How to Check RAM Usage on Your Laptop (Windows & macOS)

Check your memory usage if your laptop is running slow or your fans are constantly spinning. Some apps consume more RAM than others, which can significantly impact system performance. Identifying these memory-hogging applications is key to speeding up your laptop and optimizing its performance.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to check which apps use the most RAM on both Windows and macOS laptops.

What Is RAM and Why Does It Matter

RAM (Random Access Memory) is your laptop’s short-term memory. It temporarily stores data and instructions that your processor uses to run programs.

When your RAM gets overloaded:

• Apps run slowly or freeze
• Multitasking becomes difficult
• Your system may crash or restart

By monitoring which apps consume the most memory, you can determine which ones to close, uninstall, or upgrade.

How to Check RAM Usage on a Windows Laptop

Method 1: Using Task Manager

1. Right-click on the Taskbar
2. Select Task Manager
3. Click the "Processes" tab
4. Click the “Memory” column header to sort by highest RAM usage

You’ll now see a list of apps and background processes sorted from highest to lowest RAM consumption.

Tip: Be aware of browsers (like Chrome), games, or design software, which often consume the most memory.

Method 2: Using Resource Monitor

1. Press Windows + R, type resmon, and press Enter
2. Go to the Memory tab
3. You’ll see a more detailed breakdown of memory usage by each process

How to Check RAM Usage on a macOS Laptop

Method: Using Activity Monitor

1. Open Finder > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor
2. Click on the Memory tab
3. Click the Memory column to sort apps by usage

You’ll also see:

• Memory Pressure: Shows if your system is under strain
• Swap Used: Indicates if RAM is full and macOS is using disk space instead

Pro Tip: Keep your memory pressure in the green. Yellow or red means it's time to close heavy apps or upgrade RAM.

What to Do If an App Uses Too Much RAM

If you find an app using a large amount of RAM:

• Close unused tabs or windows
• Restart the app (memory leaks often build over time)
• Disable unnecessary extensions (especially in browsers)
• Use lighter alternatives (e.g., use Edge instead of Chrome)
• Uninstall or update the app if it consistently hogs memory

Bonus Tip: Free Up RAM

• Restart your laptop regularly to clear temporary data
• Use built-in cleanup tools like Windows Storage Sense or macOS Optimize Storage
• Disable startup apps from Task Manager (Windows) or Login Items (Mac)

Conclusion

Knowing which app uses the most RAM on your laptop is essential for maintaining smooth performance. Whether a casual user, gamer, or professional, staying on top of memory usage can help you troubleshoot slowdowns, prevent crashes, and make better decisions about software and upgrades.

FAQs

1. What is considered high RAM usage?

Apps that use over 500MB of memory regularly may be considered heavy. Over 1GB is high unless it’s for advanced tasks (e.g., video editing).

2. Can I reduce RAM usage without upgrading my laptop?

Yes. Closing apps, removing background processes, and restarting can reduce usage.

3. Why is Chrome using so much RAM?

Each tab runs as a separate process for stability and reliability. Extensions also add to memory load.

4. How much RAM do I need?

For basic tasks: 8GB. For multitasking, design, or gaming, 16GB or more is ideal.

5. Is high RAM usage bad?

Not always. RAM is designed to be used, but it can slow down performance when it becomes full.

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