What Is Pagefile.sys? Is It OK to Delete It?

The Pagefile.sys is an important part of your computer. But what is it, and how can you change it?

When you use your computer, numerous elements, both virtual and physical, contribute to its proper functioning. One such element is the Pagefile.sys, a technology that allows the computer to alleviate the pressure on physical memory.

Called Pagefile.sys, this technology allows PCs to handle larger programs and files that require a lot of processing and memory power. But what is it exactly? Should you interfere with it? What if it's taking up too much space? Should you delete it or shrink its file size? Let's dive in and find out.

What is Pagefile.sys?

Pagefile.sys, also known as the page file, is a component of Microsoft Windows operating systems that serves as a virtual memory allocation. Its primary function is to ensure that a computer can handle larger workloads when physical memory (RAM) is full or under pressure.

Assuming your computer has around 8 GB of RAM (random access memory), when you use your computer and the physical memory gets close to being full, Windows or your computer's operating system will allocate some space on your hard drive for virtual memory. This way, your computer can use it as a sort of backup bandwidth.

As a result, when a computer is under prolonged stress, the operating system increases the size of Pagefile.sys to provide more room for applications and other operations. However, virtual memory provided by the hard drive is much slower than physical RAM.

So, the difference shows up when the computer moves from the physical to the virtual. So, to summarize, the Pagefile.sys is how the operating system makes sure that your computer doesn't crash when it runs out of physical memory.

How to delete Pagefile.sys?

First of all, you should know that you shouldn't attempt to delete Pagefile.sys under any circumstances. Your computer still needs this element to run smoothly, even if you have plenty of RAM.

But sometimes the memory gets thin, and the operating system has to expand it to quite large proportions, which can be a problem on computers with less storage, because Pagefile.sys can become very large.

Still, that doesn't mean you should get rid of Pagefile.sys. However, you can check its size and decide whether to increase or decrease it. How? Here's how:

Step 1: Access the C drive

Step 2: Click on "View" in the top bar, and then open "Options."

Step 3: In the Folder Options window, click on the View tab.

Step 4: Scroll down and check the box that says “Show hidden files, folders, and drives.”

Step 5. Scroll down and uncheck the box for “Hide protected operating system files”

Step 6: When the warning appears, click Yes.

Step 7: Click “Apply” and then “OK”.

When finished, you should see the Pagefile.sys in your C: drive, along with its size:

This image depicts the "This PC" interface, which typically represents "My Computer" or "This PC" in Windows operating systems. It is a place where users can access all storage devices and files on their computer.

It is recommended that you view them again before hiding the files.

How do I increase or decrease the size of Pagefile.sys?

If you want to increase or decrease the size of Pagefile.sys, since deleting it is not an option, you can easily do so. It's important to follow the correct steps, as altering the file size can have consequences, such as:

• If it's set too low, it can lead to performance degradation.
• If there's insufficient space, it can cause application crashes.

Far from it: such a shift could even have beneficial effects, such as

• Performs better if kept at an appropriate size
• Saves disk space by providing ample room for redundancy
• Ensures file sizes do not exceed appropriate limits

So, how do you change the size of the Pagefile.sys? Here's how:

Step 1: Press Windows + X on your keyboard to open the Power User menu, then click Control Panel.

Step 2: Go to the "System" menu and find "Advanced system settings"

Step 3: Click "Settings" under the Performance section.

Step 4: Click on the "Advanced" settings tab.

Step 5: Click on “Change” under the Virtual Memory section.

Step 6: Uncheck the “Automatically manage paging file size for all drives” checkbox in the Virtual Memory settings.

Step 7: Scroll down, click on “Custom size,” and uncheck “Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.”

Step 8: Enter values for the Initial and Maximum sizes as needed.

Step 9: Click on "Settings"

Step 10: Click "OK"

Step 11: Completion

This process will help you improve your computer's performance by increasing or decreasing the size of Pagefile.sys. However, if you want to free up space on your C: drive, you can move the page file to another location. Here's how:

Step 1: Return to the Virtual Memory settings

Step 2. Select the original location of the “Pagefile.sys” – on the C drive

Step 3: Select “No paging file,” and then click “Set.”

Step 4: Select the disk where you want to place your new page file.

Step 5: Click on "System Managed Size" or opt for "Custom Size"

Step 6: Press the "Set" key.

Step 7: Finish

This will help you move the Pagefile.sys to another drive without taking up any space on your main drive.

Bottom line, conclusion

That's about it for what you need to know about Pagefile.sys. Again, don't delete the file – the system won't let you – but you can adjust its size or move it to another drive, as shown.