Shutdown: Clear virtual memory pagefile
Verified with Windows Security Options 25H2 — updated on July 13, 2026
Security policy
This is a Security Options policy (Windows Settings > Security Settings), applied by the security engine — not an Administrative Template (ADMX). In GPMC/gpedit it is configured under Local Policies > Security Options.
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options\Shutdown Description
This setting overwrites the virtual-memory pagefile when the computer shuts down. It is disabled by default. Enabling it can reduce recovery of sensitive paged data from disk, but increases shutdown time, especially with large pagefiles.
Registry
HKLM
System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management Value name: ClearPageFileAtShutdown
Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
Security policy setting: a domain GPO (Security Settings) can overwrite this registry value at the next policy refresh. Prefer configuring it via GPMC > Security Options.
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Shutdown: Clear virtual memory pagefile
; State: Enabled
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management]
"ClearPageFileAtShutdown"=dword:00000001
"ClearPageFileAtShutdown"=dword:00000000More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Shutdown: Clear virtual memory pagefile
# State: Enabled
$path = 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ClearPageFileAtShutdown' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ClearPageFileAtShutdown' -Value 0 -Type DWordIntune XML
No direct Policy CSP / OMA-URI mapping for this policy. Use the Intune Remediation tab, or ingest the ADMX in Intune.Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Shutdown: Clear virtual memory pagefile
# State: Enabled
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management' -Name 'ClearPageFileAtShutdown' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management' -Name 'ClearPageFileAtShutdown' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Shutdown: Clear virtual memory pagefile
# State: Enabled
$path = 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ClearPageFileAtShutdown' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ClearPageFileAtShutdown' -Value 0 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Shutdown: Clear virtual memory pagefile
# State: Enabled
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Shutdown: Clear virtual memory pagefile
# State: Enabled
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management' -Name 'ClearPageFileAtShutdown' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management' -Name 'ClearPageFileAtShutdown' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Shutdown: Clear virtual memory pagefile
# State: Enabled
$path = 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ClearPageFileAtShutdown' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ClearPageFileAtShutdown' -Value 0 -Type DWord