How to Free Up RAM and Reduce RAM Usage on Windows (2024)

Need to learn how to free up RAM on your computer, perhaps after seeing messages that your Windows PC is low on memory? Don't fear; we have many tips to reduce your RAM usage on Windows.

Let's take a look at some practical steps to clear RAM and keep your computer running smoothly. These apply to both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

What Is RAM and What Is It For?

Before we dive into tips on how to clear RAM on Windows, let's briefly describe what RAM does in case you're not familiar. See our full explanation of RAM for more details.

RAM stands for Random Access Memory. It's a short-term storage medium that holds programs and processes currently running on your computer.

The more RAM that's in your machine, the more programs you can run at once without negatively affecting performance. When your computer runs low on RAM, it uses a part of the storage drive called the page file, which acts as pretend RAM. This is much slower than actual RAM, which is why you notice slowdowns when Windows has to use it.

Because RAM is volatile, you'll lose its contents when your computer shuts off. Anything you want to keep must save to permanent storage, like a hard drive or solid-state drive. This is why, for example, you'll lose an open Word document that you haven't saved yet when your computer shuts off.

How to Free Up RAM on Your Windows PC: 8 Methods

Let's look at the ways to reduce the amount of RAM you're using. You shouldn't need to do this often, but these methods come in handy when you notice a memory problem.

1. Restart Your PC

This is a tip you're probably familiar with for troubleshooting other problems, but it's popular for a reason.

Restarting your PC will also completely clear the contents of RAM and restart all running processes. While this obviously won't increase the maximum RAM you have available, it will clean up processes running in the background that could be eating up your memory. Some processes might be running that you didn't realize.

You should restart your computer regularly to keep it from getting bogged down, especially if you use it all the time. If you haven't restarted in a week and your PC feels sluggish, it's time to reboot.

2. Check RAM Usage With Windows Tools

How to Free Up RAM and Reduce RAM Usage on Windows (1)

You don't have to guess what's using your RAM; Windows provides tools to show you. To get started, open the Task Manager by searching for it in the Start menu, or use the Ctrl + Shift + Esc shortcut.

Click More details to expand to the full view, if needed. Then, on the Processes tab, click the Memory header to sort all processes from most to least RAM usage. Keep the apps you see here in mind, as we'll discuss more on them later. Keep in mind that heavier apps need more RAM, so using a lot of RAM isn't necessarily the sign of an issue. A browser with a dozen tabs open is going to take more RAM than a simple notepad app, for instance.

For more information, switch to the Performance tab. In the Memory section, you'll see a chart of your RAM usage over time. Click Open Resource Monitor at the bottom and you can get further details on this utility's Memory tab.

The chart at the bottom will show you how much RAM you have free. Sort by Commit (KB) on the top list to see which programs use the most RAM. If you suspect you have a deep problem based on what you see here, see the complete guide to troubleshooting memory leaks.

How to Free Up RAM and Reduce RAM Usage on Windows (2)

3. Uninstall or Disable Unneeded Software

Now that you've seen what apps use the most RAM on your system, think about whether you really use them. An easy way to reduce RAM usage is to prevent programs you never use anyway from consuming it.

Apps you haven't opened in months but that still run in the background are just wasting resources on your computer, so you should remove them. Do so by navigating to Settings > Apps > Apps & features and clicking Uninstall on any app you want to remove.

How to Free Up RAM and Reduce RAM Usage on Windows (3)

If you don't want to uninstall an app because you use it sometimes, you can instead prevent that program from running at startup. Many apps set themselves to automatically run every time you log in, which is unnecessary if you rarely use them.

4. Update Your Apps

You should always install app updates in a timely manner for security reasons, but doing this can help you reduce RAM waste, too.

Some apps suffer from memory leaks, which occur when a program doesn't return RAM to the pool once it's done using those resources. Over time, such apps will use more and more RAM, leading to a lack of resources for the other apps on your system. If there's a memory leak issue with an app, installing the latest update will hopefully include a fix for this problem.

Aside from this, the latest versions of apps can include optimization and improvements so that the software doesn't need to use as much RAM in general.

5. Use Lighter Apps and Manage Running Programs

How to Free Up RAM and Reduce RAM Usage on Windows (4)

What if you really need to clear RAM on your computer, but the apps hogging RAM are necessary to your workflow? You can handle this in two ways.

First, try using lighter app alternatives when you can. If your computer struggles when you have Photoshop open, try using a smaller app like Paint.NET or GIMP for minor edits. Only use Photoshop when you're fully dedicated to working on a project.

Second, pay closer attention to the programs you have open. Close any software that you're not actively working with. Make a habit of saving files when you're done working on them, then close the app they're open in. Bookmark open browser tabs that you want to read later (or use a read-it-later service like Pocket), then close them to free up RAM. Keeping a tighter leash on what's running at once will help free up RAM.

Be sure to expand the System Tray section of the taskbar, located at the bottom-right of your screen, by clicking the small arrow. Each program that has an icon here is running in the background, so you should right-click and choose Close or Exit on anything you don't need (then use the steps above to prevent it from running at startup every time).

Google Chrome is in its own category here, as it's notorious for gobbling RAM. See how to control Chrome's memory usage for tips. If you work in your browser a lot, it might be better to switch away from Chrome in favor of another option (such as Edge) that's easier on RAM.

No matter what browser you use, you should check your browser extensions and remove any you don't need. Every extension you add to your browser consumes extra memory, so getting rid of those is an easy way to reduce RAM usage further.

6. Scan for Malware

It's worth checking for malware on your PC if your RAM always seems to disappear. Rogue software stealing resources will obviously suck up your available RAM.

We recommend running a scan with Malwarebytes. Hopefully, it won't find anything, but at least you can rule out the possibility.

7. Adjust Virtual Memory in Windows

Earlier, we mentioned the paging file. If you see error messages that your system is low on virtual memory, you can increase this to hopefully keep performance stable.

To do so, head to Settings > System > About. On this page, click Advanced system settings, which will open a new window. If you don't see this link on Windows 10, expand the Settings window horizontally until it appears. On Windows 11, it's in the Related links section under Device specifications.

In the new box, on the Advanced tab, click the Settings button under Performance. This will open a new window; switch to the Advanced tab once again and click the Change button in the Virtual memory section.

Now you'll see the paging file size for your main drive. In most cases, you can leave the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives box checked to let Windows take care of it. However, if you're running low on virtual memory, you may need to uncheck this and set the Initial size and Maximum size to higher values.

How to Free Up RAM and Reduce RAM Usage on Windows (5)

8. Try ReadyBoost to Add More RAM

If your computer is old and has a tiny amount of RAM inside, you can try a lesser-known Windows feature called ReadyBoost to increase RAM. This allows you to plug in a flash drive or SD card and have Windows effectively treat it as extra RAM.

While it sounds great, this feature offers limited use today. If your computer has an SSD, ReadyBoost won't do anything. This is because an SSD is faster than a flash drive, so the paging file is more efficient than using the USB drive as RAM.

Plus, since computers have more RAM installed by default now, you won't see as much gain from ReadyBoost as you would on a weak system from many years ago. The "pretend RAM" from ReadyBoost doesn't offer the same performance gains as actually adding more RAM.

As such, ReadyBoost only lets you increase the effective amount of RAM on ancient systems. In all other cases, the only way to get more RAM in your computer is by adding it yourself.

9. Install More RAM

If you're always running low on RAM or want to run more programs at once, there's really no way around it: you need to add some more RAM to your machine. While this does involve some cost, adding RAM will grant much-improved performance if your computer hasn't had much until now.

If you're wondering how to get more RAM, know that it's only possible to increase your RAM by adding physical sticks of memory to your machine. Claims online about "downloading more RAM" are jokes; it's impossible to add memory this way.

On a desktop, increasing your RAM is usually a simple upgrade. But due to the confined space on a laptop, it may be difficult or even impossible to add more RAM on a laptop. See our guide to upgrading your laptop's RAM for a walkthrough.

In either case, you'll need to make sure you buy RAM that's compatible with your system. Take a look at your PC manufacturer's documentation to learn what kind of RAM works with your system and whether the upgrade is easy. Online forums will also help with this.

To help you make the most of the upgrade, we've compared whether faster RAM or the overall amount of RAM is more important.

What About RAM Cleaners?

You've likely seen RAM cleaning utilities that promise to help you boost your RAM in various ways. While these sound great in theory, we recommend avoiding them.

Have a look at our coverage of CleanMem, one such app, for the reasons why. In summary, RAM boosters are placebos at best, as they "free up" RAM by taking it from programs that probably need it.

Memory management is a complex computing issue. The developers of Windows, who are experts in their field, have a much better grasp on how to do this than some random developer who publishes a RAM cleaner. Your computer using most of its available RAM isn't necessarily a problem—it's making the most of the resources it has available.

RAM Is Just One Important Computer Upgrade

We've taken a look at several ways to free up RAM on Windows 10 and 11. Ultimately, adding more physical RAM to your machine is the best solution for RAM-related issues, especially if they happen consistently. Walking through the above steps will help you decide if this is necessary, though.

With all this talk of RAM, don't forget that other PC components are important too. Upgrading certain types of hardware will have more of an effect on your PC's performance than others.

How to Free Up RAM and Reduce RAM Usage on Windows (2024)

FAQs

How to Free Up RAM and Reduce RAM Usage on Windows? ›

To stop high RAM usage, quit programs you aren't using, restart your computer, uninstall unneeded programs, and scan for malware. If that doesn't help free up your RAM, consider downloading RAM cleaning software or installing more RAM.

How do I free up RAM and reduce RAM usage on Windows? ›

How to Free Up RAM on Your Windows PC: 8 Methods
  1. Restart Your PC. ...
  2. Check RAM Usage With Windows Tools. ...
  3. Uninstall or Disable Unneeded Software. ...
  4. Update Your Apps. ...
  5. Use Lighter Apps and Manage Running Programs. ...
  6. Scan for Malware. ...
  7. Adjust Virtual Memory in Windows. ...
  8. Try ReadyBoost to Add More RAM.

How do I reduce RAM usage as much as possible? ›

11 ways to reduce your RAM usage
  1. Turn your device off and on. ...
  2. Check which programs are draining your RAM. ...
  3. Cut down background apps. ...
  4. Use less resource-intensive apps. ...
  5. Close apps when you're not using them. ...
  6. Change browsers. ...
  7. Clear your cache. ...
  8. Keep your software updated.
Aug 5, 2024

How to fix 100% RAM usage? ›

How to Avoid High Memory Usage in Windows 10 - Tips
  1. #1. Add a big enough memory card to the PC.
  2. #2. Run virus cleaner regularly.
  3. #4. Disable unnecessary programs from Startup.
  4. #5. Release virtual memory from hard drive.
  5. #6. Fix file system error and defrag hard drive regularly.
Apr 22, 2024

How do I free up more usable RAM? ›

5 Ways to Free up RAM on Any Computer
  1. Restart Your Computer. The first thing you can try to free up RAM is restarting your computer. ...
  2. Update Your Software. It's important to be running the most updated versions of your computer software and applications. ...
  3. Clear Your Cache. ...
  4. Try a Different Browser. ...
  5. Remove Browser Extensions.
Sep 15, 2023

How can I free up full RAM? ›

Here are a few steps you'll want to try before you take drastic measures to free up RAM.
  1. Restart your device. ...
  2. Try other browsers. ...
  3. Clear RAM cache. ...
  4. Update software to the latest versions. ...
  5. Delete unused extensions. ...
  6. Use optimization software.

How to clear RAM cache in Windows? ›

How to clear RAM cache on Windows 11
  1. Restart your computer to clear the RAM Cache. ...
  2. Analyze RAM with RAMMap. ...
  3. Delete temporary files. ...
  4. End processes via Windows Task Manager. ...
  5. Reduce startup programs you don't need. ...
  6. Uninstall unused apps to free up RAM. ...
  7. Stop background apps. ...
  8. Use ReadyBoost to supplement RAM.
Nov 11, 2023

How to maximize RAM usage? ›

How can you optimize your RAM for better performance?
  1. Check your RAM usage. Be the first to add your personal experience.
  2. Adjust your virtual memory. Be the first to add your personal experience.
  3. Clean up your startup programs. ...
  4. Update your drivers and software. ...
  5. Use a RAM optimizer. ...
  6. Here's what else to consider.
Nov 17, 2023

Why is 100% of my RAM being used? ›

If your RAM usage is at 100% when idle it means there's none left to open a program or app. But, as mentioned this will never happen unless you have an update in the background, a virus, or malware, or your computer has less than 4GB of RAM. In which case, it's worth getting more RAM.

How to increase RAM usage in Windows 10? ›

Procedure
  1. Access the System Properties settings. Go to Start > Run. Type sysdm.cpl and click OK. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Advanced tab. Under Performance, click Settings. In the Performance Options dialog box, click the Advanced tab.
  2. Adjust the virtual memory setting.
Apr 19, 2024

How do I pull up RAM usage? ›

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to launch Task Manager. Or, right-click the Taskbar and select Task Manager. Select the Performance tab to see current RAM usage displayed in the Memory box, and total RAM capacity listed under Physical Memory.

How to clean PC RAM? ›

To optimize your RAM usage, you need to close any unnecessary programs or processes that consume a lot of memory, or use a memory cleaner tool that can free up some memory. To optimize your RAM settings, you need to access your BIOS or UEFI menu and adjust the voltage, frequency, and timings of your RAM.

How do I reduce RAM usage? ›

Uninstall or Disable unnecessary software

A good technique to reduce RAM utilization is to uninstall rarely used programs. Applications that keep operating in the background even when they haven't been opened in a while wastefully consume system resources and ought to be uninstalled.

What frees up RAM? ›

To free up more RAM on Windows 11, start by restarting your PC to clear temporary data and stop background processes. Clear your browser's cache, switch to a more memory-efficient browser if necessary, and update your applications to prevent memory leaks.

How to make Windows use less RAM? ›

Close unused applications and background processes to free up memory. Use the Task Manager to identify resource-intensive applications and end unnecessary tasks. Reducing memory usage in Windows 10 is crucial for improving system performance, especially on devices with limited RAM.

Why my RAM usage is so high? ›

When encountering high memory usage, it could be the result of excessive amounts of running programs. To reduce this exponentially, you need to close unnecessary programs. To achieve this, head over to Task Manager from the search bar. Once the application is opened, search for programs that don't need to be running.

How do I fix usable RAM less than installed RAM on Windows? ›

What To Try
  1. Click Start. , type msconfig in the Search programs and files box, and then click msconfig in the Programs list.
  2. In the System Configuration window, click Advanced options on the Boot tab.
  3. Click to clear the Maximum memory check box, and then click OK.
  4. Restart the computer.

How to clean RAM physically? ›

To clean your RAM, you need to power off your computer, unplug it from the power source, and remove the RAM sticks from the motherboard. Then, use a soft cloth or a compressed air can to gently wipe or blow away any dust or dirt on the RAM stick and the slot.

How do I make Windows use full RAM? ›

Type msconfig in Run and click Enter. In the following window, head over to the Boot tab and hit the Advanced options button. Here, uncheck the Maximum Memory option and click OK. Click Apply > OK to save the changes and then restart your computer.

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