Windows · System Info
Configure Advanced System Properties
Advanced System Settings (opened via sysdm.cpl or 'Advanced system settings' in search) is a legacy System Properties dialog covering performance options like visual effects and virtual memory, system startup and recovery behavior, user profile management, and manual environment variable editing. These controls predate the modern Settings app and remain the only place for several deeper configuration options.
How to open Advanced System Settings
- Search 'Advanced system settings' from the Start menu, or run sysdm.cpl.
- Select the Advanced tab in the System Properties dialog that opens.
- Click 'Settings' under Performance, or 'Environment Variables' near the bottom, depending on what you need to configure.
- Apply your changes and restart if prompted, especially after editing virtual memory settings.
What you should know
- Performance tab: adjust visual effects for best appearance or best performance, and configure virtual memory (paging file) size manually.
- Advanced tab → Startup and Recovery: set the default OS in a dual-boot setup and control what happens during a system crash (like whether to write a memory dump).
- Advanced tab → Environment Variables: view and edit user and system-level variables like PATH, often needed for development tools.
- System Protection tab: enable System Restore points per drive and manage existing restore points.
Editing the system PATH environment variable incorrectly, such as deleting an existing entry instead of appending to it, can break command-line tools and even some installed applications until it's corrected.
Why it matters
This dialog holds several settings with no modern Settings app equivalent, including manual virtual memory sizing, environment variables, and System Restore configuration, making it essential for developers, power users, and anyone troubleshooting deep performance or memory issues. Virtual memory and visual effects tuning specifically matter on lower-RAM systems, where the wrong paging file size or excessive animation overhead can measurably slow things down. Because environment variables like PATH affect how command-line tools locate executables, correctly editing them here is often required after manually installing developer tools that don't ship a proper installer.
Best practices
- Leave virtual memory on 'Automatically manage paging file size' unless you have a specific, informed reason to set a custom size manually.
- Append new entries to PATH with a semicolon separator rather than replacing the existing value outright, to avoid breaking other tools that depend on it.
- Enable System Protection on your main drive if it isn't already, so a restore point exists before you need one.
- Choose 'Adjust for best performance' on older or lower-spec hardware if animations feel sluggish, then selectively re-enable specific effects you actually miss.
- Create a manual restore point under System Protection before editing environment variables or virtual memory settings, in case you need to revert quickly.
Common problems and fixes
- A command-line tool isn't recognized even though it's clearly installed.
- Check the PATH variable under Environment Variables to confirm the tool's install folder is actually listed, and add it if missing, then reopen any open Command Prompt or PowerShell windows to pick up the change.
- PC runs low on memory during heavy multitasking despite having a reasonable amount of RAM.
- Check virtual memory settings under the Performance tab and ensure 'Automatically manage paging file size' is enabled, or increase the custom size if it's been manually capped too low.
- System Restore isn't available when you need to roll back a recent change.
- Check the System Protection tab to confirm restore points are actually enabled for that drive, since it's off by default on many Windows 11 installations.
- Windows feels visually sluggish with animations and transparency enabled.
- Open Performance Options from the Advanced tab and either choose 'Adjust for best performance' or manually uncheck specific effects like 'Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing'.
Tips and tricks
- Search 'advanced system settings' directly from the Start menu as the fastest way to open this dialog without navigating through Settings.
- Run 'sysdm.cpl' from the Run dialog (Win+R) to jump straight to the System Properties dialog this page is part of.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between this dialog and the modern System settings page?
The modern Settings app covers everyday options like display and power, while Advanced System Settings exposes deeper, less frequently needed configuration like virtual memory, environment variables, and crash-time recovery behavior that Microsoft hasn't migrated to the newer interface.
Do I need administrator rights to change these settings?
Yes, most changes here, including environment variables at the system level and virtual memory settings, require administrator permissions and will prompt for elevation if you're not already running as one.
Is it safe to edit environment variables if I'm not a developer?
Generally yes if you're only viewing them, but avoid editing PATH or other system variables unless you know specifically what you're changing, since incorrect edits can affect how installed software locates its own files.
Related settings
- About / System InformationAbout shows your PC's core specifications at a glance — processor, installed RAM, device ID, and system type — alongside your exact Windows edition, version, and build number. It's the single quickest place to find the information support technicians, driver downloads, and compatibility checks almost always ask for first.
- Storage SettingsStorage Settings let you view how much disk space is being used by apps, system files, temporary files, and media. You can free up space automatically using Storage Sense or manually remove unwanted files.
- Power & SleepPower & Sleep settings let you control when your screen turns off and when your device goes to sleep while idle. Adjusting these settings can help balance battery life and performance.
More System Info guides for Windows
- Date & TimeDate & Time settings control your system clock, time zone, and whether Windows sets these automatically using your location and an internet time server. Correct time settings matter well beyond the clock display — they affect file timestamps, certificate validation, scheduled tasks, and login to network resources.
- ActivationActivation shows whether your copy of Windows is genuinely licensed and linked to your hardware or Microsoft account, which edition you're running, and lets you enter a new product key or upgrade to a different edition, like from Home to Pro. A properly activated Windows unlocks full personalization options and removes the persistent activation watermark.
- Rename This PCLets you change the device name Windows uses to identify this PC on networks, in file sharing, and when pairing devices like Bluetooth accessories.
- System Protection & Restore PointsConfigures System Restore, which periodically saves snapshots of system files and settings so you can roll the PC back to an earlier working state after a problematic driver or software installation.
- Environment VariablesLets advanced users view and edit environment variables such as PATH, TEMP, and custom variables that control how applications, scripts, and the command line locate files and behave.
- Domain or Workgroup SettingsLets you configure whether this PC belongs to a home network workgroup or a business network domain, which affects sign-in options, network resource access, and group policy management.