by GUI. thanx a bunch man….

  3. Leishtek
    October 23rd, 2009 21:21
    18

    Hmmm, seems like you can’t use “sleep mode” once the hiberfil.sys file is deleted. I will confirm that, after the next reboot. Which is a shame, because 2+GB is a veeerryy big price to pay for convenience. Damn Micro$$$oft !!

  4. bg
    October 17th, 2009 07:51
    17

    thanks very helpful. my hibernation file in vista was 3.5GB, and I only have 3gb of ram, it added my vid card.

  5. Macio
    September 17th, 2009 16:05
    16

    On windows 7
    control panel>system and security>power options>change when the computer sleeps>put the computer to sleep>never

  6. Stas
    September 13th, 2009 20:14
    15

    Coll! Thanks, it was helpfull.

  7. AGB
    September 2nd, 2009 19:15
    14

    powercfg -H off

  8. Dan Partac
    August 14th, 2009 00:14
    13

    Thanks mate. Good day

  9. Welcome Folks « COMPUTING FOR EVERYONE-EVERYTHING
    July 31st, 2009 09:00
    12

    [...] this using the graphical user interface is available using the Disk Cleanup Wizard. See the writeup here for that if you absolutely refuse to use the command [...]

  10. Marie
    July 11th, 2009 23:42
    11

    You state that you you can not go into control panel to turn off hibernation mode? You say that option is no longer available?

    It is. I just did it.

  11. Kimple
    July 11th, 2009 00:39
    10

    Thank you for your tips. This one works in Windows 7 RC too.

  12. George
    July 9th, 2009 06:26
    9

    Cheers! Worked like a charm and took care of a problem that’s been bugging me for ages!

  13. DJBJ
    May 10th, 2009 01:36
    8

    Awesome… freed up 2GB… nicey!!!

    Thanks for the howto :D

  14. RtM
    April 28th, 2009 04:49
    7

    Thanks!

  15. Zig
    January 4th, 2009 23:22
    6

    Thank you for your tips. They’re helpful :)

  16. How to Enable and Turn On Hibernation Feature in Windows Vista « Sabit Ahmed Weblog
    August 5th, 2008 01:53
    5

    [...] to hibernate is enabled by default on every Windows Vista installation. If you have disable and turn off hibernation feature, accidentally delete hiberfil.sys using Hibernation File Cleaner of Disk Cleanup tool, or you just [...]

  17. lopamudra
    June 22nd, 2008 16:48
    4

    Thanx!!! thank you very much for this useful tip so now i have 1 more gb free in my hard drive
    My digital life forum ROXXX!!!!!
    Well i have some other questions also can i ask them??

  18. Alejandro
    April 14th, 2008 22:49
    3

    Thanx! This solution worked like a charm. Now I don’t have the annoying hiberfil.sys file using space in my hard drive.

  19. How to Delete and Remove hiberfil.sys Hibernation File in Windows XP and Vista » My Digital Life
    October 25th, 2007 00:11
    2

    [...] Power Options where it’s impossible to enable or disable Hibernation from GUI anymore. Visit guide to disable hibernation in Vista. Get help or contribute tips or tricks at My Digital Life [...]

  20. How to Enable and Turn On Hibernation Feature in Windows Vista » My Digital Life
    October 25th, 2007 00:06
    1

    [...] to hibernate is enabled by default on every Windows Vista installation. If you have disable and turn off hibernation feature, accidentally delete hiberfil.sys using Hibernation File Cleaner of Disk Cleanup tool, or you just [...]

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