What Is Shared GPU Memory and How to Manage It

Shared GPU memory is a portion of your computer’s RAM temporarily used by the GPU when dedicated graphics memory runs out. This typically happens on systems with integrated graphics, like Intel UHD or AMD Radeon Vega, where no dedicated VRAM is available.

Shared vs Dedicated GPU Memory

Dedicated GPU memory is a fixed amount of VRAM built into your graphics card. Shared GPU memory, by contrast, is borrowed from your system RAM. Windows 10 and Windows 11 automatically allocate it when needed, especially for graphic-intensive tasks like games or video rendering.

If you’re unsure about your configuration, you can follow this guide on how to check how much VRAM you have in Windows 10, which shows both dedicated and shared memory.

How to Disable Shared GPU Memory

There’s no direct option in Windows settings to disable shared GPU memory. However, you can try limiting or disabling it through your PC’s BIOS or UEFI firmware:

• Reboot your PC and enter the BIOS or UEFI (usually by pressing F2, Del, or Esc during startup).
• Look for settings like “Integrated Graphics,” “iGPU Memory,” or “UMA Frame Buffer Size.”
• If available, reduce the memory assigned or disable integrated graphics.

Keep in mind that disabling shared GPU memory can lead to performance issues if your GPU runs out of available memory. In some cases, misallocation could even indicate that your GPU memory is full, which affects game and app performance.

How to Increase Shared GPU Memory in Windows 11

To increase shared GPU memory manually, your best option is through the BIOS:

• Open your BIOS settings.
• Navigate to the video or chipset section.
• Adjust the UMA Frame Buffer Size or similar option to allocate more RAM to the GPU.

You can also follow this walkthrough on how to increase VRAM in Windows 11, which includes registry tweaks and useful checks.

On Windows 10, the process is slightly different. Here’s how to increase dedicated video RAM in Windows 10 if your GPU allows it.

Can You Decrease Shared GPU Memory?

Decreasing shared GPU memory may help free up RAM for general use. You’ll need to access the BIOS to reduce the pre-allocated memory amount.

If you notice system memory not being used effectively, consider addressing the issue by checking why Windows 10 isn’t using all RAM, which might interfere with how much is available for graphics tasks.

Managing Shared GPU Memory Settings

There’s no toggle in Windows settings for shared GPU memory. However, you can monitor current usage:

• Right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager.
• Go to the “Performance” tab.
• Click on “GPU” to view dedicated and shared memory stats.

If memory levels appear unusually high or unstable, it could point to a GPU memory leak that needs troubleshooting or driver-level fixes.

Shared GPU Memory on NVIDIA Systems

If your system uses an NVIDIA GPU, shared memory still plays a role in hybrid graphics. In most cases, the dedicated VRAM takes priority, but you can fine-tune app-specific behavior using the NVIDIA Control Panel.

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