How to Fix Pagefile.sys Huge Issue on Windows 11/10

Are you frequently receiving alerts stating that your PC's memory is low and Windows needs you to close an application? Or is your C drive running out of space due to a file named pagefile.sys? This memory issue might necessitate restarting your computer daily, yet the problem persistently resurfaces.

Thus, what leads to substantial memory allocation issues and the massive problems with pagefile.sys in Windows, and how can it be resolved? Continue reading the article from tools to address this issue.

What Is Pagefile.sys & Why Is It So Large

Pagefile is a virtual memory file that is typically located on the C: drive by default. This file remains invisible unless you enable the viewing of hidden files on your system. Essentially, when your system's RAM (Random Access Memory) is running low, it transfers some of the RAM data to the pagefile.sys to ensure smooth operation.

All the data you utilize, including open files and running programs, is stored in RAM. The computer maintains this data in RAM because accessing it is significantly faster than retrieving it from the hard drive. However, the amount of RAM is limited. When RAM接近满载, the system will transfer less frequently used or unused data to the pagefile.sys.

For example, when you minimize some web pages in Chrome, they don't do anything but still consume a substantial amount of memory. Windows will move these infrequently used memory pages to the Pagefile to free up more RAM for the applications you're currently using. That's why the pagefile.sys size can be enormous.

Now that you're aware of what Pagefile is and why it's so large, make sure to share this information with other users who might find it helpful, and proceed to explore the solutions provided below.

3 Solutions to the Huge Pagefile.sys Issue

We have prepared three solutions for you to address the large pagefile.sys issue, as outlined below:

1. Method 1: Move Pagefile.sys to Another Drive
2. Method 2: Expand C Drive
3. Method 3: Shrink Pagefile.sys Size

Method 1: Move Pagefile.sys to Another Drive

In this method, we'll guide you on how to relocate the pagefile.sys to another drive in Windows using the Settings app to enhance your PC's performance:

Step 1. Open Settings and go to "System" > "About"

Step 2. Click "Advanced system settings" under Related settings.

Step 3. In the System Properties pop-up window, click the "Advanced" tab. Next, under the Performance section, click the "Settings" button.

Step 4. In the Performance Options pop-up window, click on the "Advanced" tab. Next, under the Virtual memory section, click the "Change" button.

Step 5. Uncheck "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives" in the Virtual Memory window.

Step 6. Under the "Paging file size for each drive" section, choose the C drive and select the "No paging file" option.

Step 7. Click the "Set" button. Confirm by clicking "Yes" when prompted.

Step 8. Choose the drive where you want to save the pagefile, for instance, D:. Then, select the "System managed size" option. Click the "Set" button.

Step 9. Click "OK," then "Apply."

Step 10. Click "OK," then restart your PC.

Once you've gone through these steps, Windows will automatically create a new pagefile.sys in the new location, which will contain the virtual memory contents to improve your computer's performance.

?Also read: How to Check RAM Speed on Windows 10/11

Method 2: Expand C Drive

This approach will increase the size of the C drive to provide more storage space, thereby eliminating concerns about the large pagefile.sys issue. There are several methods to expand the C drive, and we will demonstrate one of the most efficient ones: using a third-party tool, tools Partition Master Professional, to automatically extend the C drive with just one click.

Follow the steps outlined below to discover how to address the issue of the C drive being out of space:

Step 1. Click "Adjust with 1-Click" to extend the C drive.

When your C drive runs out of space, hover your mouse over the C drive, and you'll see the Low Disk Space alert on the Partition Master tool. Click "Adjust with 1-Click" to extend it.

Step 2. Click "OK" to extend C drive automatically.

By clicking "OK", Partition Master will automatically allocate space to your C drive to resolve the low disk space issue.

Additional Option: You can also click "Manual Adjustment" to extend the C drive manually.

When switching to Manual Adjust, select the C drive and drag the dots to the right to allocate more space to the C drive. Click "OK" to confirm.

Step 3. Confirm to fix low disk space on the C drive

Click the "Execute Task" button in the top corner and initiate all pending operations by clicking "Apply."

This tool allows you to manage your PC's disk space with various functions without data loss. Here are some additional features of the Partition Master tool that enable drive space adjustment:

• Resize and move partitions: Adjust a partition's size without deleting or creating a new one.
• Extend the C drive from another disk: Increase and resize your C drive using free space from a different disk.
• Provides extra free features:其中之一是CleanGenius, which identifies unnecessary files and eliminates them from your computer to enhance performance.

Download this tool to free up more space on your C drive for the large pagefile.sys.

Way 3: Reduce Pagefile.sys Size

In this method, we will discuss how to shrink the Pagefile size instead of removing it to boost the computer's performance:

Step 1. Type Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows into the Windows search bar to open the Performance Options window.

Step 2. In the Advanced tab, locate the Virtual Memory section and click on the "Change" button.

Step 3. In the Virtual Memory pop-up window, uncheck "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives."

Step 4. Click on the drive where your Windows is installed. Next, select the "Custom size" option and adjust the "Initial size" and "Maximum size" to the recommended values listed under "Total paging file size for all drives." After that, click the "Set" button.

Step 5. Click "OK" to apply the changes. Then, restart your computer.

Aside from pagefile.sys, there might be other large-sized data consuming disk space. The following page will assist you in locating these files and reclaiming your lost storage space.

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Are you puzzled about the disappearance of storage space on your HDD or SSD? Does your hard drive display the right capacity? On this page, we will instruct you on how to locate and recover the missing space on your Windows 7/8/10/11 hard drive! Read more >>

Is It Okay to Disable or Delete Pagefile.sys?

Disabling or deleting the pagefile.sys is not recommended if it's large, as its size doesn't negatively affect PC performance. If you disable it, it could potentially lead to significant system problems. When RAM gets filled up quickly and there's no pagefile.sys to temporarily store memory, some programs might crash or cease functioning, which could slow down your PC.

Many users encountering the same issue will benefit from your sharing.

Final Words

A large pagefile.sys might impact your PC's performance, so you could attempt moving the pagefile.sys to another drive or reducing its size. Users can also utilize tools like Partition Master, with its advanced functions, to extend the C: drive and increase storage space. Remember not to disable or delete the pagefile.sys from your PC, as it might negatively affect your Windows operating system.

FAQs About Enormous Pagefile.sys

Do you have more questions regarding the large pagefile.sys? Browse through the frequently asked questions and their answers provided below:

< strong > 1. How do I view the Pagefile?

The Pagefile is hidden by default because it's a system file. To view it, you can open File Explorer and enable the option to show hidden items. This will make files like pagefile.sys visible. Typically, the pagefile is located in the root directory of the system drive, which is usually the C: drive.

< strong > 2. Can I have no paging file? Translation: < strong > 2. Can I do without a paging file?

You should never disable, delete, or set a custom size for your paging file. Doing so can cause various issues with your software, such as lag, and if you let Windows manage your virtual memory, you might not be able to boot up Windows at all.

3. What are pagefile.sys and hiberfil.sys?

The system utilizes the pagefile.sys for the paging file, and you should never disable it. When hibernation is enabled, the file used is named hiberfil.sys. If you disable hibernation, you should be able to delete the file after the system restarts.