Summary :

What is high memory usage? How do I check it? And how do I fix it? This article will give you a brief introduction to high memory usage and tell you how to solve it step by step. These methods can solve most common Windows 10 high memory usage problems.

About High Memory Usage

We can free up RAM by closing unused programs that have high memory use. Click the “Memory” heading twice to sort the list by RAM usage. From there, it should be simple to find the hungry processes. Another way to clear memory on your hard drive is to remove viruses. On windows you can use the Microsoft Security Essentials program to scan and clean your computer, or download a virus scanner application like McAfee. While Macs are a little better at preventing viruses, they can still get them. Here are 11 ways to fix Windows 10 high memory usage. These methods can solve high memory usage caused by most common reasons. The above 11 methods can solve Windows 10 high memory usage caused by most common reasons. However, there are still other reasons to cause it and other methods to cause it. Memory Pressure: This graph gives you the usage of memory over a period of time. You can set the Update Frequency and set the intervals. The right-most bar is the current memory usage, going back in time as you move to the left of the graph. The color of the graph shows the usage level. Green – RAM Memory available.

What Is Computer Memory?

Computer memory is one of the most important parts of a computer. It includes RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), and Cache (click computer booting to know the relationship between RAM and ROM). It enables CPU (Central Processing Unit) to access instructions and data quickly.

The memory is used to temporarily store the operational data of CPU and the data exchanged with an external memory (such as a hard disk). To put it plainly, CPU will transfer the data that needs to be operated into the memory for operation when the computer is running and transmit the result out when the operation is completed.

Additionally, the program installed on hard drive disk is also loaded into memory for running. So, the main memory has great influence on computer's stable operation.

How to Check Windows 10 High Memory Usage

Windows 10 high memory usage is usually related to RAM and virtual memory. Although memory is tightly connected with CPU and hard drive, the high memory usage problem still differs from high CPU usage and high disk usage problems.

If the computer has high memory usages problem, it will freeze (especially when a large program like a game is running). Sometimes, it will result in 'Your computer is low on memory' error popping up.

In addition, computer users can also evaluate high memory usage Windows 10 on Task Manager. Follow the steps: right click the taskbar and select Task Manager.

How to solve high memory usage Windows 10 problem? The methods users take should depend on the causes to the problem. The reasons that may cause high memory usage Windows 10 are various, but the common causes are as follows.

• Running too many programs at the same time.
• Registry hack.
• Defective program design.
• Startup programs.
• Insufficient disk space.
• Virus or antivirus.
• Other causes.

How to Fix Windows 10 High Memory Usage

How to Fix Windows 10 High Memory Usage

1. Close unnecessary programs.
2. Disable startup programs.
3. Disable Superfetch service.
4. Increase virtual memory.
5. Set Registry Hack.
6. Defragment hard drives.
7. Methods suitable for software problems.
8. Virus or antivirus.
9. Adjust for best performance.
10. Reinstall Windows 10.
11. Increase physical memory.

Fix 1: Close unnecessary programs

If the high memory usage is caused by the computer running multiple programs at the same time, users could close the program to solve this problem. Or if a program occupies too much memory, users can also end this program to solve this problem.

Similarly, open Task Manager. Then right click the application you want to end up under Processes and choose End task.

Fix 2: Disable startup programs

Some programs run automatically when the computer starts up. If users don't need these programs to run at startup, they can disable them.

Open Task Manager and then navigate to Startup page. Right click the programs that you don't want to run at startup and then select Disable.

Fix 3: Disable Superfetch service

Superfetch service is usually booted by default. This service is especially designed for traditional hard drive disk. It improves computer performance by only allowing the memory to load a fraction of the data needed to run common programs very quickly.

So, although it may cause high memory usage Windows 10, it shouldn't be disabled if the computer disk is hard drive disk. However, if the computer disk is SSD, this service should be disabled.

Press 'Windows + R' keys, and then type 'services.msc' to open Services window. Scroll down to select Superfetch. Right click on it and select Stop to disable it.

Fix 4: Increase virtual memory

Virtual memory is a computer system memory management technology, which can make a part of disk space serve as memory to relieve memory stress. Virtual memory is actually a big file on hard disk named PageFile.sys.

How to set virtual memory in Windows 10? Here is a tutorial.

Step 1: Find virtual memory and click Change.

• Open File Explorer and right click This PC, and then select Properties.
• Select Advanced system settings in the pop-up window.
• Click Settings in Performance box under Advanced page of System Properties
• Navigate to Advanced page in the pop-up Performance Options window, and then click Change in Virtual memory box.

Step 2: Cancel virtual memory on partition C.

• Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
• Select partition C and then check No paging file, and then click Set to save it.
• Then, click Yes in the pop-up warning window.

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Step 3: Set suitable virtual memory on non-system partition.

• Select a non-system partition and then check Custom size.
• Set a same value in Initial size and Maximum size to avoid system frequently requesting page files of different sizes, which can reduce the consume of system resource and improve operating efficiency.
• Then click Set and OK to save.

Fix 5: Set Registry Hack

This feature can delete page file at shut down to release virtual memory.

Here is a tutorial.

Step 1: Press 'Windows + R' keys and then type 'regedit' to open Registry Editor.

Step 2: Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > Session Manager > Memory Management.

Step 3: Find ClearPageFileAtShutDown and right click it to modify its value to 1, and then click OK to save it.

How To Clear Memory Usage In Linux

Step 4: Restart the computer to boot up the Registry Hack setting.

Fix 6: Defragment hard drives

Defragmenting hard drives can also help to save memory space. Users can use Disk Defragmenter to complete defragmentation. Click disk defragmentation to know more information about it and more methods.

Open File Explorer and select Partition C. Then click Manage on the toolbar and click Optimize. Finally select Partition C and click Optimize.

Additionally, computer users should delete unnecessary files on Partition C. The Space Analyazer feature of MiniTool Partition Wizard is recommended to perform this operation well. This feature also displays hidden files for users to conveniently delete them.

Here is the tutorial.

Step 1: Download MiniTool Partition Wizard and launch it to get its main interface. And then click Space Analyzer on the toolbar.

Step 2: Select Partition C and click Scan. After scanning process is completed, select unnecessary files and right click them to delete.

Fix 7: Methods suitable for software problems

Windows 10 memory leak

Sometimes, the Windows 10 high memory usage is caused by memory leak, which is caused by defective software design.

Drivers amd & ati others. Memory leak has great influence on computer server where programs will run for a long time. It will make memory space smaller and smaller and finally result in downtime.

As for personal computers, Windows 10 memory leaks will generally consume all the memory space. Although rebooting the computer can solve this problem temporarily, when the software runs again, the problem will occur again.

Because this problem is caused by defective software design, in order to solve this problem, users can download a patch, change version, or uninstall the defective software.

How To Clear Memory Usage In Linux

Chrome

At the same time, some computer users complain that Chrome occupies too much memory usage, which is usually caused by the tab page single process design of Chrome. So, when users open too much tab pages, Chrome eats a lot of memory.

Luckily, if it is Chrome who occupies too much memory, users can close prefetch feature or install One Tab extension to solve this problem.

Way 1: Open Chrome and go to Settings. Scroll down to open advanced settings. Uncheck 'Use a prediction service to help complete searches and URLs typed in the address bar” and 'Use a prediction service to load pages more quickly'.

Way 2: One Tab extension can close all tabs and integrate them into one tab, which can release a huge amount of memory space.

Fix 8: Virus or antivirus

Sometimes, the Windows 10 high memory usage is caused by virus. If so, computer users should run a virus scan of all files. Users can run the antivirus programs that they trust, or they can run the built-in Windows Defender if they don't install any other antivirus program.

Here is a guide to Windows Defender.

Step 1: Find Windows Defender.

• Click Start button and select Settings.
• Select Security & Update.

Step 2: Run Windows Defender.

• Click Windows Defender and Open Windows Defender Security Center.
• Click Virus & threat protection and then click Quick scan.

But there has been users reporting that antivirus programs, including Windows Defender may cause Windows 10 high memory usage. If so, they can end the process of antivirus programs in Task Manger.

Fix 9: Adjust for best performance

Step 1: Open File Explorer, right click This PC, and then select Properties.

Step 2: Click Advanced system settings and then click Settings in Performance box.

How To Clear Memory Ram

Step 3: Check Adjust for best performance and click Apply. Finally click OK.

Fix 10: Reinstall Windows 10

Some users report that Windows 10 high memory usage only occurs when they leave the PC alone for about 30-45 minutes. Or this problem occurs after they upgrade to Windows 10. They have adopted the above methods to solve it, but it seems that these methods don't work.

At last, they have to reinstall Windows 10 or reset PC. Fortunately, the reinstallation or reset usually fixes the problem. So, reinstalling Windows 10 and resetting PC are also methods to solve the problem.

When users decide to reinstall Windows 10 or reset PC, backup is recommended in advance. If the reinstallation and reset have accidentally caused data loss, MiniTool Partition Wizard can help you recover them. Click recovering data for detailed tutorial.

Fix 11: Increase physical memory

How To Clear Memory Used On Mac

If the physical memory is very small, users can add a memory bank. How to check memory size? Open File Explorer and right click This PC to select Properties.

How To Clear Memory Usage On Task Manager

Generally speaking, 4G memory can satisfy simple needs in daily life. However, if users want to use computer to run large programs or to play games like H1Z1, at least 8G memory is needed.

But if users want to add memory, please note that the memory type must be the same. Users can refer to the parameters of memory bank installed on computer. Otherwise, incompatibility may appear.

Bottom line

The above 11 methods can solve Windows 10 high memory usage caused by most common reasons. However, there are still other reasons to cause it and other methods to cause it.

If you have this problem and can't solve it with the above methods, please leave a comment below for discussion. Surely, if you have better solutions for high memory usage, please leave a comment for sharing. Email to [email protected] for help if you have problems in dealing with high memory usage.

Windows 10 High Memory Usage FAQ

1. Close unnecessary programs.
2. Disable startup programs.
3. Disable Superfetch service.
4. Increase virtual memory.
5. Set Registry Hack.
6. Defragment hard drives.
7. Methods suitable for software problems.
8. Virus or antivirus.
9. Adjust for best performance.
10. Reinstall Windows 10.
11. Increase physical memory.

1. Running too many programs at the same time.
2. Registry hack.
3. Defective program design.
4. Startup programs.
5. Insufficient disk space.
6. Virus or antivirus.
7. Other causes.

P.S. Scroll down to ‘The Solution’ for the fix.

For the past couple months, I’ve been using Windows Subsystem for Linux to write code and program inside a Linux system on my Windows 10 Home PC without having to bother with either VMware or Docker.

VMware feels super archaic in the world of Docker images and Kubernetes. Creating shells take so much memory and every single instance of an OS inside VMware takes entire chunks of memory/CPU. Meanwhile, if you have Windows 10 Home, you don’t have access to Hyper-V which is the engine that allows proper virtualization on Windows, thus you can’t use Docker Desktop on your system and have to settle for Docker Toolbox. I don’t want to go too deep into the subjects of my other blogs.

WSL allows me to run a GNU/Linux environment — including most command-line tools, utilities, and applications — directly on Windows, unmodified, without the overhead of a virtual machine.

The Problem

WSL promised me super low resource usage, but I was really surprised to see my RAM usage at almost full capacity while I was working.

Looking For The Problem

I assumed it was my browser hogging all that RAM because I never have lesser than 50 tabs open. I close dozens of tabs everyday but reopen more. At this point, I’ve had to allocate “Spring Cleaning” sessions for my browser every couple weekends. You probably know the struggle, devbros.

Finding The Culprit

I closed up my browser, and checked my RAM usage and was suprised to see that something called Vmmem was eating up 4GB.

After a quick search and making sure that a cryptocurrency mining malware hadn’t infected my system, I found this description on the web.

The vmmem process is a virtual process that the system synthesizes to represent the memory and CPU resources consumed by your virtual machines. In other words, if you see vmmem consuming a lot of memory and CPU resources, then that means your virtual machines are consuming a lot of memory and CPU resources.

Well then, this isn’t supposed to happen, right? Even VMware doesn’t eat this much.

Figuring A Fix

First step for me was checking how much memory was Ubuntu consuming using the free -h command inside my WSL terminal.

free displays the total amount of free and used physical and swap memory in the system, as well as the buffers and caches used by the kernel. The information is gathered by parsing /proc/meminfo. -h or --human shows all output fields automatically scaled to shortest three digit unit and display the units of print out.

When I saw my entire memory under total instead of how much vmmem was hogging, I remembered reading that WSL uses your entire RAM as it’s own. And moreoever, only 101MB was actually being used by the distro.

I started up a Rails server to see if there were any changes.

Huh. It only increased my used RAM to 169MB. Yet, Vmmem continued to consume the same amount.

Anyway, after jumping around from Github Issues to WSL documentations, I figured I had to actually stop the WSL processes to reclaim the memory.

Use wsl -l -v to check out all running distros on your WSL. Yamaha 1394 driver.

Then, wsl -t {insert distro} to terminate the ones in use. Or, simply wsl --shutdown.

You’ll get back the memory from WSL, and you can see the drop in RAM usage in the screenshot above.

Takeaway

WSL does use a really low amount of RAM but it is allocated about 4GB by default when it is started. If you think that’s too much and would like to decrease it, Windows Insider Build 18945 brough customizable settings for wsl.

Create a %UserProfile%.wslconfig file and use it to limit memory assigned to WSL2 VM.

Therefore, in your situation, all you need to include in your file is ⤵

How To Clear Memory Usage

Customize it as necessary with the available options.