How to Manage Memory Usage in Windows 11

Edited 6 months ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Memory management is an important aspect of maintaining the performance and efficiency of your computer's operating system. Windows 11, the latest version of Microsoft's operating system, comes with a number of features designed to optimize the use of system memory, also known as RAM (random access memory). In this guide, we will detail various strategies to effectively manage memory usage on Windows 11, helping your computer run smoothly.

Understanding memory management

Before diving into management techniques, it's important to understand how Windows 11 handles memory. RAM is used by your computer to store data that's being actively worked on so that the CPU can access it quickly. When the RAM is fully utilized, the system has to rely on slower storage solutions like cache or hard disk, which can significantly slow down your system's performance.

Importance of RAM in performance

More RAM usually means a faster system, as it can handle more applications and processes simultaneously without slowing down. However, just having more RAM does not automatically guarantee great performance. Efficient management of the available RAM is essential to ensure that your system runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

Types of memory used by Windows 11

Windows 11 uses several types of memory:

• Physical memory: The actual RAM installed in your computer.
• Virtual memory: The portion of the hard drive that the operating system uses as RAM.
• Cache memory: A small, fast type of volatile memory that provides high-speed data access to the processor.
• Page file: A file on your hard drive that Windows uses as additional virtual memory. Often referred to as a "swap file."

Techniques to manage memory usage

1. Keep an eye on unnecessary applications and close them

The simplest way to manage memory usage is to monitor the applications running on your system and close those that are not necessary. To do this:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Click on the Processes tab. Here, you will see a list of all currently running applications and background processes.
3. Look at the Memory column to see which applications are using the most memory.
4. Select any unnecessary or surprisingly high-consumption applications and click End Task to close them.

2. Use memory compression

Windows 11 includes a feature called memory compression, which helps reduce the amount of memory used by compressing data that is accessed less frequently. This allows your system to run more applications simultaneously without requiring additional RAM. This feature is enabled by default, but you can verify it using PowerShell:

Get-MMAgent

If MemoryCompression is set to True, it is already enabled.

3. Adjust virtual memory

Virtual memory can help improve performance by using disk space as additional memory. If your system is low on RAM, you may need to manually manage virtual memory:

1. Right-click on This PC and select Properties.
2. Click Advanced system settings.
3. In the Performance section, click Settings.
4. Go to the Advanced tab and click Change in the Virtual Memory section.
5. Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives if necessary.
6. Select Custom size and enter the desired size in MB for both initial and maximum sizes.
7. Click Set, and then click OK.

4. Disable startup programs

Many applications set themselves to start automatically when your system boots. This can use up valuable memory resources. To disable unnecessary startup programs:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Go to the Startup tab.
3. Review the list of startup programs and disable those that are not necessary. Simply right-click on the program and select Disable.

5. Update Windows and drivers regularly

Keeping Windows 11 and all your device drivers updated can help your system run more efficiently and better manage its resources. Microsoft frequently releases updates that improve performance and fix memory management issues. To check for updates:

1. Open settings.
2. Go to Update & Security.
3. Click Check for Updates.

6. Use lightweight software options

Some software applications are notorious for being memory hogs. Consider switching to lighter alternatives that perform the same functions with less memory usage. For example, use lightweight web browsers or media players that are known to be less resource-intensive.

7. Clear memory

Regularly cleaning your memory can prevent blockages. You can clear temporary files that may be using memory using built-in tools like Disk Cleanup or third-party applications.

1. Type disk cleanup in the Windows search box and select the tool from the results.
2. Select the drive you want to clean and follow the prompts.
3. Select the types of files you want to delete and click OK.

8. Use ReadyBoost

ReadyBoost is a feature that allows you to use USB drives to improve system performance. This is especially useful for systems with limited RAM. To enable ReadyBoost:

1. Insert the USB flash drive.
2. Open File Explorer and right-click on the USB drive.
3. Select Properties and go to the ReadyBoost tab.
4. Select Use this device and adjust the space reserved for ReadyBoost.
5. Click Apply and then OK.

9. Consider adding more RAM

If you often run out of memory and your system is sluggish, consider upgrading your RAM. Most modern computers allow you to add more RAM, which significantly improves performance.

10. Use task scheduling to manage resources

You can use Task Scheduler to automate tasks that may be memory intensive. This allows you to run these tasks at a time when system resources are less strained.

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open Task Scheduler.
3. Create a new task by navigating through the available options and set it to run during low resource hours.

11. Adjust Windows appearance and display settings

You can adjust the system's visual effects to improve performance, which can also help with memory management:

1. Right-click on This PC and select Properties.
2. Click Advanced system settings.
3. Under Performance, click Settings.
4. Select Adjust for best performance to turn off unnecessary animations and effects, or customize it to your liking.

Conclusion

Managing memory usage effectively is essential to maintaining the performance and responsiveness of your Windows 11 system. By understanding how your system uses memory and using the techniques discussed above, you can ensure that your computer works more efficiently. Regularly checking and adjusting your system settings, monitoring processes, and optimizing your software can significantly improve performance. If you continue to have problems, considering a hardware upgrade such as adding more RAM may also be a viable solution.

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