On Windows 11, even though the operating system is designed to use all the memory installed on your computer, you can limit how much RAM the operating system uses if you need to test software, troubleshoot issues, or simulate a lower-memory system.
However, the system doesn’t include a simple setting to tell it to “only use 4GB of RAM.” Instead, you have to use the legacy System Configuration tool (msconfig), which is intended primarily for testing and debugging.
In this how-to guide, I’ll outline the steps to restrict the amount of memory that Windows 11 can use.
⚠️Important: This setting limits the amount of memory available to the entire operating system. It’s not meant for everyday use because it can significantly reduce performance and cause some apps to run slowly or stop responding. You have been warned.
How to limit the system RAM on Windows 11
To restrict the amount of memory available to Windows 11, use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for System Configuration (or msconfig) and click the top result to open the app.
- Click the Boot tab.
- Select the current Windows installation (if applicable).
- Click the Advanced options button.
- Check the Maximum memory option.
- Confirm the amount of memory you want Windows 11 to use (in megabytes).
- Quick tip: Since you have to enter a value in megabytes, use 4096 (4GB), 8192 (8GB), 16384 (16GB), or 32768 (32GB).
- Click the OK button.
- Click the Apply button.
- Click the OK button.
- Restart the computer.
After you complete the steps, Windows 11 will only use the amount of memory you specified. Any remaining installed RAM will be ignored until you remove the restriction.
While I was testing this configuration, I noticed that Task Manager reported 3GB when I set the memory to 4GB, because the operating system doesn’t get the full 4GB, as part of the physical address space is reserved for other components.
If your goal is to test the operating system with exactly 4 GB available, you may want to reserve an extra 1GB. For example, 5120 (5GB) to see 4GB in Task Manager. However, depending on how much memory you want to allocate, you may want to try different sizes.
How to restore full RAM access on Windows 11
To restore the amount of memory available to Windows 11, use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for System Configuration (or msconfig) and click the top result to open the app.
- Click the Boot tab.
- Select the current Windows installation (if applicable).
- Click the Advanced options button.
- Clear the Maximum memory option.
- Click the OK button.
- Click the Apply button.
- Click the OK button.
- Restart the computer.
Once you complete the steps, the operating system will once again detect and use all available RAM.
Why would you limit RAM?
This feature is primarily intended for testing rather than everyday use. Some common scenarios include testing how an app performs with limited memory, troubleshooting memory-related software issues, simulating older or lower-end hardware, and software development.
For instance, we recently tested out how using 8GB of RAM on Windows 11 in 2026 works for performance.
If your goal is to reduce overall memory usage or free up RAM, it’s better to turn off unnecessary startup apps, close background applications, or upgrade your system instead of limiting the operating system’s available memory.
Why can’t you set the maximum memory?
On some modern computers, particularly those using UEFI firmware with Secure Boot enabled, the “Maximum memory” setting may be unavailable or ignored.
If this happens, you may need to temporarily disable Secure Boot before applying the memory limit.
⚠️Warning: Disabling Secure Boot lowers your computer’s protection against boot-level malware and may prevent some security features from working as expected. Only disable Secure Boot temporarily if you’re testing, and re-enable it afterward.
Disable Secure Boot
To disable Secure Boot, use these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Click on System.
- Click the Recovery page.
- Click the Restart now button under the “Advanced startup” section.
- Click the Restart now button one more time.
- Click on Troubleshoot.
- Click on Advanced options.
- Click the “UEFI Firmware settings” option.
- Click the Restart button.
- Open the advanced settings page for your motherboard.
- Select the “Secure Boot” option, then choose the “Disabled” option.
After you complete the steps, restart the device, then configure the “Maximum memory” setting in System Configuration (msconfig).
Enable Secure Boot
Before proceeding, make sure to restore the memory settings from the System Configuration settings, and then to enable Secure Boot, use these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Click on System.
- Click the Recovery page.
- Click the Restart now button under the “Advanced startup” section.
- Click the Restart now button one more time.
- Click on Troubleshoot.
- Click on Advanced options.
- Click the “UEFI Firmware settings” option.
- Click the Restart button.
- Open the advanced settings page for your motherboard.
- Select the “Secure Boot” option, then choose the “Enabled” option.
Once you complete the steps, Secure Boot will be enabled on your computer.
FAQs for limiting RAM usage on Windows 11
These are common questions about the process for limiting memory usage in Windows 11.
Does this reduce memory usage by apps?
No. It reduces the total amount of RAM the operating system can access. All apps share the reduced memory pool.
Can I limit RAM for only one application?
No. Windows 11 doesn’t include a built-in feature to assign a maximum amount of RAM to an individual application.
Is this the same as disabling memory modules?
No. Your RAM remains physically installed. The operating system simply ignores the portion above the configured limit.
Should I use this solution to permanently configure my PC?
No. This feature is intended for testing and troubleshooting. Running the operating system with less memory than your system has available can significantly reduce performance without providing any real benefit.
Windows Central’s Take
I’ve used the Maximum memory option in MSConfig before, but it’s one of those features that is easy to overlook because it’s not intended as a consumer setting. For developers, network administrators, and anyone who writes about this operating system, though, it’s a surprisingly useful way to test how a device behaves on lower-end hardware without physically removing memory or creating a separate virtual machine.
That said, I wouldn’t recommend using this to “save RAM” or improve performance. Windows 11 is designed to manage memory efficiently, and artificially limiting it can only slow the system.
It’s also another reminder that many of the most useful troubleshooting tools are still buried inside decades-old utilities like msconfig. Microsoft continues to modernize the operating system, but some of the diagnostic features remain hidden in legacy tools.
What are your thoughts about using MSConfig to limit RAM on Windows 11? Let me know in the comments.
More resources
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