Virtual RAM in various Android smartphones: Here’s how to use it

With Android improving its game each day, we get to experience new features every other day. You blink an eye and you would probably miss out on a feature. And now, Android has come up with another feature to improve its game and the user experience overall. I am talking about Virtual RAM. I know, I know, another tech term. Let me explain this to you.

So you might be aware that a smartphone’s RAM forms an integral part of any smartphone, it defines the device’s memory and performance. But sometimes, the capacity of the RAM might not be enough for the workload that you do. That’s when Virtual RAM helps. It boosts the existing RAM and in turn, adds more resources for your required tasks and in turn improves the performance of your device.

What is Virtual RAM?

Smartphone makers set aside a small portion of the smartphone’s internal storage which is later added to the RAM of your device, and this is called Virtual RAM. This can increase the number of tasks that run in the background of your smartphone. It leads to faster and improved performance as there is no need to aggressively kill apps in the memory once it starts filling up.

Various smartphone brands such as Xiaomi, Realme, OnePlus, Samsung, etc. have started to introduce virtual RAM features into their OS interface. But how can you use it?

Also read: Samsung adds virtual RAM to Galaxy A52s 5G in new update

How to use virtual RAM in your Android smartphones?

Various Android smartphones are now offering the Virtual RAM feature. Here’s how you can set it up on different smartphones.

Samsung

Samsung has been working on its version of virtual RAM for some time now. They call it the OneUI 4, known as RAM Plus. This was first released for the Galaxy A52 smartphones last year and now has been introduced in almost all Samsung smartphones that came out recently. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Go to ‘Settings’ on your Samsung smartphone
Step 2: Now scroll down to the ‘Battery and device care’ and click on it.
Step 3: Next, select the ‘Memory’ option.
Step 4: You will see the ‘RAM Plus’ option, click on it.
Step 5: Now select the desired storage to be converted into virtual RAM with options varying from 2GB, 4GB, 6GB, and 8GB.
Step 6: It will now ask you to restart your device.
Step 7: Restart the device.

Vivo/iQOO

Step 1: Open the ‘Settings.’
step 2: Find the ‘RAM and storage space’ option and select it.
Step 3: Click on the ‘RAM’ option.
Step 4: You will now see an option to extend and enable the RAM.

Oppo/OnePlus

Certain Oppo smartphones that run on ColorOS 11 and above have the option to convert a little space from their internal storage into virtual RAM. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Go to ‘Settings.’
Step 2: Scroll down to the ‘About phone’ section
Step 3: Click on the “RAM” option
Step 4: Now, turn on the RAM expansion feature.
Step 5: You can choose the amount of storage that you wish to give for the additional RAM by sliding the meter between 2GB, 3GB, and 5GB
Step 6: Now, restart your device.

Also read: Redmi 12 5G launched in India with the biggest display yet on a Redmi phone

Xiaomi, Poco

You can avail of this feature on Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12.5 and above. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Go to ‘Settings.’
Step 2: Find the ‘Additional Settings’ option and click on it.
Step 3: You will now see a ‘Memory extension’ option.
Step 4: Turn this option on and you are done.

Realme

Realme calls its Virtual RAM, Dynamic RAM Expansion (DRE). It was first introduced on many smartphones running on Realme UI 2.0 on top of Android 11. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Settings app
Step 2: Find the ‘About phone’ section and select it
Step 3: Next, scroll down to the RAM info section and tap on it.
Step 4: Then toggle ON the switch.
Step 5: You can expand your RAM up to 3GB by sliding on the desired option.
Step 6: Restart your device and you are done.