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

 

[juniperz]

Pronlems with Hibernation

EDIT: NOW SOLVED IT MYSELF

Thanks for the great tutorials.

I have enabled hibernation using the instructions here, but hibernation is not working properly for me on a desktop with Win7 64 bit and 4GB RAM. I have tried from the Start Menu, from setting the Power Button to that function and from the desktop shortcut described in these tutorials.

I use hibernation all the time on my work laptop (ThinkPAd T60 XP SP3) and frequently on a ThinkPad X60s with Win7 64bit, though there it is probably setup by the Lenovo ThinkVantage power management software.

This is what happens on the desktop - I select hibernation from one of the 3 methods mentioned above, the screen dims, the HDD light is active for a while, the power goes off. Then a few seconds later, it wakes up, shows the Intel BIOS splash screen for a couple of seconds, then just goes to the Windows logon screen. So basically hibernates for a few seconds, but no more!

Any ideas please?

EDITs:
I already have "allow wake timers" set to Disable
Have disabled Wake on LAN in Device Manager for the NIC (and checked the mouse too).
CMD powercfg -a says that S1 and S3 are available.
CMD powercfg -devicequery wake_armed - yay - it was the HID USB Keyboard of all things!!

Thanks for http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/63567-power-options-sleep-mode-problems.html too

 

[jigar80patel]

I want to free up my hard disk by removing hiberfil.sys. can it be possible by disabling hibernation?
reply.

 

[Brink]

Hello Jigar, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Yes, by disabling hibernate using OPTION ONE you will also delete the hiberfil.sys file.

 

[jigar80patel]

Thank you

Thanks for reply.
i will try it and confirm.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome.

 

[aetius]

Solution found

I found this solution, and it worked for me!!!

I installed suse linux. I used hibernation several time successfully, as always, then at some point it stopped working

this solved!
(in few words, set the windows 7 system partition to active)

http://social.technet.microsoft.com...777e55f/#13bd36c3-262b-4861-803d-091be44eb41d

 

[wguru]

details for W7Pro classic view?

Maybe it's my build (Version 6.1.7600 Build 7600) or maybe it's my use of classic view, I dunno, but the tutorial steps seem to need some revision or additions...

1. Open a Elevated Command Prompt.
2. In the elevated command prompt, type "powercfg -h off" and press 'Enter' (it will then read "C:Windows\System32>"), then to then to properly close the command box, type "exit" and click 'enter'.
3. Open Power Options to change the advanced power
settings, and expand both 'Sleep' and 'Hibernate'
"after" expandables.
4. Under 'Hibernate after', set the Setting (Minutes)
to "Never".
5. Under 'Allow hybrid sleep', set Setting to "Off".
6. Click on 'Apply' and then 'OK'.
7. Close the elevated command prompt (type "exit").

 

[Brink]

Hello Wguru,

I'm not sure what you mean. Closing the command pompt window would be the same as typing exit in the command prompt and pressing enter. When you click on OK, the changes are automatically applied so there it no need to have to click on Apply then OK. Either way will work, but your additions would add unneeded steps.

 

[wguru]

I dunno much about command/elevated command window use. Your means of closing a command window may also be correct and while I appreciate the feedback, what with the few times I ever use commands (as most do), I think I'll continue following procedural methodology (just to be on the safe side). Again great article, too bad these are necessary (what with MS's propensity to include so much bloatware and yet little to no details, ie; prevalent lack of hover tips, minimal usefulness in their "what's this", lack of substancial "help" menues, etc.).

 

[Brink]

Yeah, it's perfectly safe to use either method of closing a command prompt. It's just a matter of preference.

While Microsoft has greatly improved on the help menus from previous OS's, I do agree with you that they need better/more pop-up descriptions that are easy for anyone to understand regardless of skill level.

 

[antares]

Yes, by disabling hibernate using OPTION ONE you will also delete the hiberfil.sys file.

If I choose eiher option 1 or 2, I understand that the hiperfil.sys file will be deleted. If after doing so I want to restore the Hibernate function, will I be able to do it without that file? If so, how? Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello Antares,

Whenever you enable hibernate the hiberfil.sys file it will automatically be recreated. Hibernate cannot function without it since that is where everything is stored at on the HDD when the computer goes into hibernation.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[antares]

Thanks Shawn

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[antares]

Shawn, I used option 2 and now I have 1.5Gb more free space, but when I go to step 4 there's no "Hibernate after" option, I only see "Sleep after" and "Allow wake timers", so I'm unable to proceed with steps 4 through 7. So now if I ever want to re enable hibernation, how do I proceed? Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Antares,

That would be correct. When you disable hibernat in the command prompt in OPTION TWO, it also removes the Allow hybrid sleep and Hibernate after power options.

You would just need to use OPTION ONE to enable hiberate again, and to get these power options back.

 

[stanley]

Hi I was wondering if there is a quick way(like a shortcut or something)to disable hibernate and sleep.This could be usefull to me when i have to let it do a job and there is not an option like"dont allow hibernation"or sleep.
Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hello Stanley, and welcome to Seven Forums.

I suppose the easiest way to do this would be to set the settings in another power plan than you are using now to have sleep and hibernate turned off. This way you will have your current power plan with sleep and hibernate turned on, and another one with sleep and hibernate turned off. Next, create a shortcut for each power plan using the tutorial below so that you can click on the shortcut to switch between using the power plan you want at will. These shortcuts can also be pinned to the taskbar to make using them even easier.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/21990-power-plan-create-shortcut-change-power-plan.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[stanley]

Hi Shawn.
Good idea.I customized a balanced Power plan letting display to go off and sleep -hibernation turned off.I dont even have to create a shortcut cause i can change the plan from the Tray icon.It was very helpfull.Thank you for the tip and congratulation for the great Tutorials.
Stathis.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Stathis. Thank you.