Is your Windows 11 PC feeling sluggish or running out of memory too often? High memory usage can slow down your computer, cause apps to freeze, and make daily tasks frustrating. But don’t worry—fixing high memory usage in Windows 11 is easier than you think. In this guide, we’ll walk you through practical steps to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve high memory usage issues, helping your PC run smoother and faster.
Why Does Windows 11 Use So Much Memory?
Windows 11 is designed to be efficient, but various factors can cause it to consume more memory than expected, including:
- Too many background apps running
- Memory leaks from poorly optimized software
- Outdated drivers or system files
- Malware or suspicious programs
- Windows updates with bugs or incompatibility
- Insufficient physical RAM for your needs
Understanding these causes can help you target the right fix.
Step 1: Check Memory Usage Using Task Manager
Before you start troubleshooting, let’s find out which apps or processes are using the most memory.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on the Processes tab.
- Click the Memory column header to sort processes by memory consumption.
- Identify apps or processes using a large amount of memory.
Tip: If you see suspicious or unknown processes hogging memory, it’s time to investigate.
Step 2: Close or Restart Memory-Hungry Apps
If certain apps are consuming too much memory:
- Save your work and close these apps.
- If an app is not responding, select it in Task Manager and click End task.
- Restart the app to see if it behaves better.
Sometimes apps accumulate memory leaks over time, so restarting them can clear this up.
Step 3: Disable Startup Programs
Many programs automatically start when your PC boots, which can eat up memory from the get-go.
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
- Go to the Startup tab.
- Disable programs you don’t need launching at startup by right-clicking and selecting Disable.
This helps free up memory and speeds up boot time.
Step 4: Update Windows and Device Drivers
Keeping your system and drivers up to date ensures bugs and compatibility issues don’t cause high memory usage.
- Go to Settings > Windows Update.
- Click Check for updates and install any available updates.
- For drivers, open Device Manager, expand categories, right-click devices, and select Update driver.
Step 5: Scan for Malware
Malware or viruses can cause abnormal memory usage.
- Use Windows Defender or your preferred antivirus to run a full system scan.
- Remove or quarantine any threats detected.
It’s important to keep your PC safe and running efficiently.
Step 6: Adjust Virtual Memory Settings
Virtual memory helps your system by using hard drive space as additional RAM.
- Search for Advanced system settings and open it.
- Go to the Advanced tab and click Settings under Performance.
- Open the Advanced tab again, then click Change under Virtual memory.
- Uncheck “Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.”
- Select your system drive (usually C:) and choose Custom size.
- Set Initial size and Maximum size values (in MB). A clean rule of thumb is 1.5 to 3 times your physical RAM.
- Click Set, then OK, and restart your PC.
Step 7: Add More Physical RAM (If Needed)
If your computer still struggles and you regularly run memory-intensive apps or multitask, it may be time to upgrade your RAM. Increasing physical memory will improve performance significantly.
Extra Tips to Keep Your Windows 11 Memory Usage in Check
- Regularly restart your computer to clear memory.
- Close browser tabs you’re not using.
- Avoid running too many heavy apps simultaneously.
- Use lightweight alternatives where possible.
Final Thoughts
High memory usage doesn’t have to be a mystery or a permanent annoyance. By following these steps, you can identify the culprits, optimize your settings, and get your Windows 11 PC back to its zippy best. Remember—technology should work for you, not slow you down!
If you found this guide helpful, feel free to share it with friends or bookmark it for future reference. Happy computing!
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