How to save RAM in Windows 11 and improve PC performance

If your Windows 11 PC gets sluggish, freezes every few seconds, or games stutter, there's almost always a clear culprit: The RAM is at its limit and the system is starting to stutter.The good news is that you don't always need to spend money on more modules; there are many things you can do from within the system itself to alleviate the load.

Throughout this guide you will see, step by step, how Reduce RAM usage in Windows 11, detect which programs are hogging it, avoid unnecessary processes, and know when it's really worth upgrading your memory. Its Tricks based on what works best in practice: from closing rogue processes to tweaking some advanced settings, including checking the browser, services, Windows animations, or the page file.

What is RAM and why does Windows 11 seem to need so much of it?

RAM is where Windows 11 It temporarily stores data from applications, games, and the system itself. While they are in use. The more free RAM you have, the smoother everything runs; when it fills up, the system starts using virtual memory on the disk and performance plummets.

Microsoft sets 4 GB as the minimum to install Windows 11, but in practice That figure falls far short: the actual system consumption can easily exceed 8 GB With just the system, the browser, and a couple of programs open, you're good to go. For comfortable day-to-day use, it's generally recommended to have... 16 GB of RAMAnd if you use games or heavy applications (video editing, 3D, virtual machines…) the ideal thing is 32 GB.

This appetite for memory is especially noticeable in modest equipment, portable basic or somewhat older PCs, where Windows 11, plus the background appsThis leaves very little room for other tasks. And with RAM prices skyrocketing due to AI demand, upgrading memory isn't always feasible, so optimization becomes almost mandatory.

Restarts, full shutdowns, and sleep: how they affect RAM

It might sound like a computer cliché, but often the first thing you should do if your PC is running slowly is Restart your computer to clear all RAM at once.Over time, "remnants" of programs remain in memory, zombie processes and caches that are not completely cleared when closing applications.

When you restart, Windows offloads all processes from RAM and reloads only the essentials and startup programs.On modern computers, a restart usually takes a few seconds, and the change in smoothness can be noticeable, as long as the bottleneck isn't simply that you have very little memory.

It is also advisable that, at the end of the day, Avoid leaving your PC in sleep mode indefinitely if you have memory problems.Sleep mode preserves the contents of RAM as is for quick resumption, so all those processes that have accumulated stay there until you shut down or restart.

In addition, Windows has a feature called Quick start While not exactly a sleep mode, it does preserve part of the system state for faster startup. If you want everything to be thoroughly cleaned upon shutdown, Disable fast startup from the power options (Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do > uncheck “Turn on fast startup”).

Close programs and processes that are using up RAM.

One of the most direct steps to recover memory is locate which processes are consuming the most RAM and close them from the Task ManagerWindows 11 manages memory fairly well, but some applications exceed the limit or freeze in the background.

To open Task Manager, you can press Ctrl + Shift + Esc or use Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select “Task Manager”. On the tab Processes You'll see all active programs and services, along with their CPU, memory, disk usage, etc. Click on the column Conference proceedings to sort from highest to lowest and quickly see what's using up the RAM.

If you see an application that you don't need at that moment (for example, a game you've already closed, a heavy editor, or a duplicate browser), Right-click on it and select “End task”This will close the process and immediately free up the memory it was using.

It's important to be a little careful: Don't close system processes or processes you don't recognize.Because some are critical for Windows to function properly. Focus on applications you clearly recognize: browsers, editors, games, third-party launchers, etc.

If you continue to see spikes in usage after closing what you don't need, you can check again periodically, because There are programs that restart themselves or launch additional threads that also use RAM.

Programs that start with Windows 11 and consume memory without you noticing

Many programs are configured to run automatically when Windows 11 startsSome are necessary (drivers(system utilities, security software), but others are just there "out of habit" and end up stealing RAM from minute one without providing you with anything useful.

From the Task Manager itself, in the tab HomeYou can see the list of applications that start with the system and their impact on the Boot and resource consumptionTo block one, simply right-click on it and choose "To disable"The program will remain installed, it will simply stop starting automatically.

In Windows 11 you can also access the section of Settings > Apps > Startup appsThere you'll get a similar summary, with a switch for each program that you can turn off at a moment. It's a convenient way to to lighten both system startup and initial RAM consumption.

Beyond the beginning, there is another important front: applications that run in the background even though you don't have them open on the screenSome apps from the Store and other modern programs keep processes running "just in case".

To crop this, go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps, enter the Advanced of those that allow it and in “Background app permissions” mark that cannot run in the backgroundThis saves RAM and, incidentally, some battery life if you're using a laptop.

Close background apps and tabs you're not using

We often have the habit of Minimize programs thinking that this way they don't consume resourcesBut as long as they're open, they'll continue to use RAM. If you're going to play a game or open a resource-intensive program, close everything else you won't be using in that session.

A very typical example is having things like Word, Photoshop, video editors, email clients, or game launchers are open while you're doing another task.Even if you don't have them in front of you, they keep data in memory so they can resume quickly, and you might need that memory for other things.

These background applications that you yourself have opened should not be confused with background processes of the system or driverswhich are usually necessary. The first ones you see in the taskbar or system tray; the second ones, in the Task Manager.

Again, if you're short on resources, before launching a demanding game or a heavy program, get into the habit of Manually close everything that is not essential at that moment.It's a simple gesture that can free up a good amount of RAM without touching advanced settings.

The browser: extensions, tabs, and switching to lighter options

El Web navigator It is usually the application that More RAM is consumed in almost any modern PC.Each tab is a process, each extension adds more consumption, and if you don't control it, you can have several gigabytes of RAM occupied just by browsing.

The first thing you should check is the number of open tabs that you keep running in the background "just in case"Modern browsers regularly update the content of many websites, even when you're not viewing them, which uses up extra resources. Close the ones you don't really need, or use bookmarks and groups to avoid having 20 or 30 tabs open at once.

Then there are the ExtensionsThe more apps you have active, the higher your memory usage will be, and those that haven't been updated in a while tend to be even more memory-intensive. In Chrome, for example, go to Menu > Extensions > Manage extensions and uninstall anything you don't use regularly.

If there are extensions you only need occasionally, you can leave them in. installed but deactivated until you are ready to use themThat way they won't be loaded into memory all the time, but you'll have them available in a couple of clicks.

Finally, ask yourself if it makes sense switch to a browser that uses less RAMChrome is very popular, but it's one of the most memory-intensive browsers. Alternatives like Microsoft Edge They usually use considerably less data with the same number of tabs, and there are even lighter browsers with more basic interfaces designed for modest computers.

Uninstall problematic or unused applications

In some cases you will find programs that, even if you close them, They continue to generate memory crashes or freezes frequentlyIf there's a specific app that you have to kill every day in the Task Manager and you don't really need it that much, the most sensible thing to do is usually... uninstall programs in windows and look for a more efficient alternative.

To uninstall from Windows 11, go to Settings > Apps > Installed AppsLocate the program in the list, tap the three-dot menu, and choose "Uninstall"Follow the wizard's steps to completely remove it from the system.

Another classic way is to use the Control Panel > Uninstall a programHere's a more traditional view of all your installed desktop applications. Right-click on the one you want to remove and select "Uninstall".

In addition to addressing unusual behaviors, Removing programs you don't use reduces the number of resident processes and installed services.In the long run, this frees up RAM, speeds up boot times, and simplifies the system, so it's a good idea to clean it up every now and then.

Services and applications optimized for Windows 11

Beneath the surface, Windows 11 maintains a lot of services that start with the system and remain running constantlyMany are essential for the system to function, but others belong to third-party software that you don't actually need to be turned on all the time.

If you want to go a little further, you can use the tool msconfig (System Configuration). Open the Start menu, type “msconfig” and enter “System Configuration”. On the tab Services, check the box "Hide all Microsoft services" to avoid affecting critical system components and review the third-party services that remain visible.

Here you can deselect services such as, for example, Automatic real-time updates for certain programs you don't needDeactivate only what you know is not essential for your daily life, click Apply and restart for the changes to take effect.

Another approach is to choose whenever you can. Modern and well-optimized applications for Windows 10/11Very old programs (designed for Windows XP, Vista or 7) handle memory much less efficiently, and can consume more RAM than their current equivalents.

This is especially noticeable in suites like Office or older browsers Google Chromewhich have seen performance improvements over the years. It's also worth considering using built-in Windows tools whenever possible (for example, Microsoft Defender as antivirus), as they are usually better integrated and consume less RAM than many third-party solutions.

Reduce visual effects and animations to save memory

Windows 11's animations, transparencies, and pretty effects help make the system look modern, but They also consume memory and some CPU and GPU power.If you're short on resources, it makes a lot of sense to sacrifice some aesthetics in exchange for smoothness.

To adjust this, press Win + R, writes sysdm.cpl and press Enter. In the System Properties window, go to the tab Advanced, and within the Performance section, click on "Configuration…".

There you will see several predefined options: “Adjust for best performance” It disables virtually all visual flourishes, leaving the system with a more understated yet lighter appearance. You can apply this adjustment all at once and see how it looks on your computer.

If that seems too abrupt, you can also choose "Personalize" and uncheck only certain options (for example, animations when minimizing and maximizing, transparencies, shadows under the pointer, etc.). In this way You find a balance between visual appeal and resource efficiency.

On systems with limited RAM and integrated GPUs, combining these adjustments with reducing startup applications and services often results in Windows 11 is much more responsive, especially when opening and switching between windows..

Virtual memory, paging file, and advanced cleanup

When physical RAM becomes full, Windows uses a special file on disk called pagefilewhich acts as a backup virtual memory. This prevents crashes, but it's much slower than real RAM, which is why the computer feels sluggish when used intensively.

Something that not many people know is that The contents of the page file are not emptied when the PC is shut down in a standard manner.If you want it to also clean every time you close Windows, you can enable an advanced option in the registry.

To do this, open the Start menu, type regedit and open the Registry Editor. Navigate to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management

Once there, locate the value ClearPageFileAtShutdownDouble-click on it and change its value to 0 to 1Accept the changes and restart your computer. From that moment on, Windows will clean the page file every time you shut down your PC.It doesn't directly free up RAM (that empties itself when you shut down), but it can help the system boot a little more smoothly and avoid residual files in that file.

Related to this, it's advisable that on your main hard drive (especially if you're still using an HDD) Maintain at least 10% free spaceWindows uses that space for virtual memory and other internal tasks; if the disk is full, paging becomes even slower and performance suffers.

Finally, don't forget the physical plane: Dust and dirt inside the case can trigger high temperaturesThis causes the CPU and other components to reduce their frequency to avoid overheating. This results in a slower system where everything feels choppy, and it can be mistaken for a RAM problem when it's actually due to a lack of maintenance.

Check the status and actual amount of your RAM

Before continuing to struggle with adjustments, it's important to verify that You have all the RAM you think is installed and working correctly.It is possible that a module has failed and the system is only using part of the memory.

In Windows 11, you can see the detected amount by opening the Task Manager, eyelash Performance > MemoryThere you'll see the total capacity, speed, used modules, and percentage occupied. If, for example, you should have 32 GB and the system only shows 16 GB, there's likely a module that's poorly connected, faulty, or disabled. BIOS.

You also have the Windows memory diagnostic tool (type “Windows Memory Diagnostic” in the search engine). This utility performs RAM tests, and if you want to check stability with external tools you can use Stability tests with OCCTIf faults appear, you may need to reseat modules, clean contacts, or simply replace the faulty memory.

Another aspect to monitor is that The RAM will work at the correct speed with XMP (Intel) or EXPO (AMD) activatedMany kits are sold at a specific frequency that is only achieved by activating one of these profiles in the BIOS; otherwise, they operate at a lower standard. While this doesn't change the amount of RAM, it does affect overall system performance.

Antivirus, malware, and hidden memory-consuming processes

Security software can also play a significant role in memory consumption. Microsoft DefenderWindows 11's built-in antivirus is usually quite resource-constrained and sufficient for most users, but if you have several antivirus programs installed at the same time, things change.

When there is Two real-time security solutions trying to analyze the same thing (For example, Defender and another third-party antivirus) create duplicate workloads that significantly increase both RAM and CPU usage. Generally, it's best to stick with just one antivirus and ensure that multiple engines aren't scanning simultaneously.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that un malware or an unwanted program is consuming memory in the backgroundAlthough Defender detects a lot, it's not infallible. You can occasionally use another cleaning tool (even a trial version) to run a full scan and ensure that no malicious processes are hogging RAM.

If you detect that the third-party antivirus maintains scheduled background scans just when you notice your PC is slowing downReview your settings and adjust the scan times or intensity. Reducing the frequency or scheduling it for times when you're not using your computer helps prevent it from interfering with your work or gaming.

Use of external tools to optimize or free up RAM

In addition to the options built into Windows, there are third-party programs such as Wise Memory Optimizer and similar optimization suites that promise to free up RAM with the click of a button. Many of them are free and offer a clear view of used versus free memory.

This type of tool usually has a button for “Optimize now” or similar, which forces the release of memory from certain processes and clears caches. Used correctly, they can give you a little boost when you need to get the most out of your resources for gaming or work.

However, they must be used wisely: Overly aggressive solutions that shut down processes indiscriminately can cause instability, crashes, or blue screens. If they kill something important to the system. Ideally, if you use one of these programs, it should allow you to choose which processes you want to modify and which you don't.

Also keep in mind that "Miracles" in the form of software that promises to multiply RAM do not exist.These tools simply force operations that Windows already performs automatically when necessary. They are a temporary add-on, not a permanent magic solution.

Game mode, Xbox experience, and other useful settings in Windows 11

If you primarily use your PC for gaming, Windows 11 includes features designed for cut out unnecessary processes when you're inside a game and prioritize resources towards what's most important to you.

El Game mode Windows reduces the activity of some background tasks and can help make the experience more stable. On certain devices, such as Windows 11-based handheld consoles (for example, ROG Ally), Microsoft has gone a step further with a full-screen Xbox experience which eliminates Windows processes that only get in the way when playing games.

In these environments, enabling the Xbox experience may mean a reduction in RAM consumption of around 2 GBThis is crucial in systems with shared memory between the CPU and integrated GPU. Although this interface is not yet widespread in conventional desktop PCs, it's clear that Microsoft is working on it. Optimizing File Explorer and other parts of the system so that they use fewer resources during tasks such as searches.

While these improvements are being rolled out to all editions, you can contribute by limiting overlays, launchers, and "parasitic" applications that open alongside games, so that most of the RAM is actually used for the game itself and not to things you don't even see.

When does it make sense to buy more RAM and how to approach the upgrade

After applying all these tricks and checking settings, you may still notice that the team It runs out of memory as soon as you open a couple of programs or a modern game.At that point, the problem is probably no longer one of management, but of quantity.

Today, most new equipment comes with 8 GB of RAMThese are suitable for browsing, office applications, and light tasks, but fall short for modern gaming or intensive multitasking. If you're in the price range of 4 to 8 GB, upgrading to 16 GB represents a huge leap in convenience.

Before buying anything, check your motherboard documentation (or the manufacturer's website). the maximum amount of RAM and the type of memory supportedThen check how many slots you have, how many are occupied, and their capacities. Having 8 GB in a single module is not the same as having 8 GB in two 4 GB modules. Also, if you want to save money, check Tips for getting cheaper RAM before launching the purchase.

For example, if you have 8 GB spread across two 4GB modules And if you have two free slots, you could add two more 4GB modules to reach 16GB. But if your motherboard only has two slots already occupied, to go up to 16GB you would have to Replace the current modules with 8GB modules. each.

Although RAM prices are high right now, if your PC is always running at its memory limit and you've already tried everything else, an upgrade is usually the best solution. the most effective way to gain margin in the medium and long termespecially if you work with games and applications that already require 16 GB as a standard recommendation.

With all of the above on the table, it is clear that it can be done Get the most out of Windows 11 to save RAM without having to buy anything immediatelyCheck startup programs, close resource-intensive processes, optimize your browser, reduce visual effects, tweak services, monitor antivirus and malware, manage virtual memory, and ensure your installed RAM is functioning correctly. If your computer is still sluggish, then it's time to seriously consider upgrading your RAM to make your system run as smoothly as you need it to.