Minidump Files Location Exclusive Free Jun 2026

Your Windows settings are not configured to produce small memory dumps.

Some software packages define their own to their crash reporting system. These override Windows defaults to give developers more control.

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive 🔍 How to Find Your Custom Minidump Path

%localappdata%\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Crashpad\reports 2. Steam and PC Video Games minidump files location exclusive

Ever tried to copy a .dmp file from C:\Windows\Minidump and received “File in use” or “Access denied”? That’s because the or Windows Error Reporting may hold an exclusive lock on the file immediately after a crash.

Select to ensure exclusive creation of minidump files.

By default, Windows stores minidump files in a specific directory: Your Windows settings are not configured to produce

Uncheck the box for . Click Apply and then OK . How to Configure Your Minidump Settings

When a minidump is written, it is often locked by the system. If you try to copy or move a minidump file while the system is still initializing post-crash, you may encounter "File in Use" errors. This creates a "locked room" scenario. The file exists, the body is on the floor (the BSOD), but the investigators (the users) cannot touch the evidence until the System hands it over.

Sometimes the to a crash isn’t obvious – especially if the crash happened in a service, a system process, or a container. Use these methods to pinpoint the exact folder. Select to ensure exclusive creation of minidump files

Bookmark this guide – the next time your machine crashes, you’ll know exactly where to dig. And if you’ve discovered a custom location not listed here (many specialised apps keep their own), share it with the community. The more we know, the faster we debug.

%SystemRoot%\Minidump (This expands to the same location on your main Windows drive)

The pagefile must be at least 25 MB in size for small dumps, though letting Windows automatically manage the pagefile size is highly recommended for stability. Tools for Analyzing Minidump Files