Dump File Location Windows 11 or 10

Windows 11 (including earlier version), when, encounter a Blue Screen of Death (or BSOD), accumulates all the memory information into a file. Holding Dump file as name it further helps users to identify and debug the cause of the crashes. The files also allow writing the debugging details in different file formats in order to simplify the readability of the data.

Dump file may be of various types depending on the nature of crash and bug check values.  These are “Small memory dump (Minidump)”, “Kernel memory dump”, “Complete memory dump”, “Automatic memory dump”, and “Active memory dump”. However, among all these, Windows 10/11 generates Automatic memory dump all by itself as its name suggests. The following section will deal with everything related to Dump File Location Windows 11 or 10.

Dump File Location Windows 10 or 11

Here is the Dump File Location Windows 11 or 10 –

Dump File Location

Instead, you can say Dump file locations so see the following paths to find out the data –

%SystemRoot%memory.dmp which means
C:\Windows\memory.dmp
This is the default location and here, C: refers to the system drive where Windows is installed.

Windows 11/10 can also capture memory dumps that consume a small amount of space. These are created at –

%SystemRoot%Minidump.dmp i.e.,

C:\Window\Minidump.dump

Change Dump File Location Windows 11 or 10

1. Go to desktop and right-click on This PC icon. From the available options, choose Properties.
2. Click Advanced system settings link that shows up on the top left of the subsequent window.
3. Click Settings beneath Startup and Recovery section.

1. Locate the Dump File text field and insert the location of the file.

Configure the Type of Memory Dump File

As aforementioned, Windows generates Automatic memory dump files but users can choose to configure the settings as per need. Thankfully, there are certain ways using which a user can change the type of memory dump file that Windows creates.

1]Through Startup and Recovery

1. Press “Win logo+R” hotkey to open Run dialog box. System properties wizard will become visible, switch to Advanced tab.
2. Here, click Settings just below Startup and Recovery section.
3. Click the drop-down under Write debugging information. From the list of dump file types, choose the type that you wish Windows to generate when Windows crashes.
4. To apply the changes, click OK.

Note – In case the system crashes a lot, it’s better to deselect the checkbox against the option Overwrite any existing file. Doing this will eventually create incremental dump files that will have a memory dump file for each crash that occurs.

2] Use Elevated Command Prompt

1. Fire up taskbar search using Win+S combination of keys. Type in cmd.exe, right-click ok Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
2. Click Yes on the prompt of UAC to access elevated Command Prompt.
3. Once into the black window, insert the applicable command from the list below to change the type of dump file and hit Enter.

Memory Type	Command Line
No memory	wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 0
Small memory dump	wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 3
Kernel memory dump	wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 2
Complete memory dump	wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 1
Automatic memory dump	wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 7
Active memory dump	wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 1

1. Finally, close the prompt window and Restart Windows 10 PC to make the changes effective.

Note – The Command Prompt also lets you view the current memory dump file. Just open Command Prompt as Administrator and run the following command-line –

wmic RECOVEROS get DebugInfoType

Types of Memory Dump Files

It is important to know the types after finding Dump File Location Windows 11 or 10 –

Small memory dump – It is the type that contains a minimal amount of details. Basically, the file includes the stop code, list of device drivers, parameters. Furthermore, it also contains the current process and informs which kernel thread or process crashed.

Kernel memory dump – This is the most useful and comprehensive one with respect to the kernel. Moreover, this type contains information in connection with programs and drivers in kernel mode. However, the dimension of this dump file completely depends on the amount of kernel-mode memory specified by Windows and drivers. Now, in case a second crash occurs and a kernel memory dump file is generated, the earlier content gets overwritten.

Complete memory dump – A remarkably large file type which is equal to the RAM of the system. It incorporates physical memory allocation that is basically left out in other kernel dumps.

Automatic memory dump – When compared to the kernel memory option, this is quite similar to it in terms of information. The only difference between them is the size of the paging file that Windows sets for them.

Active memory dump – It is comparatively smaller than complete memory dump. This type refines the items that are not influential in spotting the cause of a crash.

That’s all!!!