How to enable ReadyBoost for a USB drive in Windows
Aug 02, 2025 am 06:32 AMReadyBoost can improve performance on older systems with HDDs and limited RAM by using a USB drive as cache. 1) Ensure the USB is formatted with NTFS, exFAT, or FAT32 and has sufficient read speed. 2) Plug in the USB drive and open File Explorer. 3) Right-click the drive, select Properties, then go to the ReadyBoost tab. 4) Choose “Dedicate this device to ReadyBoost” or “Use this device” and set the space to allocate. 5) Click Apply, then OK. Note that Windows limits ReadyBoost to 4 GB on 32-bit or 32 GB on 64-bit systems. ReadyBoost is most effective with 4 GB or less RAM and mechanical hard drives, but offers little benefit on modern systems with SSDs and 8 GB RAM. For best results, use a high-speed USB 3.0 drive in a compatible port and avoid using the drive for other tasks. ReadyBoost is a minor optimization and not a substitute for more RAM.
ReadyBoost is a Windows feature that uses free space on USB flash drives to improve system performance by using the drive as a cache for frequently accessed files. It works best on systems with slower hard drives and limited RAM. Here’s how to enable ReadyBoost for a USB drive in Windows:

? Check if Your USB Drive and System Support ReadyBoost
Before enabling ReadyBoost, ensure:
- The USB drive is formatted with NTFS, exFAT, or FAT32 (NTFS recommended).
- The drive has a minimum read speed of 2.5 MB/s for 4KB random reads (Windows will test this).
- Your computer has a mechanical hard drive (HDD) — ReadyBoost offers little to no benefit on systems with SSDs.
- You’re using Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11 — ReadyBoost is supported in all these versions.
? How to Enable ReadyBoost
- Plug in your USB drive to a USB port.
- Open File Explorer, right-click on the USB drive, and select Properties.
- Go to the ReadyBoost tab.
- Select one of the following options:
- Dedicate this device to ReadyBoost – Uses the entire drive for caching.
- Use this device – Lets you choose how much space to allocate.
- Do not use this device – Disables ReadyBoost for this drive.
- If you choose "Use this device", move the slider to set the amount of space to reserve for ReadyBoost.
- Click Apply, then OK.
?? Note: Windows may limit the maximum usable ReadyBoost space (usually up to 4 GB on 32-bit systems or 32 GB on 64-bit systems).
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? Does ReadyBoost Actually Help?
ReadyBoost is most effective when:
- You have 4 GB or less RAM.
- You're running programs that access many small files.
- You’re using an older HDD-based system.
On modern systems with 8 GB RAM and SSD storage, ReadyBoost typically provides no noticeable improvement — the SSD is already much faster than a USB drive.

? Tips for Best Results
- Use a high-speed USB 3.0 flash drive with good random read/write performance.
- Plug the drive into a USB 3.0 or later port (usually blue or labeled "SS").
- Avoid using the drive for other tasks while it’s dedicated to ReadyBoost.
- Don’t expect miracles — ReadyBoost is a minor optimization, not a RAM replacement.
Basically, enabling ReadyBoost is simple, but its real-world impact is limited on modern hardware. If you're on an older laptop with an HDD and limited RAM, it’s worth trying — otherwise, you can safely leave it off.
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