This document provides information about "Enable locked pages" memory setting in SQL Server database. This document also clearly explains when NOT to enable this setting. This document also explains when to consider enabling this setting.

1. What is SQL Server “Enable locked pages”?
This setting locks physical memory allocated to SQL Server. This means, if 120 GB is set as MAXMEMORY
for SQL Server, then SQL Server will not* release this memory even if OS requests SQL Server to release
some memory for other tasks.
When SQL Server “Enable locked pages” setting is not required:
1. If you are on SQL Server 2012 or higher version +
2. OS is Windows Server 2012 or higher +
3. The VM is only for SQL Server.
If your environment meets all three points mentioned above, then there is no point of enabling this
setting.
So, when “Enable locked pages” setting should be enabled?
If your environment falls into any one of the below conditions, then, discuss with your DBA and check if
enabling this setting would give performance improvement.
1. Your VM hosts SQL Server and other applications
2. Your VM OS version is < 2012
3. Your SQL Server versions <= 2008