Default Swap File Names and Locations
Operating System | Swap File Name | Location | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Windows NT, 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10, and 11 | PAGEFILE.SYS | C:\ | Used in modern Windows operating systems, PAGEFILE.SYS serves as the virtual memory file where data from RAM can be temporarily stored to free up physical memory. |
Windows 95, 98, and Me | WIN386.SWP | C:\ | In these older versions of Windows, WIN386.SWP acted as the swap file, playing a similar role in managing memory by swapping data between RAM and disk space. |
Windows 3. x | 386SPART.PAR | C:\WINDOWS | Exclusive to the Windows 3. x series, 386SPART.PAR was used as the swap file, helping to manage memory by storing data that couldn’t fit into the system’s RAM. |
What Is a Swap File and How Does It Work?
A swap file is a file on your computer’s hard drive that works as virtual memory. It is an extension of the computer’s physical memory random-access memory (RAM) that serves as a temporary storage area for data that cannot fit in RAM. When your system’s memory becomes low, the operating system shifts less important data from RAM to the swap file, freeing up RAM for more important data.