How to Enable and Configure Virtual Memory on Windows: The Complete Guide

When using your computer, you may encounter warning messages on screen such as “scratch disc full“, “memory or paging error“, or “virtual memory problem in Photoshop“. In these cases, your device may slow down considerably, causing open applications to freeze or even shut down without warning.

These problems occur when virtual memory—the disc space that extends RAM via the page file—is insufficient for all your tasks.

Very often, simply increasing virtual memory and configuring it correctly is enough to resolve the slowdown and allow you to continue using your PC without freezing.

In this guide, we shall explain how to enable and configure virtual memory on Windows 10 and 11, how to speed up your PC, how to avoid messages like “scratch discs full“, and how to better manage both RAM and page files.

Virtual Memory: What Is It? Why Is It So Important?

Virtual memory is the disc space that Windows uses when physical RAM is insufficient; it functions like a much slower extension of RAM, useful for preventing applications from crashing when physical memory runs out.

We can imagine RAM as the main river through which all active data flows, and virtual memory as a secondary channel that temporarily holds the overflow of information.

When RAM is nearly full, Windows frees up space by reducing the amount of active memory assigned to processes and moving less-used sections to the disc, through techniques such as paging, memory compression, working set trimming, and priority adjustment.

It should be emphasised that virtual memory does not improve computer speed: its sole purpose is to prevent the system from freezing or shutting down when available RAM is insufficient.

How Virtual Memory Works on Windows 10 and 11

Windows uses RAM as the primary working area, managing all processes and data. When RAM fills up, the system compresses some pages in memory, reduces the space allocated to less active processes, and moves infrequently used pages to the disc (pagefile.sys).

For optimal performance, Windows automatically calculates the ideal page file size based on requirements.

In this way, Windows 10 and 11 virtual memory functions as a genuine extension of RAM, making the system more stable and fluid, even when physical memory is limited, and you have considerable work to do.

When Should You Increase or Enable Virtual Memory?

Increasing or enabling virtual memory is useful if your computer is slow, freezes, or displays messages like “scratch discs full” on Windows 10/11, or when applications such as Photoshop report virtual memory problems.

Note: On Windows 11, memory management is more efficient than on Windows 10, but page file behaviour is similar in both versions.

It is essential to carry out these operations on PCs with limited physical memory (4 to 8 GB) or when using resource-intensive programmes for video creation or editing.

To address these scenarios, GEEKOM mini PCs are particularly useful: thanks to the ability to add RAM and their ultra-fast NVMe SSDs, they can handle many different situations, from everyday use to heavy workloads, reducing the typical slowdowns of older computers and making virtual memory management more effective.

How to Enable and Configure Virtual Memory on Windows 10 and 11

Now we shall show you how to enable and configure virtual memory on Windows 10 and 11. Remember that on Windows 11, the system manages the page file more autonomously, so you may not need to do anything, whilst on Windows 10, manual intervention is often recommended.

This will take you to the general performance options, where you can manage virtual memory on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

This allows you to manually set the page file size, useful for increasing virtual memory and avoiding errors such as “insufficient virtual memory”.

Note: On Windows 11, this operation is optional as the system manages virtual memory more efficiently on its own; however, on Windows 10, it is recommended to prevent slowdowns on computers with limited RAM.

Select the Drive and Define the Values

Choose the fastest available storage medium:

• NVMe SSD (page file on NVMe SSD) → provides the best speed
• SATA SSD (page file on SSD) → acceptable as a second choice
• HDD (Hard Disc Drive) → use only if you have no SSD available

Set the Windows virtual memory size based on how much RAM you have:

• Minimum = RAM × 1.5 (the recommended minimum virtual memory)
• Maximum = RAM × 3 (the recommended maximum virtual memory)

For example: If you have 8 GB of RAM → set the minimum to 12 GB and the maximum to 24 GB.

These are merely guidelines: the correct amount of virtual memory varies depending on how you use your PC and how much free disc space you have.

Note: The same rules apply to Windows 10 and 11, though the newer version manages virtual memory better if you have sufficient RAM (8 GB or more), making the action less essential on Windows 10 or when memory is scarce.

• Apply and Restart
• Press Set → then OK → and finally Restart the computer.
• Now Windows will use pagefile.sys in the best way, making everything more stable and faster, even when you are multitasking or using programmes that consume a great deal of virtual memory.

Additional tip: Always keep at least 10–20% of the disc space free on the drive you have chosen, to avoid ending up with full scratch discs, which causes virtual memory errors or slowdowns.

After making these changes, your PC will be more reliable and faster, making the most of both RAM and virtual memory, even with demanding programmes such as Photoshop.

Advanced Tips to Improve Virtual Memory

It is essential to keep at least as much free space as the page file size you have set, plus approximately 20%, because when space runs out, Windows struggles to manage the page file correctly, causing problems such as full scratch discs, slowdowns, and potential errors.

It is preferable to use an SSD for virtual memory, as an HDD—which uses rotating magnetic platters and mechanical heads to read and write data—can be up to thirty times slower.

Take care not to set excessive values: sizes of 30–40 GB can cause wasted space, degraded performance, and greater fragmentation on HDDs.

To get the best performance, it is useful to enable the High Performance profile by going to Control Panel → Power Options → High Performance.

Finally, it is very important to close programmes that you are not actively using, such as Chrome, Spotify, Discord, WhatsApp Desktop, or Teams. Many of these continue to use RAM even when minimised or running in the background, which can increase the risk of virtual memory crashes or slowdowns during multitasking.

PCs with Limited RAM: Practical Advice

If your PC has 4 GB or 8 GB of RAM, configuring virtual memory helps, but it does not work miracles. You can improve the situation as follows:

• Limit applications that start automatically
• Use lighter browsers
• Avoid opening many programmes simultaneously
• Maintain free space on the disc
• Consider a RAM upgrade, if possible

If your computer is dated or not expandable, consider models that have 16 or 32 GB of RAM, ideal for ensuring smooth multitasking even with Windows 11.

When Is It Worth Replacing Your PC Rather Than Increasing Virtual Memory?

Optimising Windows virtual memory settings does not always suffice. If your PC is very old, even with a perfect page file configuration, you cannot overcome the physical limitations of the hardware.

In such cases, purchasing a new computer may be more sensible than making only partial upgrades.

A new device guarantees higher performance, greater reliability, and allows you to benefit from the latest technologies and features available on the market.

Opting to purchase a GEEKOM mini PC represents an excellent solution, offering numerous advantages, such as:

• Expandable memory up to 32 or 64 GB, ideal for multitasking and demanding programmes
• Fast NVMe SSDs, perfect for managing virtual memory optimally
• Modern, quiet CPUs, suitable for both work and gaming
• Compact dimensions and low power consumption, to optimise space
• Optimal cost-to-performance ratio compared to maintaining or upgrading dated systems

For those who desire a high-performing, cutting-edge machine, these mini PCs offer an immediate quality leap that lasts over time.

Conclusion

Windows virtual memory is a fundamental tool for keeping your PC stable and fast. Configuring it correctly allows you to avoid slowdowns, virtual memory crashes, and problems such as full scratch discs.

If, after all these measures, your PC continues to struggle, it may be time to consider a more efficient solution, especially if you use professional software, manage large amounts of data, or frequently multitask.

Compact and powerful mini PCs with NVMe SSDs and fast RAM are ideal for Windows 11, and for handling demanding workloads, making the most of the page file and virtual memory.

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