I’m experiencing high memory usage on my Windows 11 PC, and it’s causing performance issues. I’ve tried closing unnecessary apps, but it doesn’t seem to help much. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I really need to free up some RAM.
Closing unnecessary apps? That’s the first thing everyone does. What more do you think that’s gonna do? Windows 11 is notorious for hogging resources with its fancy features and bloatware.
You can try digging into your installed programs and getting rid of the junk Microsoft thinks you need, but let’s be real, it’s a pain.
Honestly, just open the Task Manager, go to the Startup tab, and disable anything you don’t recognize or need at startup. Apps like OneDrive and Cortana can hog memory unnecessarily.
Or just turn off visual effects. Right-click ‘This PC,’ go to properties, advanced system settings, advanced tab under performance options. Select ‘Adjust for best performance.’ Won’t be pretty but might help.
Also, go into Windows settings > System > Notifications & actions. Turn off unneeded notifications; they chew up RAM.
Consider upgrading your RAM if you’re not on some ultrabook where they soldered it. Yeah, more money but sometimes it’s the only viable solution.
Or just switch to Linux. Seriously. No bloatware, less resource hogging.
Don’t even get me started on antivirus software running in the background. Having more than one is just asking for problems. Pick one and stick to it.
Turning off visual effects and disabling startup programs can help, but if you want to dig deeper and really optimize your RAM usage on Windows 11, try some of these other tricks:
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Control Background Apps: Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features. Click on the three dots next to each app and select “Advanced Options” to find the “Background Apps Permissions” setting. Set this to “Never” for apps you don’t need running in the background. This isn’t something everyone knows to do, but it can significantly cut down on idle memory consumption.
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Virtual Memory Settings: If you’re running out of physical RAM, tweaking your virtual memory settings might help. Go to Control Panel > System and Security > System > Advanced system settings. Under the Performance section, click Settings. Go to the Advanced tab and click Change under Virtual Memory. Uncheck “Automatically manage paging file size for all drives” and set a custom size. Generally, you want the initial size to be 1.5 times your RAM and the maximum size to be 3 times your RAM.
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Update Your Drivers: Outdated drivers can sometimes lead to memory leaks. Head to Device Manager and check if your drivers are up to date. Especially look at your graphics, network, and sound drivers as these are common culprits.
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Windows Services: There are a slew of Windows services running in the background that you might not need. Open the Run dialog (Win + R), type “services.msc” and press Enter. Look for services like “Windows Search,” “Fax,” and “Print Spooler” (if you don’t use a printer). Right-click these services, go to Properties, and set the Startup type to “Manual” or “Disabled.”
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Memory Diagnostic Tool: Windows has a built-in Memory Diagnostic Tool. Access it by typing “Windows Memory Diagnostic” in the Start menu search bar. Choose to restart and check for problems. This can help diagnose if there’s a hardware issue causing your high memory usage.
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Registry Hacks: This is for advanced users. Open the Registry Editor (Win + R and type “regedit”) and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management. Look for the key “ClearPageFileAtShutdown” and set it to 1. This cleans your page file at every shutdown, which can free up memory. Make sure to backup your registry before making any changes.
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Use Alternative Software: Sometimes, native Windows applications are heavier than third-party alternatives. For example, Windows Defender is resource-intensive. Some users switch to lighter antivirus options like Avast or AVG. Similarly, replacing Microsoft Office with LibreOffice can save you some RAM.
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Disable Superfetch: This can sometimes eat up memory resources unnecessarily. Open the Run dialog, type “services.msc,” and locate “SysMain” or “Superfetch.” Set it to Disabled.
However, I don’t completely agree with techchizkid’s suggestion to switch to Linux. It’s a drastic step and not everyone’s comfortable doing that, especially if you’re reliant on software that’s Windows-only. Also, Linux has its own learning curve and compatibility issues that can be a hassle.
Lastly, if you’re using a web browser like Chrome that’s notorious for consuming memory, consider using a less resource-intensive browser like Microsoft Edge or Firefox. They offer most of the same functionalities with potentially less strain on your memory.
As a final note, even if upgrading RAM isn’t appealing due to costs, it’s the most straightforward and effective solution if your motherboard allows it. Many modern applications are becoming increasingly RAM-hungry, and having more RAM can significantly improve your system’s performance.
Switch to Linux? That’s a bit extreme, isn’t it? Not everyone is prepared to dive into that level of tech commitment. I mean, Linux is great and has its own perks, but let’s focus on making the most of what Windows 11 has to offer.
For a more nuanced approach, there’s always the power of Task Scheduler. Automate tasks to run only when your computer is idle. This can free up active RAM usage when you’re actually using your device. Head to Start Menu, type Task Scheduler, and poke around to tweak existing tasks or set up new ones that help offload work from when you’re actively on your computer.
Another thing, if you haven’t already, defrag your drives (assuming you’re not using an SSD). Fragmented files can hog more RAM than you think. Open the Start Menu, type in “Defragment and Optimize Drives,” and let Windows handle it.
As for bloatware, you don’t necessarily need to uninstall apps completely. Use “Lighter” versions if available. For example, Windows has built-in features like Focus Assist to minimize background activities, and Office has its lighter web versions if you’re really in a bind.
Another thing that people often overlook is reducing the number of browser tabs they keep open. Browsers like Chrome are notorious memory hogs. Use extensions like The Great Suspender or Tab Suspender to manage your tabs effectively. Also, shifting to more efficient browsers like Opera GX, which is designed for lower resource use, can make a world of difference.
Lastly, for a bit of a curveball, how about leveraging ReadyBoost? If you have a fast USB drive, plug it in and allow Windows to use it as extra RAM. Not a perfect solution, but a quick fix if upgrading physical RAM isn’t on the cards right now.
And hey, always keep your system updated. Microsoft often releases patches that fix memory leaks and optimize performance.
Putting aside the thought of Linux, smartly managing Windows 11 features can save you a heap of trouble and keep your system running smoothly without drastic changes.