Having enough free RAM (random access memory) is important for your computer to run smoothly. When RAM starts running low, your computer may start slowing down and programs may crash unexpectedly. The good news is there are several ways you can free up RAM to improve performance.
Why is Freeing Up RAM Important?
RAM is a type of computer memory that temporarily stores information your computer needs to access quickly. It acts as a short-term workspace for your open programs and files.
Having enough free RAM available allows your computer to run multiple programs simultaneously without slowdowns. It also provides space for any newly opened programs to load their data.
If you don’t have enough free RAM, your computer will start slowing down as it struggles to manage everything in a limited space. It may start writing some data to your hard disk, which is much slower than accessing data from RAM.
Some signs that you need to free up RAM include:
- Programs running slowly
- Frequent program crashes or freezes
- Computer lagging when opening or switching between programs
- “Out of memory” error messages
Freeing up RAM will help your computer run faster and allow programs to function smoothly.
Check Your Available RAM
The first step is to check how much RAM you have and how much of it is currently being used. This allows you to see if you need to free up space.
On Windows:
- Open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc
- Go to the Performance tab
- Look at the memory section – it will show you the total RAM available and the amount in use
On Mac:
- Click the Apple menu and select “About This Mac”
- Click the Memory tab
- Look at the memory pressure indicator – green is good, yellow or red indicates your RAM is constrained
If your total used RAM is high (like over 75-80%), you likely need to free up some memory.
Close Unused Programs
One of the easiest ways to free up RAM is closing any programs you aren’t currently using. The more programs running in the background, the more memory they occupy.
To close unused programs:
- Windows – Open the task manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and end background processes you don’t need.
- Mac – Click the Apple menu and select Force Quit to close apps.
- Browsers – Make sure to close any open browser tabs you aren’t using.
This frees up RAM those programs were taking up.
Use Your Browser Less
Web browsers like Chrome and Firefox use a lot of RAM. The more tabs and extensions you have open, the more memory they eat up.
Try closing browser windows and tabs you aren’t actively using. Quit your browser completely when you aren’t browsing. You can also disable unnecessary extensions.
Using lighter web browsers like Opera or Microsoft Edge can also save RAM.
Empty Your Cache
Your web browser stores temporary internet files and data in its cache so pages load faster when you revisit them. However, the browser cache can slowly fill up and consume RAM.
Clearing your cache helps delete this temporary data freeing up space.
To clear the cache:
- Chrome – Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. Select cached images/files.
- Firefox – Go to Options > Privacy & Security > Clear History. Select the cache checkbox.
- Safari – Go to Preferences > Privacy. Click Manage Website Data and remove cached data.
You may need to reload web pages to repopulate the cache, but it will free up some RAM.
Turn Off Visual Effects
The visual effects and animations in Windows use up RAM. If you can live without them, turning them off frees up memory.
To disable visual effects:
- Open System Properties > Advanced system settings
- Click Settings in the Performance section
- Select “Adjust for best performance” to disable animations and effects
This frees up RAM used by the fancy Aero effects in Windows.
Add More RAM
One of the most effective ways to get more available RAM is to physically install more RAM modules in your computer. This actually increases your total usable memory.
However, you’ll need to check if your motherboard has empty RAM slots and can support more memory. Installing RAM requires opening up your computer.
Adding more RAM provides more breathing room for programs to run without running out of memory. Even an extra 2GB can help if you routinely max out your current RAM.
Uninstall Programs
Uninstalling programs you no longer use will free up RAM that was being occupied. Get rid of bloatware that came pre-installed on your computer or software you haven’t used in a long time.
On Windows, use the Apps & Features settings to uninstall. On Mac, drag and drop programs from Applications to the Trash.
Removing programs takes up less space in RAM for applications you actually need.
Restart Your Computer
After using your computer for a while, RAM can get cluttered with leftover data that isn’t cleared even when you close programs. Restarting your PC or Mac helps clear out this memory clutter.
When your computer boots back up, there will be more free RAM available right from the start. Make sure to save your work first before restarting.
Consider restarting your computer at least once per week to cleanse RAM and keep performance optimal.
Upgrade to a Lighter Operating System
Some operating systems are lighter on RAM usage than others. Upgrading to a leaner OS can free up memory.
For example, Windows 10 uses more RAM than Windows 8 or 7. Switching to Linux distributions like Ubuntu or Linux Mint often uses less memory too.
This option requires backing up data and fully installing a new OS. But it can be worth it if you regularly experience RAM limitations.
Disable Startup Programs
Programs that run automatically at startup occupy RAM in the background even if you don’t use them. Removing some from startup frees up RAM.
To disable startup programs:
- Windows – Open the task manager, go to the Startup tab and disable anything unnecessary.
- Mac – Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items and remove programs you don’t need starting.
This prevents these programs from claiming RAM when your computer boots.
Use an App to Free Up RAM
Some apps are designed specifically to clear out RAM usage and make more available. They can automatically free up memory in the background or with a click.
Popular options include:
- Clear – Simple program for freeing up RAM on Mac
- Wise Memory Optimizer – Frees up RAM on Windows
- CleanMyMac – Mac app that cleans up RAM and performs other optimizations
The effectiveness can vary across apps, but they automate manually freeing up memory.
Restart Stuck Programs
Sometimes programs start acting up and consuming way too much RAM. Photos apps, web browsers, video games, and other software can get stuck “leaking” memory.
When this happens, the quickest fix is often to completely restart the misbehaving program. This will clear out any corrupted RAM usage and start fresh.
As a last resort, terminating a stuck program frees up RAM being hogged. You may lose unsaved data, but it will free up space.
Disable Memory Hungry Features
Some Windows and Mac features use up extra RAM in order to provide a smoother user experience. Disabling these can free up memory, although it may impact performance.
Options to reduce memory footprint include:
- Turn off transparency effects
- Disable the prefetch service in Windows that predicts which apps you’ll use next
- Turn off SuperFetch that caches recently used files in RAM
- Disable memory compression that uses RAM to compress less frequently used data
Conclusion
Freeing up wasted RAM helps your computer run faster and prevent crashes from low memory. Follow these tips to clean out memory usage:
- Close programs you aren’t using
- Limit open browser tabs
- Clear browser caches
- Add more RAM
- Uninstall unneeded programs
- Restart your computer regularly
- Disable startup programs
- Use a RAM-freeing app
- Restart stuck programs
- Turn off visual effects
Monitoring your RAM usage and freeing up space when it runs low will keep your system running smoothly. Being proactive about memory management results in a faster, more stable computer.