Low Virtual Memory Warning Registry Settings

This article explains how Windows manages low virtual memory warnings and identifies the specific Windows Registry settings used to configure or disable the threshold for resource exhaustion notifications. You will find the exact Registry paths, the key values involved, and the steps required to modify these behaviors using the Registry Editor (Regedit).

The Registry Settings for Low Memory Notifications

Windows handles low virtual memory alerts through the Resource Exhaustion Detection and Resolution (RADAR) service and the Windows Diagnostic Infrastructure. System-level commit thresholds and notification policies can be modified in two primary locations in Regedit.

1. Resource Exhaustion Policy (Notification Thresholds)

To control the policy-level detection and notification prompts for low virtual memory:

• Registry Path:
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\ResourceExhaustionResolver
• Key Values:
  • EnableResolve (DWORD): Set to 0 to disable the low virtual memory warning popup, or 1 to enable it.
  • ThresholdPercent (DWORD): Defines the percentage of commit charge usage required before the system triggers a low virtual memory alert.

If the ResourceExhaustionResolver key does not exist under \Policies\Microsoft\Windows\, it can be created manually to enforce system-wide behavior.

2. Session Manager Memory Management

Underlying virtual memory thresholds, paging limits, and system pool boundaries are defined directly within the session manager:

• Registry Path:
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management
• Key Values:
  • CommitLimit (DWORD): Controls the upper limit of page allocations before exhaustion warnings are triggered.
  • PoolUsageMaximum (DWORD): Specifies the internal memory percentage trigger (defaulting to 80% if not explicitly set) for notifying the operating system of resource saturation.

How to Modify the Settings in Regedit

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

2. Navigate to:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\

3. Right-click Windows, select New > Key, and name it ResourceExhaustionResolver (if not already present).

4. Right-click inside the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it EnableResolve.

5. Double-click EnableResolve and set its value:

   • 0: Disables low memory warnings.
   • 1: Enables low memory warnings (default behavior).

6. Click OK and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.