How to Reduce Hardware Reserved Memory too High on Windows

Your PC cannot function without RAM! But did you know not all the RAM on your PC can be used by you? Some of it is reserved by specific hardware that needs RAM to function properly. This is a necessity and helps deliver optimum performance. But what if the Hardware-Reserved Memory is too high? What do you do then? This guide will help readers understand Hardware-Reserved Memory and how to fix it when it is too high.

What Is Hardware Reserved Memory on Windows?

It is a part of your system’s RAM that is isolated and used by the system’s hardware components, such as the motherboard, graphics card, and other peripherals. The OS and applications cannot use this reserved memory. 

Why is Hardware Reserved Memory on Windows?

It is a part of memory that is kept aside for several important reasons. This includes system stability, hardware functionality, and efficient resource management. Here’s why it is done and why is Hardware Reserved Memory necessary:

• Hardware like the motherboard, integrated graphics, and network cards need a piece of RAM to operate.
• Devices such as expansion cards and built-in peripherals require reserved memory to function properly.
• Integrated graphics processors use a piece of the system’s RAM as video memory. This is especially common in systems without a dedicated graphics card.
• Reserving a portion of RAM ensures that hardware components have the necessary resources without conflicting with the system’s regular operations.
• By reserving specific memory areas, Windows can manage resources more effectively, maintaining system stability and performance.

How To Identify How Much Memory Is Reserved By Your Hardware

Here are the steps to check your Hardware Reserved Memory.

Step 1: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
Step 2: Click on the Performance tab in the left panel and click on the Memory on the right side.

Step 3: Locate Hardware Reserved and note the amount of memory next to it.

How Hardware Reserved Memory Affects Your PC’s Performance

When your system grants too much RAM to Hardware-Reserved Memory, it can affect the computer’s performance, slow booting time, or result in user-facing crashes and freezes due to insufficient resources required for running processes.

How to fix Hardware Reserved Memory On Windows 10/11

Method 1: Check The OS System Type (32-bit or 64-bit)

To address hardware-reserved RAM issues, check whether your Windows 10 system is 32-bit or 64-bit. A 32-bit Windows OS can only utilize up to 3.5GB of RAM, regardless of the amount of physical RAM installed on your PC. If you’re using a 32-bit system, upgrading to a 64-bit version of Windows 10 will allow you to access all your installed RAM. Here are the steps to check your OS system type:

Step 1: Press Win + I to open Settings.
Step 2: Click on the System tab in the left panel.

Step 3: Scroll down in the right section and click on About.

Here, you can see the System Type of your PC.

Method 2: Modify The Maximum Memory

In Windows 10, the maximum memory setting in the boot configuration can reserve a piece of RAM. If this setting is configured too high, it can result in a significant amount of RAM being reserved for hardware use. To adjust this setting, follow the steps outlined below.

Step 1: Press Win + R to open the RUN box and type “msconfig” followed by the Enter key.
Step 2: A new box will open; click on the Boot tab at the top and then click on the Advanced Option button.

Step 3: Locate the Maximum Memory option and uncheck the box next to it.
Step 4: Click On Apply, followed by OK.
Step 5: Reboot your computer.

Method 3: Optimize Your Virtual Memory

Some experts have suggested that adjusting the Virtual Memory settings can resolve the issue of Windows 10 not utilizing all available RAM. Virtual Memory helps Windows manage memory usage and is typically on the C drive. You can try optimizing these settings to improve RAM utilization.

Step 1: Press Win + S to open the Search box and type Advanced system settings.
Step 2: Click on “View Advanced system settings.”
Step 3: A new box will open. Click on the Advanced tab and then the Settings button in the Performance section.

Step 4: Another box will open; click the Advanced tab > Change button in the Virtual Memory section.

Step 5: Remove the check mark from the box next to Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.

Step 6: Select C drive and click the circular box next to Custom Size.
Step 7: Enter the values depending on the space available, which is displayed, and click on the OK button.

Method 4: Update BIOS

An outdated BIOS can result in many errors, including a Hardware Reserved Memory on Windows error. You must update your BIOS using the Windows update. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Press Win + I to open Settings > click on the Windows Update tab in the Left panel.
Step 2: Click on the “Check For Updates” button in the right section and wait for the Updates to be synced.
Step 3: Now click the Advanced Options followed by Optional Updates in the right pane.

Step 4: To reveal BIOS-related updates, click on The Driver Updates and Other Updates.

Step 5: Select the updates by placing a checkmark next to the box beside each one and clicking the Download and Install button.

Method 5: Activate Hardware And Devices Troubleshooter

If a connected device isn’t functioning correctly, Windows may allocate more system memory. It would help if you ran the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter in Windows to resolve this issue. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Press Win + R to open the RUN box.
Step 2: Type “cmd” and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open the Command Prompt in admin mode.
Step 3: Copy and paste the command in the Command Prompt, followed by the Enter key.
Step 4: A new box will appear, where you have to click on the Advanced link and place a checkmark next to the Apply Repairs Automatically option.

Step 5: Click on the Next button and follow the onscreen instructions.

Method 6: Update Graphics Drivers

Graphics Drivers help establish communication between your Graphics Card and OS. It is important to keep these drivers updated because outdated, missing, and corrupt drivers can cause many issues on your PC. We suggest three methods to update drivers:

1. Update Using OEM Website

Step 1: Go to the official website of your device’s manufacturer (e.g., Dell, HP, Lenovo).
Step 2: Find the section dedicated to support, drivers, or downloads.
Step 3: Input your device’s model or serial number to locate the appropriate drivers and updates for your specific hardware.
Step 4: Download your device’s latest drivers, firmware updates, or BIOS updates.
Step 5: Double-click the downloaded file to initiate the installation process and follow the onscreen instructions.
Step 6: After installing the updates, restart your computer to ensure all changes take effect.

2. Use Device Manager

Step 1: Press Win + X to open the Power Menu and choose Device Manager.
Step 2: Click on Display Adapters to reveal your graphics card and right-click on it.
Step 3: Choose Update Driver and follow the instructions on the screen.

3. Use Advanced Driver Updater

Step 1: Click the Download button below to download the setup file for Advanced Driver Updater.

Step 2: Double-click the downloaded file to install the Advanced Driver Updater.

Step 3: After the app is installed, open it and click the Start Scan Now button.
Step 4: A list of driver anomalies will be presented on your screen within the app interface.

Step 5: Locate the Graphics driver and click the Update button next to it.

Step 6: Wait for the driver updation process to complete and reboot the PC.

Method 7: Restore Default Settings On BIOS

If none of the previous methods resolve the issue, you can restore the BIOS to factory default and clear improper BIOS configurations. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Press the F2 or Delete key when the Windows startup screen appears.
Step 2: From the bottom of the right pane, select Restore Settings/Load Defaults, then confirm the change to restore the BIOS settings.
Step 3: Exit the BIOS and reboot your computer.

Read Also: How To Improve Windows Startup Speed

Say Goodbye to Hardware Reserved Memory Too High On Windows

We hope that the methods mentioned above have helped you to reduce Hardware Reserved Memory too high on your PC. In the comments section, write to us about your thoughts on why this error arose on your PC and how you fixed it.