If Windows shows a “Your system is low on virtual memory” warning, your computer may not have enough available memory for the programs you are running.
This problem can occur when physical RAM is heavily used, the Windows paging file is too small, the paging file has been disabled, or your system drive does not have enough free space.
The good news is that you can usually fix the problem without installing third-party software.
In this guide, you will learn what virtual memory is, why Windows reports low virtual memory, and how to fix low virtual memory in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Table of Contents
- What Is Virtual Memory?
- What Does “Low Virtual Memory” Mean?
- Why Does Windows Run Out of Virtual Memory?
- How to Fix Low Virtual Memory in Windows 11
- How to Manually Increase Virtual Memory
- Check Your RAM Usage
- Close Programs You Are Not Using
- Restart Your Computer
- Check Available Storage Space
- Find Programs That Keep Using Memory
- Check Startup Applications
- Make Sure Windows Is Updated
- Scan for Malware
- Consider Adding More RAM
- Should You Disable Virtual Memory?
- Should You Increase Virtual Memory if You Have Plenty of RAM?
- Low Virtual Memory vs. Low RAM
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
What Is Virtual Memory?
Virtual memory is a part of your computer's storage drive that Windows uses as additional memory when physical RAM is not enough.
Windows normally manages this through a paging file, also known as pagefile.sys.
For example, if your computer has 8 GB of RAM and you open several memory-intensive programs, Windows may move some less-active data from RAM to the paging file on your SSD or hard drive.
Virtual memory is much slower than physical RAM, but it helps Windows continue working when available RAM becomes limited.
If you want to check how much RAM is installed in your computer, see our guide on how to check system information in Windows.
What Does “Low Virtual Memory” Mean?
The warning means Windows is running short of available memory resources.
You may see a message similar to:
Your system is low on virtual memory. To ensure that Windows runs properly, increase the size of your virtual memory.
Common symptoms include:
- Programs becoming slow or unresponsive
- Windows freezing temporarily
- Applications closing unexpectedly
- High disk usage
- Slow switching between programs
- “Out of memory” errors
- Problems when opening several programs at the same time
However, the warning does not always mean that you simply need a larger paging file. High RAM usage, a memory leak, or a nearly full system drive can also contribute to the problem.
Why Does Windows Run Out of Virtual Memory?
Several problems can cause low virtual memory in Windows 10 or Windows 11.
1. Too Many Programs Are Running
Every running application uses system memory. Running many programs at the same time can consume most of your available RAM.
2. A Program Uses Too Much Memory
Some applications can consume large amounts of RAM. Web browsers with many tabs, video-editing software, games, virtual machines, and other demanding applications are common examples.
3. The Paging File Is Too Small
If Windows has been configured to use a very small paging file, it may not have enough virtual memory available when physical RAM becomes heavily used.
4. The Paging File Is Disabled
If the paging file has been manually disabled, Windows has fewer memory resources available when physical RAM becomes exhausted.
5. The System Drive Is Nearly Full
The paging file is normally stored on the Windows system drive. If that drive has very little free space, Windows may have difficulty expanding the paging file when required.
If your storage drive is nearly full, our guide on how to remove junk files from your computer can help you recover storage space.
6. A Memory Leak
A poorly written or malfunctioning program can continue consuming RAM without releasing it properly.
If memory usage keeps increasing while a particular application is running, that application may be responsible.
How to Fix Low Virtual Memory in Windows 11
The first thing you should do is allow Windows to manage the paging file automatically.
Step 1: Open Advanced System Settings
Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
Type:
sysdm.cpl
Press Enter.
The System Properties window will open.
Step 2: Open Performance Settings
Select the Advanced tab.
Under Performance, click Settings.
Step 3: Open Virtual Memory Settings
In the Performance Options window, select the Advanced tab.
Under Virtual memory, click Change.
Step 4: Enable Automatic Paging File Management
Look for the option:
Automatically manage paging file size for all drives
If this option is not selected, select it.
Then click OK.
Click OK again to close Performance Options.
Click OK in System Properties.
Restart your computer.
How to Manually Increase Virtual Memory
If automatic management does not solve the problem, you can configure a custom paging-file size.
Open the Virtual Memory settings using the steps above.
Then:
- Clear Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
- Select the drive containing Windows, normally C:.
- Select Custom size.
- Enter an appropriate Initial size.
- Enter a Maximum size.
- Click Set.
- Click OK.
- Restart Windows.
What Size Should You Use?
There is no single paging-file size that is correct for every computer.
Modern Windows versions can normally manage the paging file automatically, so manually entering large values is usually unnecessary.
If you must use a custom size, avoid choosing an unnecessarily huge value. Make sure the drive has enough free space for Windows and your applications.
Check Your RAM Usage
Before increasing virtual memory, check whether your computer is actually running out of physical RAM.
Press:
Ctrl + Shift + Esc
to open Task Manager.
Select Processes and look at the Memory column.
Click the Memory column to sort applications by memory usage.
You can also select Performance → Memory to see how much RAM is installed and how much is currently being used.
If your computer frequently runs out of RAM, see our related guide on how to fix low memory on Windows.
Task Manager can help identify applications that are using large amounts of RAM.
Close Programs You Are Not Using
If memory usage is high, close applications you do not currently need.
For example, you may have:
- Many browser tabs open
- Several Office applications running
- A photo or video editor open
- A game running in the background
- Cloud synchronization software active
- Multiple background applications running
Closing unnecessary programs can immediately reduce memory pressure.
If your entire PC is slow rather than just running out of memory, see our guide on how to fix a slow Windows 11 PC.
Restart Your Computer
A restart is a simple but useful troubleshooting step.
If a program has a memory leak, restarting Windows releases the memory that the program was using.
If the low virtual memory warning repeatedly returns after every restart, however, you should investigate the underlying cause rather than repeatedly rebooting.
Check Available Storage Space
Make sure the Windows drive has enough free space.
In Windows 11, open:
Settings → System → Storage
Windows 10 uses the same general path:
Settings → System → Storage
If the system drive is nearly full, remove unnecessary files and applications.
You can also use Storage Sense to remove temporary files.
A nearly full system drive can contribute to several Windows problems, including difficulties managing the paging file.
Check available storage space on the Windows system drive.
Find Programs That Keep Using Memory
If your computer becomes slower over time, watch the Memory column in Task Manager.
- Open Task Manager.
- Select Processes.
- Click Memory.
- Watch which applications use the most memory.
- Close an application only if you know it is safe to do so.
- Check whether memory usage decreases.
If one application continually consumes more memory without releasing it, check for an update or contact the software developer.
Check Startup Applications
Some programs automatically start with Windows and continue running in the background.
In Task Manager:
- Select Startup apps.
- Review the applications that start automatically.
- Check the Startup impact information.
- Disable unnecessary applications.
Make Sure Windows Is Updated
Windows updates can fix bugs affecting system performance, memory management, and individual applications.
Open:
Settings → Windows Update
Check for available updates.
Install appropriate updates and restart the computer if Windows requests it.
You should also keep frequently used applications, browsers, and hardware drivers updated.
If a Windows update appears to have caused the problem, you can also check our guide to Windows 11 KB5121003 problems and fixes.
Scan for Malware
Malware can sometimes cause unusually high CPU, memory, or disk usage.
Run a scan with Windows Security.
Open:
Settings → Privacy & security → Windows Security → Virus & threat protection
Then run an appropriate scan.
If memory usage remains unusually high, investigate the specific process responsible rather than assuming that malware is the cause.
Consider Adding More RAM
If your computer regularly uses almost all of its physical RAM, changing virtual-memory settings may only provide temporary relief.
For example, if you regularly run several memory-intensive applications on a computer with a small amount of RAM, adding more physical memory can provide a much larger performance improvement.
Before upgrading RAM, check:
- How much RAM your computer currently has
- Whether the motherboard supports an upgrade
- The maximum supported RAM
- The correct RAM type and speed
- Whether there are free memory slots
For older computers, a RAM upgrade may not be worthwhile if other hardware is also outdated.
For more RAM troubleshooting information, see our older guide on troubleshooting computer RAM and memory.
Should You Disable Virtual Memory?
No.
For most Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers, you should leave the paging file enabled.
Windows and some applications expect virtual memory to be available. Disabling it can cause application errors, performance problems, or memory-related warnings.
The recommended approach is to let Windows manage the paging file automatically.
Should You Increase Virtual Memory if You Have Plenty of RAM?
Not necessarily.
If your computer has sufficient RAM and you are not receiving memory-related errors, manually increasing the paging file is usually unnecessary.
Windows can manage the paging file based on system requirements.
If you are experiencing performance problems, first identify what is consuming your RAM using Task Manager.
Low Virtual Memory vs. Low RAM
| Problem | What It Means | Typical Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Low RAM | Physical memory is heavily used | Close programs or add RAM |
| Low virtual memory | Windows does not have enough usable memory resources | Check paging-file settings |
| High memory usage | One or more programs consume much of the RAM | Find the responsible application |
| Low disk space | Storage drive has insufficient free space | Delete unnecessary files |
| Memory leak | A program keeps consuming RAM | Update, repair, or replace the program |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is virtual memory in Windows?
Virtual memory allows Windows to use part of your storage drive as additional memory when physical RAM is under pressure. Windows manages this through a paging file.
Is low virtual memory dangerous?
The warning itself does not normally mean that your hardware is damaged. However, repeated low-memory problems can cause applications to become unstable or Windows to become very slow.
How do I increase virtual memory in Windows 11?
Open System Properties → Advanced → Performance Settings → Advanced → Virtual memory → Change. For most computers, enable Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
How much virtual memory should I set?
There is no universal value that works for every computer. Windows automatic management is normally the preferred option.
Can low virtual memory make my computer slow?
Yes. When Windows needs to rely heavily on the paging file, performance can decrease because storage is much slower than physical RAM.
Does increasing virtual memory increase RAM?
No. Virtual memory does not add physical RAM. It uses storage space to provide additional memory resources when necessary.
Why does my computer keep showing low virtual memory?
Possible causes include insufficient RAM, a small or disabled paging file, low disk space, a memory-hungry application, or a memory leak.
Should I buy more RAM?
If Task Manager regularly shows very high memory usage during normal work, adding RAM may be a better long-term solution than relying heavily on virtual memory.
Final Thoughts
The old method of manually entering a large virtual-memory value is usually unnecessary on modern Windows computers.
For Windows 10 and Windows 11, start by allowing Windows to manage the paging file automatically. Then check RAM usage, available disk space, startup applications, and programs that consume unusually large amounts of memory.
If your PC frequently runs out of memory even after troubleshooting, adding more physical RAM may provide a better long-term solution.
Check RAM usage → Check free disk space → Enable automatic paging-file management → Update Windows and applications → Investigate memory-heavy programs → Consider a RAM upgrade if necessary.
For additional Windows performance solutions, visit our guide on fixing a slow Windows 11 PC.
Related Computerdok Guides:
```