How to Easily Enable ReadyBoost on Windows 11: A Fast Guide

In today’s fast-paced digital world, smooth performance is essential, especially when it comes to using your computer for various tasks. Windows 11, with its sleek interface and improved performance capabilities, is designed to maximize productivity. However, even the most cutting-edge machines can become sluggish over time, particularly when dealing with large files or multiple applications simultaneously. If you find yourself in need of a performance boost, Windows 11 offers a fantastic feature known as ReadyBoost that can help speed up your system using removable storage devices. In this article, we’ll explore how to easily enable ReadyBoost on Windows 11, providing you with a detailed guide that ensures optimal performance from your machine.

What is ReadyBoost?

Before diving into the how-to, it’s essential to understand what ReadyBoost is and how it works. ReadyBoost is a feature of Windows designed to improve your system performance primarily by using a USB flash drive, SD card, or other types of removable storage as additional storage memory. While it doesn’t replace your physical RAM, it can significantly enhance the performance of systems that lack sufficient memory, especially those with less than 4GB of RAM.

How ReadyBoost Works

When you connect a suitable removable storage device to your computer, Windows can utilize it as virtual memory. It supplements your existing RAM, enabling more data to be processed quickly. The feature is particularly useful for computers that run memory-intensive applications, as well as for users who multitask frequently. However, not all USB drives are suitable for ReadyBoost; for optimal performance, the device needs to meet certain speed and specification requirements.

Requirements for Using ReadyBoost

To effectively use ReadyBoost, your removable storage device must meet specific criteria:

Speed Requirement: The device needs to have a read speed of at least 2.5 MB/s and a write speed of a minimum of 1.75 MB/s for a 4 KB random read and write. Most USB 3.0 drives and high-quality SD cards are suitable.
Capacity: The minimal capacity requirement is 1 GB; however, it is recommended to use devices with more storage for better performance. You can allocate up to 32 GB of space for ReadyBoost, but you can use larger devices as well.
File System: The drive should be formatted in NTFS or exFAT. Older formats, such as FAT32, may not support the features required for ReadyBoost.
Compatible Device: The storage device must be a common type such as USB flash drives or SD cards. While external hard drives are also usable, they do not yield as significant a performance boost as flash-based storage.

Benefits of Using ReadyBoost

Enabling ReadyBoost can provide several advantages:

Improved Performance: It can help speed up boot times, application launches, and overall system responsiveness.
Cost-Effective: Instead of spending on costly RAM upgrades, ReadyBoost provides a budget-friendly alternative by utilizing existing hardware.
No System Changes: It doesn’t require complicated adjustments to your computer’s hardware or software settings.
Ease of Use: Setting up ReadyBoost is quick and easy. Even novice users can implement it without a hitch.

How to Easily Enable ReadyBoost on Windows 11

Now that you understand the premise, let’s get to the practical steps of enabling ReadyBoost on a Windows 11 system. Follow these instructions carefully.

Step 1: Choose the Right Removable Storage Device

Before you start, ensure you have a suitable USB flash drive or SD card. Plug it into your computer and make sure it’s detected by Windows. To check, you can navigate to "This PC" in File Explorer, where the device should appear alongside your primary drive.

Step 2: Format the Device (If Necessary)

Although not all drives need formatting, if you’re using a new drive or one that has incompatible file systems, you need to format it to NTFS or exFAT. Here’s how:

Open File Explorer and right-click on your removable storage device.
Select Format from the context menu.
Choose NTFS or exFAT from the File System dropdown menu.
Optionally, tick the Quick Format checkbox to speed up the process.
Click Start, and confirm your choice in the pop-up window.

Note: Formatting will erase all data on the drive, so be sure to back up anything important.

Step 3: Access ReadyBoost Settings

After formatting (if necessary), right-click on the USB drive or SD card in File Explorer.
Select Properties from the context menu.
In the Properties window, navigate to the ReadyBoost tab.

Step 4: Enable ReadyBoost

In the ReadyBoost tab, you’ll see three options:

Use this device: Enables ReadyBoost.
Dedicate this device to ReadyBoost: Allocates the entire capacity of the drive to ReadyBoost.
Use a portion of this device: Allows you to specify how much space to allocate.

Choose the Best Option:

If you want to maximize performance and the entire drive is dedicated to ReadyBoost, choose Dedicate this device to ReadyBoost. This is advisable if the device has ample storage and no important files.
If you still want to store files on the drive, select Use a portion of this device. You can adjust the slider to set the amount of space for ReadyBoost.

Click OK to confirm your selection.

Step 5: Verifying ReadyBoost is Active

Once you’ve enabled ReadyBoost, you can verify that it is working efficiently.

Go back to the Properties of the USB drive.
Under the ReadyBoost tab, it will display information showing how much space is being used for ReadyBoost and any details about performance.

Step 6: Ejecting the Device Safely

When you are done using your device, it’s crucial to eject it properly to avoid data loss:

Navigate to the taskbar and find the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon.
Click the icon and select your USB drive or SD card.
Wait for the confirmation that it’s safe to disconnect.

Troubleshooting ReadyBoost

While enabling ReadyBoost is usually straightforward, you might encounter a few issues. Below are some common problems and their solutions:

Issue 1: ReadyBoost Tab Missing

If the ReadyBoost tab is missing, it may mean one of the following:

Incompatible Drive: The connected device may not meet speed or capacity requirements. Try using another USB drive or SD card.
Drive Not Formatted: Ensure that the drive is formatted correctly to NTFS or exFAT.

Issue 2: Windows Says ReadyBoost Cannot Be Used

This can happen due to several reasons:

Insufficient Disk Space: Make sure there’s enough free space on the drive.
Drive Already in Use: If other applications are using the drive, you may need to close those programs first.

Issue 3: Performance Not Improving

If you find that enabling ReadyBoost hasn’t led to noticeable performance enhancements, consider these tips:

Ensure Adequate Storage: Make sure that you are using a drive that meets or exceeds the specifications required by ReadyBoost.
Check RAM: If your system has sufficient RAM (8GB or more), the benefits of ReadyBoost will be minimal, as modern operating systems are designed to work better with physical RAM.

Conclusion

ReadyBoost is an underutilized feature within Windows 11 that can make a remarkable difference in system performance, particularly for devices that are limited in RAM. By following the straightforward steps outlined in this article, you should be able to enable ReadyBoost effortlessly and reap the benefits of improved speed and responsiveness.

Whether you’re a casual user or a power user, ReadyBoost offers a convenient way to optimize your hardware’s capabilities without making extensive alterations. Remember to choose a high-quality storage device, format it appropriately, and monitor its usage to ensure you’re getting the best possible performance from your Windows 11 system.

How to Easily Enable ReadyBoost on Windows 11 [Fast Guide]