Clear Pagefile at Shutdown via Registry Editor

The Windows paging file (pagefile.sys) acts as an extension of physical RAM, storing temporary memory data on your hard drive or SSD. Because this file can retain sensitive information—such as passwords, encryption keys, and unencrypted file data—clearing it upon shutdown enhances system security and prevents unauthorized data recovery. This guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough on how to configure Windows to automatically overwrite and purge the paging file every time your computer shuts down using the Windows Registry Editor (Regedit).

Step 1: Open the Registry Editor

  1. Press the Windows Key + R shortcut to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type regedit into the field and press Enter or click OK.
  3. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to grant administrative permissions.

Step 2: Navigate to the Memory Management Key

In the Registry Editor address bar at the top, paste the following path and press Enter, or navigate manually using the left sidebar:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management

Step 3: Modify the ClearPageFileAtShutdown Value

  1. With the Memory Management folder selected on the left, look at the right pane to find the DWORD (32-bit) value named ClearPageFileAtShutdown.
  2. Double-click ClearPageFileAtShutdown to open its properties.
  3. In the Value data field, change the value from 0 to 1.
  4. Ensure the Base is set to Hexadecimal, then click OK.

(Note: If the ClearPageFileAtShutdown value does not exist, right-click an empty space in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, name it ClearPageFileAtShutdown, and set its value data to 1.)

Step 4: Restart Your Computer

Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer to apply the new configuration.

Important Consideration

Enabling this feature instructs Windows to overwrite the entire paging file with zeros during the shutdown process. As a result, your computer may take slightly longer to power off completely, depending on the size of your paging file and the speed of your storage drive. To revert this setting in the future, repeat the steps and set the ClearPageFileAtShutdown value back to 0.