There is a registry tweak that clears the pagefile every time you shut down. While this is good for security (wiping sensitive data from the drive), it makes your computer take significantly longer to shut down. Unless you are working in a high-security environment, this is unnecessary for home users.
Verify that you haven't set a "Maximum size" that is too small for your workflow. pagefile settings windows 11
For 95% of Windows 11 users, the answer is . Windows 11 is actually very good at managing memory allocation automatically. Microsoft’s official stance is that manual configuration is largely a legacy practice. There is a registry tweak that clears the
If usage consistently exceeds 70% with default settings, consider adding physical RAM. Verify that you haven't set a "Maximum size"
Historically, the recommendation was for the Initial size and 3x your RAM for the Maximum size.
Imagine your RAM is a physical desk where you do your work. You can reach papers on the desk instantly. The Pagefile is a filing cabinet across the room.