Virtual Memory too Low: How to Fix Virtual Memory

There are lots of Windows errors that can make using your computer next to impossible and “Virtual memory too low” is one of them. This error is the most common cause of computer freezing and crashing. In this post we are going to show you how to fix low virtual memory.

What Is Virtual Memory?

Virtual memory is a file on your hard drive Windows creates to help your physical memory (RAM) deal with large amounts of data. Virtual memory is also called the swap file or page file. By default your virtual memory is set to 1.5 times the size of your RAM.

Why Is My Virtual Memory too Low and How to Fix It?

The “virtual memory too low” error usually occurs because:

a) your computer doesn’t have enough physical memory (RAM)

b) you are running a piece of software that is causing a memory leak

Often you can fix the low on virtual memory error by simply increasing its size in System Properties. Here is how:

1. Right click on Computer and go to properties
2. Click on Advanced system settings and then click on Settings under Performance
3. In the new window that opens, click on the Advanced tab
4. There you will see Virtual memory. Click on the Change button and select System managed size. This will automatically set the ideal size of your virtual memory.
5. Click OK and you’re done!

If selecting a system managed size doesn’t fix the “virtual memory too low” error, you should check your PC for memory leaks. Only too often a poorly designed piece of software will suck out your virtual and physical memory. You can check if you have an application that’s using up your virtual memory in the Task Manager. Just open the Task Manager (press Ctrl+Alt+Esc on your keyboard) and click on the Processes tab. Then click on View – Select Columns. Make sure the Virtual Memory Size checkbox is selected and click OK. Now the Task Manager will show how much virtual memory each piece of software is using. If you see a program using up too much of your virtual memory, check it for updates because memory leaks are often fix with hotfixes. If updating doesn’t help, it’s best to uninstall the program altogether to avoid further problems.

If your computer is still slow, read our other tutorials how to fix it and check out our recommended software!