“No matter what I do, my Mac is still slow”, an average tech-consultant hears this phrase multiple times a day. Give a person even the most powerful computer, and pretty soon it will be cluttered with apps, extensions, and things that are too much for it to handle. To reverse it, one has to go back and сlean up the mess, removing memory agents one by one. Prepare for a fight — every byte of memory is at stake. So let’s put your Mac on a diet and get it more free RAM to breathe freely.
First, remove desktop clutter. Get a combination of Setapp apps that clear away unneeded desktop files.
Download Declutter Free“Your system has run out of application memory”
The RAM is also integrated in the processor and Apple calls it Unified Memory Architecture or UMA. The M1-powered MacBook Air starts at Rs. 92,900 while the M1-powered MacBook Pro starts at Rs. Testing conducted by Apple in May 2017 using preproduction 1.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5-based 13-inch MacBook Air systems with 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD. The wireless web test measures battery life by wirelessly browsing 25 popular websites with display brightness set to 12 clicks from bottom or 75%.
How do you know your Mac is low on memory? Floating “rainbow wheels” aside, you may notice your Mac now takes ages to load. You’ll also see many browser applications crashing. You’ll be also thrown warning messages as “Your system has run out of application memory”. To help it, you should first visit the Activity monitor to see memory usage on Mac.
As long as MacBook exists, “running too slow” seems to be a everlasting topic for some users. Upgrading RAM of Macbook becomes a popular choice. Hi there guys, I'm planning on getting the base model of the macbook air (8 core cpu and 7 core gpu with 8gb ram). Is it enough to last for 5 years or more? By the way, here is what I usually do on my laptop: word processing, spreadsheets and browsing the web. I'm planning to use it on Grad school. Thank you in advance for those who could help. We're taking a look at the new MacBook Air 2020 and all its neat features. 02:58 Keyboard 04:20 Trackpad 04:56 Screen 05:34 Ports 06:28 Speakers 06:54 Microp.
How to check RAM usage on Mac
Go to Applications and type in Activity Monitor in the search bar. This invokes a good old Activity Monitor that should tell how much free memory you’ve got left.
A shortcut to open Activity Monitor:
Press F4 and start typing Activity Monitor in the search bar.
I’ve attached a screenshot from my Mac and as you can see my memory usage almost reached full capacity. Here’s what it all means:
App memory: taken by apps and processes
Wired memory: reserved by apps, can’t be freed up
Compressed: inactive, can be used by other apps
Swap used: memory used by macOS
Cached files: memory you can really use
Wired memory: reserved by apps, can’t be freed up
Compressed: inactive, can be used by other apps
Swap used: memory used by macOS
Cached files: memory you can really use
Notice the colored graph under Memory Pressure. If your graph is all but red and yellow, your Mac is really gasping for fresh memory. It seems counter-intuitive, but “available memory” your Activity Monitor is not that important after all. In fact, it’s a system intended behavior to use all memory resources when available. On the contrary, the Memory Pressure graph is much more telling, so grow a habit to check this graph in the Activity Monitor every now and then.
How to check CPU usage on Mac
Open the CPU tab in Activity Monitor to keep in check CPU-heavy processes. Normally an app would be using 0-4% of CPU. If it takes abnormally more than that, go inside that particular item in the list and press the Quit button.
How to free up memory on Mac
Tip # 1. Remove Login Items to lower Mac memory usage
Login items are programs that load automatically upon Mac startup. Some of them covertly add themselves to the list and this is no good. If you’re looking to free up RAM, they are the first candidates for deletion. Don’t worry, you’re not deleting the app itself, you just stop it from auto-launching every time.
So, to remove Login Items and at the same time reduce your memory usage of your Mac, you need to:
- Open System Preferences and select Users & Groups.
- Click your nickname on the left.
- Select the Login Items tab.
- Check programs you don’t want to load as your Mac starts.
- Press the “–” sign below.
Now, you won’t see these apps pop up the moment you turn on your Mac. Although this method doesn’t require some superpowers of yours, some special Mac optimization and memory cleaner tools may do the job faster and ensure the smooth performance of your Mac. CleanMyMac X is an excellent example of such software. Here’s how to disable Login Items with CleanMyMac X:
- Download it for free and go to the Optimization tab.
- Check Login Items to see the list of apps that get opened when you start your Mac.
- Click Remove.
As you’ve already come to the Optimization module of CleanMyMac, you can also fix hung apps and heavy memory consumers there. In this way, you’ll free up the solid amount of RAM on Mac — 100% free of charge.
Tip # 2. Free up disk space if Mac is low on memory
The available space on your Mac’s drive translates into virtual memory. This comes to save you when you’ve run out of physical RAM. So now your computer relies on your hard drive space to keep your apps going.
The classic geek rule of thumb holds it that you should keep at least 20% of disk space on your startup drive. Not only this potentially reduces your future spending on iCloud storage but it also keeps your Mac speedier.
What to delete to free up space:
- Large unused files, like movies
- Old downloads
- Rarely used applications
- System junk
But here’s a simpler solution to save your time — clean up your drive with CleanMyMac X— the app I’ve mentioned above. Many users recommend it as an excellent way to free up more space because it searches for large & old files, useless system files, Photo junk, mail attachments and shows everything you can safely delete. Interestingly, it finds about 74 GB of junk on an average computer.
Extra trick: How to free up RAM on Mac with CleanMyMac X
If you have downloaded CleanMyMac, you may also take advantage of its amazing feature — the ability to free up RAM in a few seconds. Try this next time you see “Your system has run out of application memory” message.
- Go to the Maintenance tab on the left.
- Click Free Up RAM.
- Click Run.
As simple as that!
And you can do it even if you download a free version of the app.
Tip # 3. Clean up your Desktop
This tip always comes at the bottom of instructions and unfairly so as it is quite effective. Without even looking at your Desktop I would assume it’s cluttered with mountains of icons. Thing is, your macOS was designed in a way that it treats every Desktop icon as a little active window. The more icons, the heavier memory usage on Mac. So in order to release available memory resources, it’s recommended to keep your Desktop clean.
You don’t have to do it all by yourself. With apps like Declutter and Spotless, every desktop cleaning session will be scheduled in advance and executed automatically. Your only job is to define the rules on how your files should be organized.
Tip #4. Clear cache files
Another way to free up RAM on Mac is to clear it of cache files. Of course, it won’t save you gigabytes of space, but deleting cache regularly, you can help your Mac run faster and avoid system issues.
So, to remove cache files on your Mac, you need to:
- Open Finder.
- From the Go menu, select Go to Folder.
- Type ~/Library/Caches in the field and press Go.
- In the window that appears, you will see all your cache files.
- Press Command+A to select all files or delete files one by one.
- Enter your user name and password to confirm.
If you find some files still in the folder after you emptied it, maybe you have some windows open on your Mac. Just like that, you can save up some space on your Mac. Don’t forget to empty the bin afterward.
Tip # 5. Tune up Chrome’s Task Manager
Although Google Chrome is not the one to blame for massive memory usage, it can indeed affect your Mac's performance. If you use Chrome as your primary browser, you probably have many windows opened there. Chrome runs a lot of processes to ensure a fast browsing experience for you. So, it uses your RAM for storing your tabs, plugins, and extensions. Look at how many entries Google Chrome has in Activity Monitor:
The question then arises, 'Why does Chrome use so much RAM?' The thing is that each process is responsible for a separate plugin or extension of your browser. For example, when a tab unexpectedly falls, you need to refresh it to continue your work there. If one process were responsible for all tabs and extensions, you would need to restart the whole browser instead. Can you imagine how many times would you do that? That’s the proper answer to why Chrome uses so much RAM.
I’ve been using Chrome for some years only to discover (recently) that Chrome had a task manager of its own. You can use it to force quit memory-heavy processes in the browser. It’s a handy tool because it lets you see how a page weighs on CPU usage on a Mac.
- Go to Chrome settings (dotted icon in the top right corner)
- Click More tools -> Task Manager
To free up even more RAM, close the GPU process. The GPU Process, though helpful in theory to accelerate pages, eats up a considerable amount of memory. Click to end it to free up RAM on your Mac.
Tip # 6. Manage RAM usage with CleanMyMac X menu
CleanMyMac X has another useful and convenient feature for managing your Mac’s performance and memory usage. As you install CleanMyMac X and start it for the first time, it’s icon will appear in your menu bar. Click the icon to open the CleanMyMac X menu. Here you can find updates on the current condition of your Mac and perform quick tweaks to increase your Mac's speed. Whenever you feel like your Mac underperforms, open the CleanMyMac X menu to check how much RAM is available and free it up as well.
Tip # 7. Close Finder windows
Okay, suppose you’re still asking yourself, how do I clear RAM on my MacBook Pro/MacBook Air. The next trick is as magical (you’ll see for yourself) as it is time-saving. It’s no secret that each window in the Finder eats up RAM. But how many open windows are there? Some of them are collapsed or stacked in some blind spot on your screen. This Finder command merges all your windows into one. See how to do it:
Click on Finder > Window > Merge All Windows
Now you can manage Finder windows more effectively and free up memory on MacBook.
What else you can do to minimize memory usage on Mac
I’ve saved the easiest tips for the end, as long as these ones are self-explanatory.
- Replace AdBlock (very memory-demanding) with a lighter extension
- Keep fewer opened tabs in the browser
- Restart your Mac more often to free up RAM
- Close all hung-up print queues
That was my take on how to make your Mac a bit speedier to use. If you’re looking for more guidance, check simple ways to speed up your Mac.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to check application memory on Mac?
To check RAM usage on your Mac, go to Activity Monitor (Applications > Utilities). In the Memory tab, you will see all the active processes that are using your Mac’s RAM. At the end of the window, there is a Memory Used graph, which indicates how much application memory is used.
How to find out whether your Mac needs more RAM?
Your Mac may be using almost all its RAM, but you don’t need more if it’s using it efficiently. Open Activity Monitor and go to the Memory tab. The Memory Pressure graph shows the current condition of your RAM: green color means your Mac’s using RAM effectively, while yellow is a sign that some application or process is using too much of application memory. The red memory pressure signals that your Mac needs more RAM.
How to quickly free up RAM on your MacBook?
To free up RAM on your Mac, firstly, you should find out what app uses so much of your memory. The memory-heavy programs are listed in Activity Monitor, Memory tab. If there is an app you aren’t using at the moment, click it and press the “X” sign to quit it. This will, in turn, free some of the application memory
These might also interest you:
Ever since computers have been around, RAM (or Random Access Memory) has been the one defining factor associated with loading performance and your computer's ability to quickly access information or display the desired output.
Today we will talk about something related to Mac RAM upgrading. If you had lots of Mac memory, you were the 'fastest kid on the block' or something along those lines. And this still holds true today.
We will discuss 2 key ways through which you can effectively add RAM to your MacBook Pro, iMac or MacBook Air.
- Part 2. The Cheapest and Easiest Way to Get More Mac RAM with Software
Part 1: Knowledge of RAM
Random Access Memory (RAM) refers to a small, replaceable circuit board inside your computer that gives your Mac temporary workspace - that is, a place where data is temporarily stored. That is why the data can be quickly loaded and accessed. So for example, when you launch an app or do anything else that requires you to load data, your Mac brings RAM into play to store any relevant data while it continues to work with it. Modern computers often come equipped with 4, 8, 16 or more gigabytes of RAM pre-installed.
More available RAM means you can run larger and more apps and programs simultaneously, without slowing down your Mac or waiting for long disk load operations before you can actually access or start using a specific program.
Should I Do a Mac Memory Upgrade?
If your system is running low on RAM, you will experience slowdowns when launching programs, loading documents, and otherwise using your system. It makes sense to upgrade your RAM - because more RAM means faster CPU access times and as a result, your storage media also works faster. We can know the details at below:
1. Take More Multitasks
The more physical RAM you have installed, the more programs you can run at the same time, and with more efficiency as well. This can be particularly useful if you work a lot with photo editing software like Photoshop or you have too many browser windows and tabs opened at the same time, along with the usual word processor or presentation software running in the background.
2. Open Programs Faster
Naturally, adding memory to your iMac can launch your programs faster ' something which can be a frustrating ordeal otherwise when you're working with a program that's memory-intensive.
3. Get Better Gaming Performance
This may not be seen as a potential advantage by everyone. But if you also use your Mac for entertainment, then you can expect games to generally perform better, run smoother and of course, load faster between screens.
4. More productivity
3D modeling and photo editing software are just two examples of applications that suck up a lot of resources. Having more RAM means you can stay productive as you won't have to wait too long for things to load.
Part 2: The Cheapest and Easiest Way to Get More Mac RAM with Software
The easiest and most cost-effective way to increase Mac RAM is to release more internal memory space on your Mac. With longer operation times, more memory can get clogged up. Using a professional tool like iMyFone Umate Mac Cleaner, you can free up unused RAM on your computer and instantly see noticeable performance gains.
Advantages of using iMyFone Umate Mac Cleaner:
- It support all Mac models and versions
- Very straightforward operation, allowing you to free up memory in a single operation or in bulk
- Very easy for new users and you can free up RAM yourself without any technical knowledge
- The low-cost tool that offers amazing features for a lifetime
- Lists out all apps and processes which are eating up RAM larger than 50MB
- Shows real-time statistics to help you manage RAM
- All-in-one Mac manager helps to delete large and unnecessary files, duplicate files, private data that's no longer needed, junk files, etc. It helps to manage all apps and extensions on your computer which are occupying too much memory.
- Helps you get twice as much RAM
Here is how to download, install and use this tool to increase Mac RAM
- Download the tool by clicking the above button.
- Launch Umate Mac Cleaner and click on 'Speed Up Your Mac' on the left panel.
- Click on 'Start Now'.
- It will show you all the programs that can be closed to release more RAM. Click on 'Free Up RAM'.
Now, you have got the super easy steps to increase Mac RAM. Of course, if you don't want to adopt the simple way we mentioned above, there is another relatively hard way to add RAM to your Mac. Next, we are going to tell you something you should pay attention to when doing Mac memory upgrading.
Part 3: Complex and Expensive Way: Manually Add RAM to your Mac/MacBook
Unlike using the solution to increase RAM with software, adding RAM to Mac is a hard way for most of us. We can conclude this way as a high-cost, complex and technology necessary method. If you don't mind spending extra cash and arming yourself with some technical knowledge, then here's how you're going to physically do a Mac memory upgrade:
3.1 Preparations before Mac Memory Upgrading
1. To prevent damage from static electricity, shut down your Mac (without removing the Mains plug) and wait for at least 10 minutes.
2. Keep your new RAM in its packaging right up until you're about to install it.
3. Touch an unpainted metal surface in your Mac to discharge any remaining static in your body.
4. When mounting your RAM into the slot, ensure that the gap in the front-facing gold contacts matches up with the protrusion in your motherboard's RAM housing.
3.2 Check the Actual Expandable Size of Your Mac
Access the Apple menu and select 'About this Mac'. Under the Memory tab, you can access a variety of information about your RAM, including the maximum it can hold.
Alternatively, you could also visit Apple's web support.
3.3 Check if Your Mac Models Can be Upgraded
You can use the same Apple menu and pull down the 'About this Mac' option to see if your model can be upgraded. Below the current memory size, if you see slots that say 'Empty', that means your Mac is upgradeable. Also, you can check the list we have posted below.
With some Mac models, the RAM is fixed into place and not upgradeable. Check the list below to know if your Mac models can be upgraded.
Some iMacs, like all the 27' models, have an access panel specifically for adding RAM. And it takes only a few seconds to pop that panel off. Other models, like the latest 21.5' iMac models, require you to remove the screen and logic board which may take at least a few hours. As things stand now, you can upgrade the RAM yourself in the following Mac models:
- MacBook Core 2 Duo
- MacBook Unibody
- MacBook Pro 13' (Mid 2009-Mid 2012)
- MacBook Pro 15' (Late 2008-Mid 2012)
- MacBook Pro 17' (All Models)
- iMac 17' (All Models)
- iMac 20' (All Models)
- iMac 24' (All Models)
- iMac 27' (All Models)
- Mac Mini (Mid 2010-Late 2012)
- Mac Pro (All Models)
Because Apple has taken to soldering the RAM to the motherboard of the computer - particularly on laptops in the last few years. You currently cannot upgrade the RAM yourself in these Mac models:
- iMac Pro (All Models)
- Retina MacBook (All Models)
- MacBook Air 11' (All Models)
- MacBook Air 13' (All Models)
- MacBook Pro 13' with Retina Display (All Models)
- MacBook Pro 13' with Touch Bar (All Models)
- MacBook Pro 15' with Retina Display (All Models)
- MacBook Pro 15' with Touch Bar (All Models)
3.4 Steps to Install More RAM
- Completely shut down your Mac.
- Turn your computer over so that the back is facing you.
- Remove all the screws to take the case off.
- Discharge any static electricity in your body by touching a painted metal surface inside your Mac.
- Align the notch on the gold edge of the module with the notch in the lower memory slot.
- Tilt the card and push the memory into the slot.
- Use two fingers with a firm, even pressure to push down on the memory module. There should be a click when you insert the memory correctly.
- Repeat this procedure to install an additional memory module in the top slot. Press down on the module to make sure it is level.
- The last step is to replace and tighten the ten screws you removed earlier, making sure to put the different length screws in their proper locations.
That's how to upgrade Mac RAM t get more running space! If you have any question about the steps on how to install RAM on Mac, then you can check the Apple official guide for details.
Important
If you apply the manual way to upgrade RAM, there truly exist some risks. We can have an idea as follows:
1. You may damage your Mac
There's a good chance that you may damage the really expensive and fragile components inside your Mac if you don't exercise certain antistatic precautions and general care.
Even if you do take all the necessary precautionary measures, you are still undertaking the task of a MacBook pro memory upgrade on your own. If you inadvertently damage anything in the process, the repairs will not be covered under your warranty.
2. Installing the wrong RAM
Not all RAM modules are made the same. Install the wrong-spec RAM, and you may irrecoverably damage the RAM module itself as well as some of the components inside your computer. Furthermore, you may also be looking at a string of hardware and software corruption issues that can be costly to fix.
Apple Macbook Air Ram
3. Some Macs Are Not Upgradeable
Whether or not you can upgrade the RAM in your Mac—and how easy it is to do so—depends entirely on the model. Some iMacs, like all the 27” models, have an access panel specifically for adding RAM. And it takes only a few seconds to pop that panel off. But for some other models, they are not supported to upgrade or install more RAM. There will be a detailed list for all supported Mac models on part 3.
4. It's complex, technical and expensive
By not knowing which RAM module to use in your computer or not understanding whether your computer allows RAM upgrades, you are taking a colossal risk. Besides, buying genuine mac memory upgrades from an authorized dealer can be very expensive.
For these potential risks of upgrading Mac RAM in a manual way, we recommend increasing Mac RAM with software solution - Umate Mac Cleaner.
Macbook Air Ram Type
In Closing
Freeing up RAM on your MacBook Pro, iMac, or MacBook Air is as simple as knowing what RAM module to use and how to install it. However, for the easiest, cheapest and most hassle-free way to free up Mac memory, we'd still recommend iMyFone Umate Mac Cleaner.