How Do I Fix Swap Memory in Linux?

How Do I Fix Swap Memory in Linux?
Contents

To clear the swap memory on your system, you simply need to cycle off the swap. This moves all data from swap memory back into RAM. It also means that you need to be sure you have the RAM to support this operation. An easy way to do this is to run ‘free -m’ to see what is being used in swap and in RAM.

How do I swap memory in Linux?

The basic steps to take are simple:

  1. Turn off the existing swap space.
  2. Create a new swap partition of the desired size.
  3. Reread the partition table.
  4. Configure the partition as swap space.
  5. Add the new partition/etc/fstab.
  6. Turn on swap.

Why is my swap memory full?

Sometimes, system will use full amount of swap memory even when the system has enough physical memory available, this happens because inactive pages that are moved to swap during the high memory usage have not gone back to the physical memory in normal condition.

Maya Lin-Takahashi
Author

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.