How to increase virtual memory (page file) in Windows 11

If you notice some lag when running high-end applications or games, it may be that the RAM/memory is running full. This is where you increase the virtual memory or page file size in Windows 11.

Virtual memory or page file is one of the most misunderstood concepts and there are many myths surrounding it. No matter what anyone else says or does, it's important to thoroughly understand how to get the best performance from your computer.

In the following sections, we'll walk you through the steps to increase virtual memory in Windows 11, helping you understand its importance and the optimal virtual memory size.

Why do we need virtual memory?

Page file or virtual memory is basically the part of the hard drive that is used as RAM. This becomes useful when the memory is full and cannot store more data.

To understand it better, let us take an example. Let's say you have 4 GB of memory available on your computer, and you're running a program that requires more than that. In this case, many of these programs will crash without virtual memory.

Even if you have enough RAM, it doesn't hurt to allocate specific space on your storage drive to the page file. Because it's better to have virtual memory and not use it than not have it at all.

Also, it is important to mention here that Windows can handle virtual memory or page file itself. However, if you are experiencing freezing or lag issues in Windows 11, increasing it manually may help.

What is the ideal virtual memory size for Windows 11?

Everyone uses their computer differently, and likewise, the optimal size of virtual memory will be different. While some people run video editing applications or play resource-intensive games, others may use their computers for relatively light tasks.

A good virtual memory size will not be the same for these two types of users. While the former requires higher virtual memory, the latter may be minimally better.

Microsoft recommends that you keep the size of your virtual memory between 1.5 and 3 times the RAM available on your computer. So, to set or increase the page file, you first need to check the RAM on your Windows 11 system.

Available Memory in Windows 11

After checking the available RAM, you can easily set up virtual memory or page file in Windows 11. For example, assuming the available memory is 4 GB, the minimum virtual memory to set is 4 x 1.5 = 6GB and the maximum is 4 x 3 = 12 GB.

Also, by default, the page file is stored on the system drive, which is where Windows is stored, but you can change that.

So if you have configured your settings to make both protected operating system files and hidden items visible, there will be a pagefile.sys entry in your C: drive.

C:Page File in Drive

Now that you know the optimal virtual memory size, let us help you learn how to increase it in Windows 11 Virtual Memory.

How to increase virtual memory in Windows 11?

1. Press Windows S to launch the search menu, enter in the text field at the top to view advanced system settings, then click the related search that appears result.
2. In the Advanced tab, click the Settings button under Performance.
3. Navigate to the Advanced tab in the Performance Options window.
4. Next, click Change under Virtual memory.
5. Uncheck the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives checkbox.
6. If Windows was previously managing virtual memory, it is best to clear the previously set value and then increase it. To do this, click List System managed drives, select No paging file, and click Set.
7. Click Yes in the pop-up confirmation prompt.
8. Now, select a drive or partition from the list, select the Custom size option and enter under the Initial size and Maximum size fields The same value, in MB (1GB=1024MB), takes the hint from the previous section.
9. When finished, click Settings and click OK at the bottom to save changes.
10. Next, restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

You now know how to increase virtual memory or page file size in Windows 11 and can use it to improve system performance.

However, keep in mind that while virtual memory works the same as available RAM, it's definitely not as fast. Read the next section to learn all about it.

Which is faster, RAM or virtual memory?

RAM is much faster than virtual memory, so the latter only occurs when the former is full.

To understand it better, let us take an example. Suppose you have multiple programs running on your system, some of which are minimized, and you haven't checked them for a while.

When you open the program, it takes longer to load, thus indicating that the operating system moved it to virtual memory to free up space on RAM.

Additionally, RAM is relatively expensive and must be increased by adding more chips. On the other hand, virtual memory can be increased easily since it is located on the storage drive. So if you have free storage space, increasing virtual memory shouldn't be a problem.

Due to speed limitations of virtual memory or page file, it is always recommended to store it on the fastest drive possible. For example, if you have both an HDD and an SSD, it is better to store the page file on the SSD because the data is processed faster.

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