When struggling with low hard disk space on Windows, most users find that Windows keep a huge pagefile.sys file, which takes up a lot of space. But what is this file, and can it be deleted without issues?
Here’s all you need to know about pagefile.sys, a helpful file type for Windows that saves crash dumps and helps improve system performance by writing RAM content.
What is a Pagefile.sys on Windows?
As mentioned it is a virtual memory file that stores tasks and processes that are open but unused for a while. It is hidden and located in C: drive by default. When the system is low on RAM, some memory is moved to pagefile.sys for smooth of the system. However, this has disadvantages as this file can take up enough memory leaving users concerned about the pagefile.sys and how to reduce its size.
What is RAM & What is the Role of Pagefile.sys on Windows?
The RAM is the fastest memory that helps the PC fetch data whenever needed. The more applications you run, the more changes you can see in the RAM management technique of your system. One such maneuver used by the system is the creation of pagefile.sys. This helps reduce the load on the RAM as the least used memory pages are moved to pagefile.sys.
Does the large size of pagefile.sys impacts systems performance?
Since pagefile.sys is a virtual memory file, it doesn’t slow down the PC performance. However, disabling or deleting it might cause serious issues. As the Pagefile.sys helps RAM reduce its load, deleting it will clog the RAM.
If you are searching for the best practices that can help enhance the system’s performance and optimize it check out the next section.
What Can be Done to Boost the Performance of Your System?
If you have a question, “Does disabling the page file increase performance?” a clear answer is NO! The pagefile.sys is a crucial file that can neither be deleted nor replaced. The only thing that you can do with your pagefile.sys is to configure it for optimal performance. Here’s how to do it.
1. Adjust the Size of Pagefile.sys
- Go to “Adjust Appearance and Performance of Windows” by typing the same in your start menu.
- Click on Advanced to find the virtual memory options.
- Untick the “Automatically manage paging file size for drives” to unlock the custom options. Select the Drive on which your Windows 10 is installed.
- Choose the Custom Size option to change the page file’s initial and maximum size. Click on Set after making the changes.
- Restart your PC, and you will be ready.
2. Move Pagefile.sys to an alternate location
If the system drive is getting filed up by the pagefile.sys, you can move it to another driver following these steps:
1. Press Windows + S, and in the search field, type advanced.
2. Select the search results that read View advanced system settings.
3. Click the Advanced tab under the System Properties window > click the Settings button.
4. Click the Advanced tab. Here you will see the size of the paging file. To change the location of virtual memory, click the Change button under it.
5. Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives option.
6. Select C drive and select the No paging file option. Click Set.
7. Choose the drive that you want to move the pagefile.sys to and save it in the future. Select system managed size option > click Set > Ok to save changes.
8. Restart to save changes.
This will move the pagefile.sys to another drive and will be helpful to free up space from the system drive. Using these two ways, you can stop the pagefile.sys from occupying much storage space.
In addition to this, you can try the methods explained below to optimize and tweak system performance.
Is the PC Running Slow? Here are a Few Ways To Speed it Up!
1. Remove Unnecessary Programs –
If there are multiple software you do not use more often, you may uninstall them as they might take up a lot of space. To do that, follow these steps:
- Press Windows and R to get the Run window, type appwiz.cpl, and press Enter.
- You will get a list of installed programs on your computer; go through the list, right-click on unwanted programs, and select Uninstall.
2. Reduce the Number of Startup Software –
If you have multiple software starting at the time of boot, they are trouble for the quality of your performance, and they should be managed accordingly. To do so, follow these steps:
- Press Ctrl +Shift and Esc to evoke Task Manager
- Go to the Startup tab.
Note : Ensure you don’t disable any startup item whose Publisher is Microsoft or your device manufacturer.
- Select the startup item you want to disable, and right-click and select Disable.
3. Check Your RAM for wear & tear –
Your RAM chip impacts your user experience. If you feel that your computer is heating up while performing simple tasks or has become painfully laggy, maybe you should consider upgrading your RAM. It will give you a better speed and freshen up your PC.
4. Deal with Outdated Drivers –
You must understand that the loss in performance requires a cause. Usually, it is faulty or missing drivers in your computer that cause it to lag. For instance, if you use a dedicated GPU, you need up-to-date drivers to function correctly. Else, it affects every aspect of the computer.
To resolve the issues that may arise due to out-of-date drivers, you need to either update them manually or use the driver updater tool. Updating drivers manually can be a cumbersome task if you are not tech-savvy. Therefore, a simple tool like Advanced Driver Updater can help you find and fix faulty/missing drivers’ issues. Here’s how it works!
- Download and install the Advanced Driver Updater.
- Scan Your PC Using Advanced Driver Updater for Malfunctioned/Unavailable Drivers
- The software will instantly scan your PC for all the drivers. Let it complete the process.
- Once the scan is complete, you can find the number of missing or outdated drivers on your computer.
- Click on the Update All and Sit Back While the Software Does its Job.
This way, you can eliminate all the performance issues caused by outdated drivers. The best part is it saves a lot of time and effort that you can utilize and put you in the right direction.
5. Check Your Disk Drive Usage –
If your Hard Drive’s writing speed is degraded, your PC’s overall performance might take a hit. It is said that pagefile.sys high disk usage also hampers the quality of the disk over time. To maintain it, delete unnecessary files and never use the disk to its highest capacity. You can also switch to a faster SSD to have better performance.
Improve System Speed by Fixing Pagefile.sys Issues
The Pagefile.sys is more of an asset than a liability to your system, provided it is optimized before use. Deleting it might not be the best idea; however, containing its storage use can be. Use the shown technique to reduce the space that it takes up on your system.
Download the Advanced Driver Updater to ensure you are using the latest drivers. Good Luck!
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