How To Clear Pagefile Sys !exclusive! Jun 2026

For security reasons, you might want Windows to wipe the page file every time you turn off your PC. This prevents sensitive data from lingering on the disk. Using Group Policy (Pro & Enterprise) Press Win + R , type , and hit Enter.

On each subsequent shutdown, Windows overwrites pagefile.sys with zeros. Note: This significantly increases shutdown time, especially with large pagefiles.

The pagefile.sys is a critical system file used by the Windows operating system as virtual memory. It extends the available Random Access Memory (RAM) by writing infrequently used data to disk. While essential for system stability and performance, this file can retain sensitive data fragments (passwords, encryption keys, application data) long after the associated processes have terminated. This paper provides a technical guide on how to clear, delete, or manage pagefile.sys for security hardening, troubleshooting, or disk space recovery, while adhering to operating system constraints. how to clear pagefile sys

Navigate to: > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options . Find Shutdown: Clear virtual memory pagefile . Double-click it and select Enabled . Click Apply and restart. Using Registry Editor (Home Edition) Press Win + R , type regedit , and hit Enter.

Automatically manage paging file size to let Windows recreate a fresh file. Summary of Options Goal Recommended Action Impact Security Clear on Shutdown Increases shutdown time; protects sensitive data. Storage Space Move to Another Drive Frees up space on your primary SSD/C: drive. Fix Bloat Reset Pagefile Temporarily deletes the file to reset its size. Important Warnings Don't leave it disabled: Running Windows without any page file can cause apps to crash or prevent the system from booting if you run out of RAM. Avoid manual deletion: Even if you see the file in File Explorer (by showing hidden files), Windows will usually block you from deleting it because it is "in use". Microsoft Learn +3 Would you like instructions on how to For security reasons, you might want Windows to

Some third-party tools, such as CCleaner, can also clear the page file.

This is the safest way to clear the data inside the file without causing system instability during use. It forces Windows to wipe the paging file clean every time you restart your computer. On each subsequent shutdown, Windows overwrites pagefile

Clearing the page file at every shutdown will make your PC take significantly longer to turn off.