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USB flash drives can work as extra RAM — here's how it works
As time goes on, even the best PCs begin to slow down and lag. Before long, completing tasks becomes a time-sapping frustration and you're starting to contemplate a replacement.
But wait! You may find the problem eases if you have some extra RAM to hand and you don't need to spend a fortune. By turning a USB flash drive into virtual RAM, you can reduce your reliance on an aging, slow hard disk and give your PC a speed boost. Plus, it's really easy to do, taking less than a minute to get set up.
This trick works with Windows 10 and Windows 11 (it's actually available on older operating systems too). When it's up and running, it uses the flash drive as a cache. The only thing to bear in mind is that it works best if your operating system is installed on a traditional hard drive rather than a solid state drive.
If you're already using an SSD, you won't see much improvement, but if you're still running on an HDD, you're sure to notice decent gains in speed. Here's how to do it.
1. Insert a USB flash drive
First of all, plug a fast USB flash drive or a SD card into your Windows PC. It will need to have more than 500MB of free storage and a high data transfer rate.
2. Open File Explorer
Next, open the File Explorer app that is built into Windows. The USB flash drive or SD card should appear in the sidebar.
3. Select Properties
Right-click the USB flash drive or SD card and select Properties.
4. Choose ReadyBoost
You need to select the ReadyBoost tab then click Dedicate this device to ReadyBoost if you want to use it entirely for virtual RAM or click Use this device if you still want to store files on it.
5. Allocate space
You can now use the slider the allocate an appropriate amount of space. Aim for between one to three times the size of your computer’s RAM. Windows will suggest an amount and it’s a good idea to take the advice.
6. Finish off
When you’re done, click Apply and select Ok. A cache file will be added to the drive and it can now be used as additional RAM.