Increase Dedicated VRAM in Windows: Full Guide

This guide shows you how to increase the dedicated video RAM (VRAM) that Windows reports for your graphics adapter. This is useful when a game or application refuses to launch because it thinks your VRAM is too low, even though your GPU has enough memory. You’ll learn both the software method (registry edit) and the hardware reality check, so you know what actually helps and what doesn’t.

What You’ll Need

A Windows PC (Windows 10 or Windows 11)
Administrator account access
If you have an integrated GPU (Intel or AMD), you may also need to enter the BIOS/UEFI setup

Step-by-Step

Check your current VRAM. Press Win + R, type dxdiag, and press Enter. In the Display tab, look for “Display Memory (VRAM)”. Note the number shown. This is what Windows reports, not necessarily your physical VRAM.
Open Registry Editor. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Click “Yes” if prompted by User Account Control.
Navigate to the Intel graphics key. In the left pane, go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Intel. If you don’t see an “Intel” folder, right-click on SOFTWARE and create a new Key named “Intel”.
Create the GMM folder. Right-click the “Intel” key, select New > Key, and name it GMM.
Add the DedicatedSegmentSize value. Inside the GMM folder, right-click on the empty space in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it DedicatedSegmentSize.
Set the value in megabytes. Double-click the new value, select Decimal as the base, and enter a number. For 512 MB, enter 512. For 1 GB, enter 1024. For 2 GB, enter 2048. Click OK.
Restart your computer. The change only takes effect after a reboot.
Verify the change. Run dxdiag again after restarting. The “Display Memory” should now show the value you entered.
For AMD integrated graphics: The same registry path works for AMD APUs, but the key is under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\AMD. Create a key named GMM and the same DWORD value.
For BIOS/UEFI method (if registry doesn’t help): Restart your PC and press the key to enter BIOS (usually Del, F2, or F10). Look for settings like “Graphics Configuration”, “UMA Frame Buffer Size”, or “DVMT Pre-Allocated”. Set it to 512 MB or higher. Save and exit.

Common Mistakes

Setting the value too high. If you set DedicatedSegmentSize to 4 GB or more on a system with limited RAM, you may cause instability or boot failures. Stay within 512 MB–2 GB unless you know your system can handle it.
Editing the wrong registry key. Some guides suggest creating a key under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\GMM – that is incorrect. Use the Intel or AMD key as described.
Forgetting to restart. The registry change won’t apply until you reboot.
Expecting a real VRAM increase. This method only changes the reported value, not the actual hardware memory. Games that actually need more VRAM will still struggle.
Using decimal vs hex. Make sure you select “Decimal” before typing the number. If you leave it on Hexadecimal, entering 512 will be interpreted as 1298 MB.

Tips

Back up the registry before editing. Right-click the key you’re about to change and select Export. Save it to a safe location so you can restore if something goes wrong.
Start with the lowest value that works. If a game requires 512 MB, set exactly 512 MB. Higher values don’t improve performance; they just reserve more system RAM.
For discrete GPUs (NVIDIA/AMD), this method does nothing. Their VRAM is physical and cannot be changed. The registry trick only affects integrated graphics.
Update your graphics drivers. Sometimes the error about low VRAM is a driver bug. Install the latest drivers from Intel, AMD, or NVIDIA before resorting to registry edits.
Consider increasing system RAM. Integrated GPUs share system memory. Adding more RAM can give the GPU more headroom, even if the reported VRAM stays the same.

Troubleshooting

The value doesn’t stick after restart. Recheck the registry path. Make sure you created the GMM key under the correct vendor folder (Intel or AMD). Also, some Windows updates reset these values – reapply after major updates.

Games still say VRAM is too low. The game may be reading actual hardware VRAM, not the reported value. For integrated GPUs, the actual shared memory is what matters. Try lowering game graphics settings or updating the game.

System becomes unstable or won’t boot. Boot into Safe Mode (hold Shift while clicking Restart, then Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings). Open Registry Editor and delete the DedicatedSegmentSize value or set it back to 0. If you made a backup, restore it.

BIOS option not found. Not all motherboards expose the UMA/DVMT setting. If you can’t find it, stick with the registry method. Some newer systems automatically allocate VRAM based on system RAM and don’t allow manual adjustment.

dxdiag still shows 0 MB or old value. This can happen on systems with dual GPUs (integrated + discrete). Make sure you’re looking at the correct Display tab. Also, try clearing the Windows display cache: open Device Manager, right-click your display adapter, select Uninstall, then restart. Windows will reinstall the driver.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does increasing dedicated VRAM improve gaming performance?
A: No. It only changes the number Windows reports. Actual performance depends on the physical GPU and how much system RAM is allocated to it. If a game refuses to start due to a VRAM check, this trick can bypass that, but it won’t make games run faster.

Q: Is it safe to edit the registry?
A: Yes, if you follow the steps carefully and back up first. The specific value (DedicatedSegmentSize) is a known Windows feature for integrated GPUs. Incorrect values can cause instability, but you can revert them.

Q: Can I increase VRAM on a laptop?
A: Yes, if it has integrated graphics. The registry method works on laptops too. However, some laptops have locked BIOS settings, so the registry may be your only option.

Q: What is the maximum value I should set?
A: Keep it at 2 GB (2048 MB) or lower. Higher values can consume too much system RAM and slow down the whole system. For most games, 512 MB to 1 GB is enough to pass the VRAM check.

Q: Will this work for NVIDIA or AMD discrete GPUs?
A: No. Discrete GPUs have their own dedicated VRAM that cannot be changed via software. The registry method only affects Intel or AMD integrated graphics.

Q: Why does dxdiag show two different VRAM values?
A: One is “Display Memory (VRAM)” and the other is “Shared Memory”. The first is what you changed; the second is how much system RAM the GPU can borrow. Both matter for games, but the dedicated value is the one that triggers low-VRAM errors.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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