How to Increase the Virtual Memory of Your Windows 10

It is likely that with the passage of time you notice that your Windows 10 computer no longer works with the speed and accuracy of the first few days. This is normal since, over time, the hardware requirements of both your operating system and the programs you use increase. If you have an up-to-date PC with a lot of RAM and an SSD (Solid State Drive) instead of a hard drive you probably have no problem, but users of older computers, especially laptops, can clearly see the periodic decline of their computer.

While there are many reasons why your device may slow down, often the main culprit is the lack of memory in the system. When this happens, applications may take several minutes to load and your computer may appear to be frozen and not react to your mouse clicks. To solve these problems, it is advisable to increase the virtual memory of your device.

PC Memory
PC Memory

In today's article we are going to talk about the Windows 10 virtual memory and how you can increase it to improve the speed and response time of your applications. We hope it helps you.

What is virtual memory?

We all know or have heard of our team's RAM, but very few of us know for sure what the virtual memory is.

To explain it in a simple way, your PC has two types of memory: the memory of your hard drive and RAM. The first is where you store your operating system, programs, video games and files while the second is where your device stores specific data for each program. The RAM therefore is responsible for managing any program that you have open or is in use on your computer and ensures that it works with the proper performance.

But ... what happens when the RAM is finished? That is when virtual memory comes into action.

The virtual memory is one that is used when more RAM is no longer available on your computer. This uses part of the memory of your hard drive to be able to expand the operation of your RAM. It is therefore a method to increase the performance of your equipment and so you can more efficiently manage the use of the programs.

However, virtual memory has a problem in relation to RAM: since it comes from your hard drive or SSD, it is much slower. That is why although virtual memory allows certain programs to function normally on your computer, they usually work with a lower performance.

What happens when there is little virtual memory available on your computer?

When your device runs out of virtual memory you receive the message “The system does not have enough virtual memory. Windows is increasing the size of the paged virtual memory file. During this process, memory requests from some applications may be denied.” In this type of case, Windows will try to increase the virtual memory of your PC automatically. By default, Windows will configure virtual memory in a way that is proportional to the amount of RAM you have installed.

If you see that the message does not disappear, you must increase the virtual memory of your device manually.

How to manually increase the virtual memory of your PC?

As we have advanced, you can increase the virtual memory of the device manually. Keep in mind that the paged file can only be at least 1.5 times the size of your RAM or at most three times larger than it. However, do not get carried away by the maximum numbers, as a huge paging file can be dangerous and make your system completely unstable.

To manually increase the virtual memory of your PC you must follow these steps:

First, access the Windows Control Panel and click on the "System" option. This will open a new window where you must click on “Advanced System Settings”, you will find this option in the left side menu of the screen.

Once in the System Properties, click on the "Advanced Options" tab and in the Performance section click on "Settings”.

This will open a new window where you must click on the "Advanced Options" tab and in the Virtual Memory section click on the "Change" button.

You will see how by default the option is activated so that Windows automatically manages the size of the paging file. Uncheck this box and click on the "Custom size" option, you will find it in the center of the window. Now the time has come for you to choose the maximum size you want your system to use for virtual memory.

Remember that at most you will be able to enter a size up to three times larger than your RAM. If you choose any higher number you will compromise the stability of your equipment as well as its operation in general.

Once you have decided on a maximum size, it is time to fill in the boxes of the custom size. As an initial size we recommend that you always enter the size that Windows is currently allocated for virtual memory. You can find this information in the lower part of the window. As for the maximum size, this is in your complete discretion, although remember that a very large size will be counterproductive for your team.

Once you have made all the necessary changes, click on the “Accept” button.

Are there other methods to increase your virtual memory in Windows 10?

It is normal that you do not like to change the virtual memory settings of your device for fear that it may stop working. There are other less dangerous options to increase the performance of Windows 10 and that your PC is able to load and run programs without causing them to fail. One of the simplest methods is to buy more RAM for your device and therefore increase the virtual memory of your computer.

Although at first the idea of acquiring more RAM is a nuisance, in the long run it is one of the most comfortable and safe options to ensure the proper functioning of your equipment. Think that as RAM increases, the volume of virtual memory used will decrease and you will see how there is a notable increase in the speed and performance of your PC and all its programs.

Is it advisable to change the virtual memory settings of your Windows 10 device?

Windows 10 manages your computer's virtual memory in a really efficient way, making sure to provide a balance between the stability of the operating system and the performance of its programs. While you can manually change the automatic system parameters, it is much more advisable to purchase an extra RAM for your device. And if you have a PC with enough years, your team will appreciate the change and you can enjoy much more speed for your operating system without worrying about possible failures due to a bad virtual memory configuration.

We hope this article will help you to know a little more how it works, how to change and how to increase virtual memory on a Windows 10 computer. Any questions you have on the subject, do not hesitate to share it with us in the comments section.