what it is and how it works on Android phones

Let’s go step by step: what is RAM?

The RAM It is the one that contains temporary files of the applications so that the processor can make quick queries. It is so important that it is fast that it is even physically located close to the processor. The amount of RAM memory does not usually define the performance of the equipment by itself, whether in a computer or a phone. In reality, having more or less RAM influences the maximum number of applications that can be kept open without losing data.

In a computer, RAM is installed in a slot on the motherboard. In mobile devices, this component is included on the same chip as the GPU and the CPU. The set of all these components is called SoC. Current operating systems, such as Android, manage RAM efficiently preventing it from reaching the point of saturation. This is necessary because expanding the RAM that is installed in a mobile device is not possible. Still, manufacturers have managed to expand it using software.

What is virtual RAM and how does it work?

The virtual RAM Expands the total amount of available space by using part of the device’s internal storage. You must be very clear that this is a solution that is activated only when the main RAM is at the limit. In this way, virtualization of RAM through the use of storage is used as a last resort and temporarily until the main RAM memory has free space again.

Virtual RAM works transparently for the user. Android is in charge of managing when it is necessary to use the storage and when not. This system is implemented in the field of software and in no case requires a modification of the hardware. There are cases of some models that did not have the option to enable virtual RAM of origin and, after a system update, they have acquired that possibility. This opens the door for terminals with few resources to improve multitasking and be able to deal with more applications at the same time.

In addition to what we have already discussed, it is important to take into account some additional questions regarding the Virtual RAM. For example, it is not as fast as real RAM. Remember that emulation is a basic resource taking advantage of a slower storage device. So don’t expect performance to improve too much when running heavy video games or applications. On the other hand, don’t forget that enabling this feature requires free space on your device. If you don’t have more GB available, you won’t be able to virtualize RAM.

How to activate virtual RAM on your device?

The step prior to activating the virtual RAM is to check if your model has this function. If this is not the case, you will have no way to expand the amount of RAM on your device. If, fortunately, you have this function, the most common is that you should go to the section About phone settings.