Although its operation may seem complex, its importance is undeniable, and understanding its role will allow you to get the most out of your Windows PC and enjoy a smoother and more efficient experience.
Windows 11 is an operating system that, as you well know, is packed with features, hidden functions , and system files that work tirelessly in the background to give you a smooth and efficient user experience.
Among all the options, one of the most well-known and useful is virtual memory , a crucial tool for your computer’s performance that, although not always visible, plays a fundamental role in how your PC handles multiple tasks at the same time .
This is a concept that may sound a bit technical, but it’s actually quite simple to understand. It’s a technology that expands the capacity of RAM by using a portion of the HDD or SSD hard drive .
Imagine when you open many applications at once or work with heavy programs, such as Photoshop or a video editing program, the RAM can fill up quickly. This is when virtual memory comes into play to prevent the system from running out of resources .
One of the biggest benefits is that it allows you to maximize the use of your system without having to upgrade RAM . If a program crashes or consumes more memory than it should, Windows can handle it, preventing other programs from being affected.
How to manage virtual memory in Windows 11
While Windows 11 automatically adjusts virtual memory based on your system’s needs, in some cases, you may want to manually configure it to optimize performance, especially if you experience significant drops in your PC’s speed .
Below we explain two methods to do so, which is from Windows Settings and through the Terminal, in both cases you must follow each of the steps to the letter.
- The easiest way to manage virtual memory is through Windows Settings. To do this, open the Start menu and select Settings , then go to System and select About .
- Now, under Related links , click on Advanced system settings . This will take you to a new window.
- Under the Advanced tab , you’ll find an option called Performance . Click on Settings to access the options. Once inside Performance Options , under the Virtual Memory section , click on Change .
- Uncheck the box that says Automatically manage paging file size for all drives .
- Next, select the disk drive you want to borrow memory from and choose Custom Size . Here, you can enter your desired values. A common recommendation is to set the initial size equal to the size of your RAM and the maximum size to double that.
- Once you have configured the settings, click OK and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
- If you prefer a more technical approach, you can use the Windows Terminal or Command Prompt to adjust virtual memory. This method allows you to have more precise control over the settings.
- Open the Start menu , type Command Prompt , right-click and select Run as administrator . To view current paging and virtual memory details, run the following command: wmic pagefile list /format:list .
- Here, you’ll see the value of AllocatedBaseSize , which is the current amount of virtual memory in megabytes. If you want to change the setting from automatic to manual, run the following command: wmic computersystem where name=”%computername%” set AutomaticManagedPagefile=false .
- Now, you can manually set the initial and maximum sizes of virtual memory using the following command: wmic pagefileset where name=”C:\\pagefile.sys” set InitialSize=YOUR-INIT-SIZE,MaximumSize=YOUR-MAX-SIZE .
- Make sure to replace YOUR-INIT-SIZE and YOUR-MAX-SIZE with the desired values in megabytes, for example, MaximumSize=4800 . Finally, restart your computer to apply the changes.
Virtual memory is a powerful tool in Windows 11 that, when configured correctly, can significantly improve your computer’s performance. By understanding how it works and how to manage it, you can get the most out of it .
Whether you choose to manage it through Windows Settings or by using the Terminal, adjusting these settings will help you maintain a proper balance between physical and virtual memory and ensure a smoother and more efficient user experience.