If you need to know how to free up RAM on your PC, or you don’t even know what RAM is, then you are in the right place. One thing that can become very frustrating for many Windows users is the RAM when it gets all clogged up and eventually makes your system run slow.
In this post, we will take a look at very practical steps to free up RAM on your PC, we will also explore the importance of having a PC with the right amount of RAM and how to manage if your PC falls short.
What Is RAM?
Before we start spilling tips and hacks, let’s take a pause to explain what the RAM is and what it does for your computer.
RAM stands for Random Access Memory. The RAM is that memory space that holds all the programs you are running on your system as you are logged on.
Think of it this way, the more Random Access Memory your PC has, the more activities and programs your system can handle smoothly. When your computer runs low on RAM, a part of the RAM called ‘the page file’ that acts as pretend RAM, causing your system to be slow.
The Page File is much slower than the actual RAM, which is why you notice your PC slowdowns when Windows uses it.
Because RAM is volatile, you may lose its contents when your computer shuts off. Anything you want to keep must save to permanent storage, like a hard drive or solid-state drive.
Clear enough?
Now let’s dive into how to free up RAM on your PC.
How To Free Up RAM On Your PC
There are many ways to free up memory for your PC to run smoothly, however, we will be looking at five very effective methods that are quite long-lasting.
Restart Your Device
If you are working in real-time on your PC and just want to get work done, but you are experiencing some lag in your PC, you may want to consider restarting your PC.
This is a very familiar tip, but it’s popular for a reason.
Restarting the PC will clear the RAM and restart all running processes. This will, however, not increase the installed RAM available on your PC, it will only clean up and clear processes running in the background that could be weighing up your PC RAM. This can be done regularly in every work situation provided you save your files for later.
Use Windows Task Manager
Yes, restarting your PC can be too much. You can, however, take control by using the Windows Task Manager App to see what program or background process is eating up your space.
To quickly open Task Manager hit Ctrl + Shift + Esc or Alt + Ctrl + Del.
The App will show you all the programs you are running and the background processes going on in your PC. Windows Task Manager also shows you just how much memory each program and process is consuming as in real-time.
From the list, you can choose to end task for any program or process consuming too much memory.
Note: Ending some processes may make your computer not to function fully.
If you want more information, select to the Performance tab which will show you how your PC is performing with all the programs running on it.
Uninstall & Disable Software
If you want your PC to run smoothly, you may want to consider uninstalling and disabling some software installed on your PC. Consider the Apps you rarely use, those are the ones you should uninstall first.
You can move further to disable some software from starting up once the PC is turned on. To see your App list, navigate to Settings > Apps and select old and unused Apps.
Scan For Malware
Another thing that can be affecting your RAM could be Malware on your PC. Unwanted software taking up resources will suck up your available RAM.
Install More RAM
This is the best option if you are always experiencing a shortage of RAM, or you want to keep all of your Apps running. Adding some more RAM to your machine will come in handy and will definitely help you avoid all the above methods.
This method, however, is not so cheap and maybe somewhat complicated. If you are still thinking about the possibility, then here’s a simple breakdown: You will need to add physical memory sticks (RAM) to your PC to increase your machine’s speed.
Note: RAM can not be downloaded on the Internet.
These methods will ultimately help you enjoy your PC well, depending on which one you choose to do.