How To Reduce RAM Usage On Windows PC

The Random Access Memory is a temporary memory used for running processes and services on your computer. It is a volatile type of memory and cannot store information. Without RAM, you would not be able to use your computer because the PC needs a temporary storage space to load executable files. The RAM is a hardware that can be upgraded, but this blog helps users with methods to reduce RAM usage, so you don’t have to spend on new hardware.

How To Reduce RAM Usage On Windows PC

Method 1: Restart Your PC

One of the first and foremost troubleshooting steps is to reboot a device. This brings the device back to its normal state and is especially recommended in RAM troubleshooting. As I mentioned earlier, RAM being volatile does not store anything, and hence when you disconnect the power source, it will lose all its memory and start afresh. Thus if you feel your PC is slowing down, restarting it is a good option. All the processes and services running in the backend will close with the shutdown of the PC.

Method 2: Monitor RAM Usage

Microsoft has provided a built-in RAM usage checker tool in Windows OS. This tool is the Task Manager and can be invoked by pressing CTRL+Shift+Esc simultaneously on your keyboard. Once the Task Manager window opens, you can click on the Processes tab and click on the Memory section to sort all the currently running tasks in descending order. Now, you can identify the tasks consuming most of your RAM storage and close the unwanted or unimportant processes.

Method 3:  Remove Redundant Software

There are many different apps on your computer, some old or have never been used. These redundant, and unwanted apps, consume the storage space on your hard disk if they are running silently in the background, they can consume the RAM resources too. The first time I checked out the list of all the installed apps on my Windows PC, i was shocked to see apps that I never knew existed or never installed intentionally. ome apps are bundled with other apps and yet others automatically download and install due to malware infection. Here are the steps to check the list of installed apps on your system so that you can eliminate them:

Step 1: Press Windows + I on your keyboard to open the Windows Settings App.

Step 2: Next, click on Apps among the options.

Step 3: A new window will open and display all the apps installed on your PC.

Step 4: Click on an app to reveal further options and choose Uninstall to remove the app.

Note: The Uninstall button would be disabled in some Microsoft system apps.

Method 4: Update Windows

The updates on Windows OS include app updates, security patches, and other fixes. Over time, some apps develop memory leaks, which causes more RAm resources to be used. Software manufacturers develop update patches for this problem and submit them to the Windows Updates team. Here are the steps to update your Windows PC:

Step 1: Press Windows + I to open the Settings Panel.

Step 2: Click on Updates & Security.

Step 3: Now, click on Check For Updates button to download and install the latest updates from Microsoft Servers.

Step 4: Reboot your PC after the updates have been completed.

Method 5: Scan PC For Malware

Malware or malicious software is another major issue that causes unnecessary consumption of RAM resources. You cannot identify and eliminate malware manually and you require a real-time antivirus like Systweak Antivirus to scan your PC and delete all the potential threats.

Method 6: Remove Startup Programs

Windows OS allows users to set a few applications to startup automatically when the computer boots. These applications occupy RAM storage and removing them from startup can reduce RAM usage. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Make a right-click on any empty space on your Taskbar and choose Task Manager.

Step 2: Once the task Manager box opens, click on the Startup.

Step 3: A list of apps that startup with the PC will appear on the screen.

Step 4: Right-click on the apps you want to stop from booting up, and choose Disable from the context menu.

Bonus Tip: Advanced PC Cleanup

Advanced PC Cleanup is a complete all-in-one optimization software that helps users clean and maintains their PC. This app can help users automate and ease three of the troubleshooting steps explained above, namely, Remove Redundant Software, Scan For Malware, and Remove Startup Programs. In addition, it helps to clean the junk and temporary files that unnecessarily occupy storage space.

Method 7: Upgrade RAM

The more the RAM, the lesser the RAM usage. For instance, at current RAM, maybe you are reaching 90%  but when you double it, you’ll only get 40-50%. You will also be able to run applications in a better manner while preventing high RAM usage.

Method 8: Disable Animations

Animations are stored in RAM. Therefore, you can reduce RAM usage by adjusting visual effects for best performance. Here are the steps to disable animation in Windows –

1. Open Start Menu. 

2. Search for View advanced system settings. 

3. Click on the Advanced tab. 

4. Click on Settings under Performance.

5. Select Adjust for best performance.

6. Click on Apply and then OK.

Your Thoughts On How To Reduce RAM Usage On Windows PC?

I hope the above-mentioned methods help you clear your RAM and improve the performance of your PC. However, some of the steps can only be performed manually, for the remaining methods, you can Advanced PC Cleanup to optimize your PC and reduce RAM usage.

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