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Windows 10: swap file - what is it actually?

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What is the paging file on Windows 10?
What can I do with the Windows 10 swap file?
How can I check the size of the paging file in Windows 10?
1st step:
2nd step:
3rd step:
4th step:
Quick guide: How can I check the size of the paging file in Windows 10?

Want to know what the paging file is in Windows 10 and what you can do with it? We'll show you in this article..

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You may have heard of the paging file in Windows 10 before. This file is a supplement to the physical RAM and the resulting memory. If there is not enough space in the working memory for all running programs, Windows swaps some of the data into the swap file - hence the name. In the following, we will explain what this file is all about and how you can adjust the size.

What is the paging file on Windows 10?

As the name suggests, Windows stores data in this file. The swap file can be used to ensure that more RAM is used by Windows than the built-in RAM bar actually allows. For example, a minimized program does not place any further load on the main memory and the process does not have to be terminated even if there is insufficient memory. Inactive programs do not put as much stress on the main memory as actually active programs - conversely, this means that your open programs can ultimately use more of the main memory. The swap file adapts dynamically. This means that the size of this file can vary depending on the workload.

What can I do with the Windows 10 swap file?

The swap file should not be deleted under any circumstances. Even if there is a high memory of 16 GB RAM or more, it cannot be dispensed with. Because some programs under Windows 10 use the swap file by default. If this is deactivated or even deleted, these apps may no longer work correctly and fatal errors could occur..

How can I check the size of the paging file in Windows 10?

Follow our step-by-step instructions or take a look at the brief instructions .

Important:
You should only make the changes described here, because every change to the settings can, in the worst case, be an incorrect setting and lead to the swap file no longer working properly.

1st step:

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Press the key combination [Windows] + [R] , enter "control" and confirm by pressing the [Enter] key. Now select under " Display "> " Small symbols " and then click on " System ". Then click on " Advanced system settings " in the bar at the bottom left . You may have to enter your administrator data now. As a rule, these are identical to your login data for the computer.

2nd step:

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A new window is opening up. Click here on the " Advanced " tab and then select the " Settings ... " button under " Performance " .

3rd step:

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A new window opens again and you have to select the " Advanced " tab again . In the " Virtual memory " area, click on " Change ... " at the very bottom .

4th step:

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In this window you have to uncheck " Manage swap file size for all drives automatically ". Then select the drive whose paging file size you want to change. At the bottom under " Custom Size " you can adjust the size of the file. Adjust the size to the recommended size below. When you're done, all that's left to do is hit the " Set " button.

Quick guide: How can I check the size of the paging file in Windows 10?

  1. Press the [Windows] + [R] keys and enter "control". Confirm this with [Enter] .
  2. Now select under " Display "> " Small symbols " and then click on " System ".
  3. Click on " Advanced System Settings ". You may need to enter your administrator information. These data usually correspond to your login data for the computer.
  4. In the new window, select the " Advanced " tab and click " Settings ... " in the " Performance " area .
  5. In the next window, select the " Advanced " tab again and click " Change ... " at the bottom under " Virtual memory ".
  6. A new window will open again. Uncheck " Manage swap file size for all drives automatically " above .
  7. Then select a drive below and click " Custom Size ". Here you can set any size for the swap file. However, you should adjust the size to the size recommended below. When you are happy with the settings, all you have to do is click " Set ". You have now successfully adjusted the size of your swap file to the standard specifications.

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