0X80080011

Fix MEM_E_INVALID_SIZE (0X80080011) allocation size error

EP
Erropedia Team
📅 July 16, 2026 📅 Updated Jul 31, 2026 👁 6 views Windows Errors Beginner
Memory allocation size error 0X80080011 usually means a program asked for more RAM than available. Here's how to fix it quickly.

You're staring at that error code 0X80080011 and thinking "what now?" I get it. This is one of those annoying Windows errors that pops up when a program tries to grab more memory than your system can give. Don't worry, we'll fix it.

The fast fix: Increase virtual memory

Here's the thing — most of the time, this error happens because your system's virtual memory limit is too low. Virtual memory is space on your hard drive that Windows uses as extra RAM when the real RAM is full. The fix is simple.

  1. Press Windows Key + R on your keyboard. You'll see a little Run box pop up.
  2. Type sysdm.cpl and hit Enter. The System Properties window opens.
  3. Click the Advanced tab at the top.
  4. Under Performance, click Settings. A new window opens.
  5. In the Performance Options window, click the Advanced tab again.
  6. Under Virtual memory, click Change.
  7. Uncheck the box that says Automatically manage paging file size for all drives. You should see this box is checked by default.
  8. Select your C: drive (or the drive where Windows is installed).
  9. Click Custom size.
  10. In Initial size (MB), type 4096. That's 4 GB.
  11. In Maximum size (MB), type 8192. That's 8 GB.
  12. Click Set. Then click OK on all open windows.
  13. You'll see a message saying you need to restart. Click OK.
  14. Restart your computer.

After restarting, try running the program that gave the error. It should work now. If not, keep reading.

Why this works

When a program asks for a big chunk of memory — like a game, video editor, or some database software — Windows checks if it has enough space. If your virtual memory is set too low, it says "nope, can't do that" and throws error 0X80080011. By setting virtual memory to 4 GB minimum and 8 GB maximum, you're giving Windows breathing room. The program can grab what it needs.

One real-world trigger: I see this a lot with older programs designed for Windows 7 that try to allocate memory in a way Windows 10 or 11 doesn't like. Also happens with some Python scripts that try to load huge datasets into RAM.

Less common variations of this issue

1. The program has a memory leak

If the fix above doesn't help, the problem might be on the program side. Some programs have bugs where they keep asking for more and more memory until they hit the limit. Try this:

  • Close the program and restart it.
  • If it still happens, update the program to the latest version. Search online for the program's name + "update".
  • If you can't update, check if there's a memory limit setting inside the program itself. Some games have a "memory allocation" setting.

2. Your RAM is dying or faulty

Bad RAM can make Windows think it has less memory than it really does. This is rare but it happens. To check:

  1. Press Windows Key + R, type mdsched.exe, hit Enter.
  2. Choose Restart now and check for problems (recommended).
  3. Your computer will restart and run a memory test. This takes 10-30 minutes. Let it finish.
  4. After restart, check the results. If you see errors, your RAM is bad and needs replacing.

3. A 32-bit program hitting the 2 GB limit

Older 32-bit programs can only use about 2 GB of RAM total. If the program tries to allocate more than that, you get this error. The fix is to use a 64-bit version of the program if one exists. Check the software maker's website.

4. Antivirus or security software blocking memory allocation

Some aggressive antivirus programs block memory requests they think are suspicious. If you recently installed new security software:

  • Try pausing the antivirus temporarily and running the program again.
  • If it works, add the program to your antivirus's exceptions list.

How to prevent this from happening again

Once you've fixed it, here's how to keep it from coming back:

  • Keep virtual memory manually set at 4-8 GB. Don't let Windows manage it automatically — the auto setting can be too small.
  • Close unused programs. They eat up RAM and make the problem worse.
  • Check for memory leaks in any programs you use daily. Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) shows memory usage. If a program's memory keeps growing over time, it has a leak.
  • Upgrade your physical RAM if you can. More RAM means less reliance on virtual memory. 8 GB is minimum for modern Windows. 16 GB is better.

That's it. The error 0X80080011 is annoying but usually fixable with that virtual memory tweak. Try the steps above, and you'll be back to work in no time.

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EP
Erropedia Team
Tech Support Editors
The Erropedia editorial team researches and documents real-world tech errors from across Windows, Linux, macOS, networking, databases, cloud platforms, and more. Every solution is reviewed for accuracy and updated as software and systems evolve.