Hibernate - Enable or Disable

How to Enable or Disable Hibernate in Windows 7 and Windows 8​

   Information

Hibernation is a power-saving state designed primarily for laptops. While sleep puts your work and settings in memory and draws a small amount of power, hibernation puts your open documents and programs on your hard disk, and then turns off your computer. Of all the power-saving states in Windows, hibernation uses the least amount of power. On a laptop, use hibernation when you know that you won't use your laptop for an extended period and won't have an opportunity to charge the battery during that time.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable hibernate and restore or delete the hiberfil.sys file in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

When hibernate is disabled, the Hibernate option is missing from the Start Menu (Windows 7 only), Shut Down Windows dialog, Power menu (Windows 8 only) and the Advanced Power Plan Options.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   Note

• By default, the size of the hidden protected OS hibernation file (C:\hiberfil.sys) is 75% of the total amount of installed RAM on your computer.
• In Windows 7, you can set your computer to either use or not use the Hybrid or Hibernate sleep mode option from the Advanced Power Plan Options.
• In Windows 7, you will only see Hibernate listed in the Start Menu power button arrow menu if you have Hybrid turned off in the Advanced Power Plan Options.
• Windows 8/8.1 PCs with InstantGo don't have the hibernate option
• If you disable hibernate in Windows 8 and 8.1, then it will also disable fast startup.

:note: For Windows 10 instructions please see the following link - Hibernate - Enable or Disable in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Tutorials

CONTENTS:

• Option One: Enable or Disable Hibernate in Elevated Command Prompt
• Option Two: Enable or Disable Hibernate using a REG File Download
• Option Three: Enable or Disable Hibernate in Registry Editor
• Option Four: To Turn On or Off Hibernate in Advanced Power Options

OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable Hibernate in Elevated Command Prompt

1. Open an elevated command prompt.

2. Do step 3 or step 4 below for what you would like to do.

3. To Enable Hibernate
NOTE: This step will restore the hiberfil.sys file, and the Allow hybrid sleep and Hibernate after Power Options under Sleep.
A) In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
powercfg -h on



C) If you would also like to have hibernate turned on, then you will also need do to step 2 in OPTION FOUR below.

D) If you like, you may also wish to add or remove Hibernate from power menus.

E) Go to step 5 below.
4. To Disable Hibernate
NOTE: This step will disable hibernation, delete the hiberfil.sys file, and remove the Allow hybrid sleep and Hibernate after Power Options under Sleep. This will also disable fast startup in Windows 8.
A)In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
powercfg -h off



B) Check your Power Options to make sure that the Critical battery action and Low battery action settings under Battery are not set to Hibernate, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)

5. You can now close the elevated command prompt if you like.

OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable Hibernate using a REG File Download

1. To Enable Hibernate
NOTE: This step will restore the hiberfil.sys file, and the Allow hybrid sleep and Hibernate after Power Options under Sleep.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
Enable_Hibernate.reg


Download


2. To Disable Hibernate
NOTE: This step will disable hibernation, delete the hiberfil.sys file, and remove the Allow hybrid sleep and Hibernate after Power Options under Sleep. This will also disable fast startup in Windows 8.
A) Check your Power Options to make sure that the Critical battery action and Low battery action settings under Battery are not set to Hibernate. (see screenshot below)

B) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
Disable_Hibernate.reg

Download


3. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

4. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

5. Click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted to approve the merge.

6. Restart the computer to apply the changes.

7. If you would also like to have hibernate turned on, then you will also need do to step 2 in OPTION FOUR below.

8. If you like, you may also wish to add or remove Hibernate from power menus.

9. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

OPTION THREE

Enable or Disable Hibernate in Registry Editor

1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and click/tap on OK.

2. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power


3. In the right pane of the Power key, double click/tap on HibernateEnabled, and do step 4 or 5 below for what you would like to do. (see screenshot above)

4. To Enable Hibernate
NOTE: This step will restore the hiberfil.sys file, and the Allow hybrid sleep and Hibernate after Power Options under Sleep.
A) Type in 1, click/tap on OK, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)

5. To Disable Hibernate
NOTE: This step will disable hibernation, delete the hiberfil.sys file, and remove the Allow hybrid sleep and Hibernate after Power Options under Sleep. This will also disable fast startup in Windows 8.
A) Type in 0 (zero), and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot above)

B) Check your Power Options to make sure that the Critical battery action and Low battery action settings under Battery are not set to Hibernate, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)

6. Close regedit, and restart the computer to apply the changes.

7. If you would also like to have hibernate turned on, then you will also need do to step 2 in OPTION FOUR below.

8. If you like, you may also wish to add or remove Hibernate from power menus.

OPTION FOUR

To Turn Hibernate On or Off in Advanced Power Options

NOTE: This option does not disable hibernate, but only turns it on or off for your power plan.
1. Do either step 2 or step 3 below for what you would like to do.

2. To Turn On Hibernate
NOTE: You could also use a hibernate shortcut to manually put the computer into hibernation instead or in addition to this option.
A) If you have not already, then you will need to enable hibernate using either OPTION ONE, OPTION TWO, or OPTION THREE above first.

B) Open the Advanced Power Plan Settings for your power plan, then expand Sleep. (see screenshot below step 4)

C) Under Hibernate after, set the Setting (Minutes) to how many minutes you want your computer to sit idle for before it goes into hibernation. (see screenshot step 4)

D) Go to step 4.
3. To Turn Off Hibernate
NOTE: If you disabled hibernate using OPTION 1, 2, or 3 above, then there's no need to do this since Hibernate after and Allow hybrid sleep will no longer be listed in your power options.
A) Open the Advanced Power Plan Settings for your power plan, and expand Sleep. (see screenshot below step 4)
B) Under Hibernate after, set the Setting (Minutes) to Never. (see screenshot below step 4)

C) Under Allow hybrid sleep, set Setting to Off. (see screenshot below step 4)

D) Go to step 4.
4. When finished, click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Enable or Disable Hibernate in "Windows To Go" Workspace
• How to Add or Remove "Hibernate after" in Power Options in Windows
• How to Change the Default Action of Alt+F4 Shut Down Window in Windows 7
• How to Change Default Action of Alt+F4 "Shut Down Windows" Dialog in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Change the Power Plan Settings in Windows 7
• How to Open and Use Disk Cleanup in Windows 7
• How to Run a Windows 7 Power Efficiency Diagnostics Report
• How to Enable or Disable Require Password on Wakeup in Windows 7
• How to Create a Hibernate Shortcut in Windows
• How to Change the Return to Sleep Timeout for a Unattended Wake Up in Windows 7
• How to Free Up and Recover Hard Drive Space in Windows 7
• How to Change the Default Windows 7 Start Menu Power Button Action
• How to Add or Remove the Shut Down, Restart, Sleep, and Hibernate Commands in Windows 7
• How to Add or Remove Power Button on Start Screen in Windows 8.1 Update
• How to See Available Sleep States on Your System in Windows 7
• How to See Available Sleep States on Your Windows 8 PC
• How to Change the Size of the hiberfil.sys File in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Add or Remove "Sleep" or "Hibernate" from the Power Options Menu in Windows 8
• Add or Remove Shutdown Power Menu from Sign in Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[Dinesh]

Nice tutorial Shawn but just in case hibernation option is not present even after typing this command, then just go to power options n click on Change advanced power settings, then expand Sleep n disable Allow hybrid sleep n expand Power buttons n lid, change the power button action to hibernate.

 

[Brink]

Hi Dinesh,

This was to just simply enable or disable hibernation, but you make a good point to include doing so in the Power Plan settings as well. The tutorial has been updated to include that as well.

Thank you,
Shawn

 

[Dinesh]

Anytime Shawn.

 

[vindows]

Ya I would better prefer by setting up my Power Plan.

 

[Brink]

It's unanimous then.

 

[Airbot]

Hi Shawn,

The option isn't available in Disk Cleanup anymore, at least with the current build I'm running.

 

[limneos]

Hi Shawn,

The option isn't available in Disk Cleanup anymore, at least with the current build I'm running.

Hey Aaron...
Do you already have hibernation enabled?

 

[Airbot]

No, why? Is it only supposed to show up with it enabled? Cuz I always have it disabled in other builds and had the option in Disk Cleanup. I enabled it to see, still not there. I'm using build 7048 x64. I don't need to use it, just reporting that the option's not there.

 

[limneos]

Yes, after several tests, enabling it, hibernating, resuming back, I can confirm the option is not there in 7048, however it's always there in 7000. I guess the new build either deletes automatically the temp file used, or it does not include this feature in disk cleanup.

I think I read somewhere about it..

Will post the link when I find it.

 

[Brink]

Thank you Aaron and Limneos.

I do not have it availale in my 7048 build either anymore. I placed a warning for now until the next version comes out to see if it returns or not.

 

[Airbot]

You're welcome Shawn and cheers on your 1900th post.

 

[Brink]

Wow, adding up already.

 

[x3haloed]

Thanks for the tip! I knew I deleted this file through the disk cleanup utility with the beta, but I couldn't figure it out in the RC.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome x3haloed.

Yeah, they removed this from Disk Cleanup recently from a few builds back. When turned off in Power Options, it now disables it automatically now. Much better.

 

[nate42nd]

I have turned off hibernate with method 2 through power options yet I still have a giant hiberfil.sys file. Why is this? Do I need to delete it or do both methods? I have never used hibernation and never plan to do so.

 

[Brink]

Hi Nate,

See if also under Allow hybrid sleep, setting Setting to Off removes the file. If not, then METHOD ONE should.

 

[nate42nd]

Thanks Brink, I tried method 1 and it disappeared. I guess that's the easy way. Thanks. I'm down to about a 7GB Windows 7 installation that's blazing fast. haha

I'm loving this SSD. I think you inspired me to get one. haha

These things are so darn sweet!

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Nate. Yeah, these SSd drives are pretty nice. I can't wait until I replace my older generation SSD with the newer and much faster generation.

 

[dek]

I was looking for a way to delete the hibernation file since i dont use hibernation and i look at it as wasted space, and even after disabling and turning it off under the power plan the file did not get deleted until i used the powercfg -h off.


cheers