How To Guide

How to increase virtual memory in Windows 11 and 10 (A Quick Guide)

Virtual memory a combination computer's physical RAM with temporary space on hard disk. Here how to customize or Adjust Virtual Memory windows 10

Steve Ballmer

November 5, 2025 Modified date: January 19, 2026

Virtual memory is a memory management technique used by operating systems to extend the available memory by combining physical RAM with space on a hard drive or SSD. Windows 10 and Windows 11 automatically manage virtual memory for most users, but in some situations, you may want to manually adjust the page file size. For example, when you see “Your computer is low on memory” warnings, frequent app crashes, or you run heavy programs that need more memory. Here is how to manually Adjust Virtual memory for Windows computers.

Contents

1 What Is Virtual Memory in Windows?
2 When Should You Change Virtual Memory (Page File) Size?

What Is Virtual Memory in Windows?

Your computer has two main types of memory:

RAM (Random Access Memory) – fast, temporary working memory used for running apps, programs, and system processes.
Storage (HDD/SSD) – long‑term storage for Windows, apps, games, documents, photos, and more.

Virtual memory is a feature in Windows where the system uses part of your hard drive or SSD as an extension of RAM. This area on the disk is called the:

Paging file
Page file
pagefile.sys

Diagram Virtual Memory and Page File Concept When your RAM is not enough to handle all running tasks, Windows moves some inactive data from RAM → page file (designated area on the disk). This frees up RAM for the apps you’re actively using and helps prevent:

System slowdowns
Freezes and “low memory” warnings
App crashes and, in some cases, Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors

Virtual memory relies on hardware (such as the Memory Management Unit, or MMU) and software (the OS) to translate virtual addresses used by programs into physical memory addresses. For details on virtual memory vs RAM vs page file, see: What Is Virtual Memory (Page File) in Windows?

When Should You Change Virtual Memory (Page File) Size?

In most cases, you can leave virtual memory settings on the default “Automatically manage paging file size for all drives,” and Windows will handle it.

However, you may want to adjust the page file size manually if:

You frequently see “Your computer is low on memory” messages.
Apps or games crash or close unexpectedly due to memory errors.
You run heavy programs (video editors, virtual machines, large games, 3D software).

You’re troubleshooting performance issues or BSODs related to memory.
You want to follow specific recommendations from software or IT support.

Note: Incorrectly setting the page file too small or disabling it completely can cause instability and crashes. If you’re not sure, it’s safer to leave it on Automatic.

How to Adjust Virtual Memory in Windows 10 and Windows 11

You can change virtual memory (paging file) settings from the System Properties and Performance Options windows. The steps below work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Step 1: Open System Properties

Press Win + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog.
Type sysdm.cpl and press Enter or click OK.
The System Properties window will open.

(Alternatively, you can right‑click This PC → Properties → Advanced system settings.)

Step 2: Open Performance Options

In the System Properties window, go to the Advanced tab.

Under the Performance section, click the Settings… button.
This opens the Performance Options window.

Step 3: Open Virtual Memory Settings

In the Performance Options window, click the Advanced tab.
Under Virtual memory, click the Change… button.
The Virtual Memory window will appear.

Here you’ll see the paging file size for each drive and whether Windows is managing it automatically.

Change Virtual Memory (Page File) Size Manually

Important: For most users, it’s recommended to keep “Automatically manage paging file size for all drives” enabled. Only change these settings if you understand the risks or are following support guidance.

To manually set the paging file size:

In the Virtual Memory window, uncheck the box “Automatically manage paging file size for all drives” at the top.

Under Drive [Volume Label], select the drive where you want to configure the page file (usually C:).
Select the Custom size option.
Enter values (in MB) for:
- Initial size (MB)
- Maximum size (MB)
Click Set.
Click OK, then Apply, and OK again on all open dialogs.

Windows will prompt: “You must restart your computer to apply these changes.” Click Restart now or restart later.

Once your PC restarts, Windows will use the new virtual memory (page file) settings.

How to Calculate Recommended Page File Size

A common question is: “What should I set my virtual memory size to?”

Microsoft’s traditional guideline and many IT admins recommend roughly:

Initial size (MB): 1.0 to 1.5 × the amount of RAM
Maximum size (MB): up to 3 × the amount of RAM

Example: 4 GB of RAM
If your computer has 4 GB of RAM:

1 GB = 1,024 MB
4 GB = 4 × 1,024 = 4,096 MB

Using the 1.5× rule for initial size:

Initial size: 1.5 × 4,096 ≈ 6,144 MB
Maximum size: 3 × 4,096 ≈ 12,288 MB

You can adjust these numbers slightly based on your needs, but avoid setting the values too low, as that can cause memory errors and crashes.

Tip: If you’re unsure, use the value Windows shows as “Recommended” at the bottom of the Virtual Memory window, or simply keep Automatic management enabled.

Best Practices and Warnings

Before you make changes to virtual memory in Windows 10 or 11, keep these points in mind:

Don’t disable the page file unless you have a very specific reason and plenty of RAM. Disabling it can cause “Out of memory” errors and application crashes.
If possible, keep the page file on a fast SSD rather than a slow hard drive (HDD) for better performance.
Avoid setting the initial size and maximum size too far apart, as frequent resizing can fragment the file and impact performance.

After changing settings, monitor your system for a few days to ensure it’s stable and not reporting new memory errors.

To summarize:

For most users, it is best to let Windows 10 or Windows 11 automatically manage virtual memory.
Manually adjusting the page file can help in cases of persistent memory errors, heavy professional workloads, or specific troubleshooting.

Increasing virtual memory can prevent crashes when RAM runs out, but it does not replace a real RAM upgrade. If your PC is often slow due to low memory, adding more physical RAM is the best long‑term solution.

Frequently Asked Questions

1: Why should I increase virtual memory in Windows 10 or Windows 11?
You may want to increase virtual memory if you often see “Your computer is low on memory” warnings, apps crash under heavy load, or you run programs that use more RAM than your system has. A larger page file can help Windows handle memory spikes more smoothly.

2: Is it safe to manually change the paging file size in Windows?
Yes, it’s generally safe if you stay within recommended limits and don’t disable the page file completely. Avoid setting virtual memory too low, as this can cause out‑of‑memory errors, app crashes, and system instability.

3: What is the recommended virtual memory size for Windows 10/11?
A common recommendation is to set the initial size to about 1–1.5× your RAM (in MB) and the maximum size up to 3× your RAM. You can also use the value shown as “Recommended” in the Virtual Memory window if you’re unsure.

4: Will increasing virtual memory make my PC faster?
Increasing virtual memory can reduce crashes and low‑memory errors, but it does not make your PC as fast as adding more RAM. The page file uses your hard drive or SSD, which is much slower than physical RAM.

5: Can I disable the page file if I have a lot of RAM?
Even with a lot of RAM, disabling the page file is not recommended. Some apps and system features expect a paging file to exist, and removing it can cause unexpected errors, crashes, or prevent Windows from creating memory dump files after a BSOD.