How to check if Windows is using memory compression and when to disable it

Memory compression is one of the features that makes Windows a smooth and stable operating system. How does it contribute to making your computer run faster? Is it ever a good idea to disable it? In this post, we'll tell you how. Check if Windows is using memory compression, how it works, and when it's best to disable it..

Windows is using memory compression: what does that mean?

You may have opened Task Manager and seen that your RAM appears to be at full capacity. However, you also notice that The system continues to respond smoothly.How is this possible? The secret is that Windows is using memory compression, a feature that helps with the management of this resource.

With this function, what Windows does is reduce the size of the data stored in RAM to make spaceThis avoids having to move them to the hard drive, a process that is slower even on computers with modern hardware. To compress and decompress the data within RAM, the system uses CPU resources, which is much faster than reading from or writing to the disk.

Advantages and disadvantages of memory compression

Windows has been using memory compression since Windows 10, and refined the feature with the arrival of Windows 11When the Memory Manager detects an overload in the systemIt activates the compression mechanism. It takes inactive memory pages and applies an algorithm to reduce their size. This achieves the following:

• More spacesince the data can be reduced to a fraction of its original size.
• More speedbecause compressing and decompressing data using the CPU is much faster than reading and writing to the disk.
• Less wear and tear on SSD storage devices, as it reduces write cycles on the disk. (See the topic How to calculate the lifespan of your SSD and HDD).

But memory compression isn't without its drawbacks. While it does free up RAM, it does so at the cost of putting a bit more strain on the processor. On modern computers, this is almost imperceptible; but If the CPU is low-end or supports a high workload, you may feel a little sluggish.The opposite result!

So, could this be the reason your computer is sometimes running slower? It's helpful to know how to check if Windows is using memory compression and when to disable it. Here's how. How to find out if this feature is active and in what situations it is best to do without it.

How to check if Windows is using memory compression

How can you check if Windows is using memory compression? This feature is enabled by default on most computers, but not always. If you want to find out, you have two ways to find out: from the Task Manager and using the command line or PowerShell.

From the Task Manager

This is the simplest way to find out if Windows is using memory compression or not. You can do this from the Task Manager. get a snapshot of your RAM statusTo view it, follow these steps:

1. Open the Task Manager with the key combination Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
2. Go to the tab Performance.
3. Select Memory on the left panel.
4. Below the main chart, you'll see a section called In use (compressed).

Windows displays two values ​​there: Actual usage memory and compressed memoryIn the image above, we see that the memory in use is 6.7 GB, of which 49.6 MB corresponds to compressed data. If a value other than zero appears inside the parentheses (as is the case here), compression is active. If you see a zero, the function is likely disabled, although to confirm this 100%, it's best to use PowerShell.

Check if Windows is using memory compression from PowerShell

You can also find out from the command line if Windows is using memory compression. This method doesn't display numbers, but Confirm once and for all whether the function is active or notThe steps are as follows:

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator.
2. Run the command get-mmagent.
3. You'll see a list with several memory management functions, including Memory Compression.
4. If this function displays the value True, This means that the function is enabled (as seen in the image above).

When is it advisable to deactivate it?

You already know how to check if Windows is using memory compression. Now the question is, should you leave it on or disable it? It's worth mentioning that Windows automatically activates compression when it detects that available RAM is starting to decrease. So It does not depend on manual configuration or advanced settings.: it is the system that decides.

AND when memory compression is activatedThis usually happens when many applications are open or several resource-intensive programs are running. It also occurs on computers with limited RAM (4 GB or 8 GB) or with multiple background processes consuming resources.

So, When is it advisable to disable memory compression in Windows?On most modern computers, it's best to leave compression enabled. However, if your computer has a very old or limited CPU, disabling compression will be a relief for it.

On the other hand, if your computer has a lot of RAM or is dedicated to CPU latency-sensitive workloadsIt's also advisable to disable memory compression. This would be the case for equipment used for music production, signal processing, industrial systems, or very demanding and competitive games. Since compression introduces small latencies, keeping it active would be counterproductive.

How do I disable memory compression?

Finally, How do I disable memory compression? You can do this from PowerShell as an administrator. Open it and run the command. Disable-mmagent -mc To disable compression. And if you want to re-enable it, run the command Enable-mmagent -mcAfter running either command, it is advisable to restart your computer to apply the changes.

We hope you now understand how to check if Windows is using memory compression. We also reviewed what this feature is and when it's best to leave it enabled or disable it. If you're unsure whether it's causing problems, it's best to leave it running.This allows Windows to do its job to improve the speed and stability of the entire system.