How to Clear RAM on Mac Speed Up Your App Usage (MacBook Pro, Air, iMac)

Is your Mac running sluggishly? Have applications become unresponsive, or have you seen messages like “Your system has run out of application memory” or the infamous spinning beach ball? These signs may indicate that your memory (RAM or Unified Memory) is maxed out. Here’s how to clear RAM on your Mac and optimize memory usage, including steps to take if your RAM is consistently full.

What is RAM?

RAM, or Random Access Memory, serves as temporary storage for active tasks and processes. Unlike the slower storage on your Mac, RAM is faster and helps speed up your computer by keeping frequently used data readily accessible.

With the introduction of the M1 chip and later Apple silicon, Apple refers to RAM as Unified Memory. This Unified Memory is shared between the CPU and GPU, and dynamically allocated based on need.

Macs come standard with 8GB of Unified Memory, but you can opt for more at the time of purchase. While 8GB might be sufficient for general use, memory-intensive applications, and poorly designed web pages or apps can quickly consume available RAM. If you’re unsure of your current RAM, check out our guide on how to determine how much RAM is in your Mac.

How Much RAM Do I Need?

Unified Memory in Apple’s M1 and later chips offer superior performance compared to standard RAM due to its direct integration with the CPU and GPU. Apple’s VP of Worldwide Product Marketing, Bob Borchers, has stated that “8GB on an M3 MacBook Pro is probably analogous to 16GB on other systems,” thanks to its more efficient utilization.

However, 8GB might still fall short for many users. Applications like Safari and Photoshop can consume several gigabytes of RAM. For most users, especially those running multiple or memory-heavy applications, investing in 16GB or 18GB of Unified Memory is advisable. The extra capacity will provide a smoother experience and future-proof your Mac against increasing demands.

Do I Have Enough RAM?

Is your Mac slowing down due to insufficient RAM? If you’re experiencing issues like:

• Performance hiccups
• The spinning beach ball
• “Your system has run out of application memory” warnings
• Lag while typing
• Unresponsive or freezing apps
• Slow app or web page load times

these could be signs that your RAM is maxed out.

For older Macs that allow RAM upgrades, increasing the memory might resolve these issues. However, most newer Macs, especially those with M-series processors, have Unified Memory that can’t be upgraded after purchase. Before you rush to buy more RAM, try these simpler solutions to improve performance:

1. Close Unnecessary Applications: Free up RAM by closing apps you’re not actively using.
2. Check Activity Monitor: Identify and quit processes that are using excessive memory.
3. Clear Cache Files: Remove temporary files that might be consuming RAM.
4. Restart Your Mac: A fresh start can clear up memory leaks and improve performance.
5. Update macOS and Apps: Ensure your system and applications are up to date to benefit from performance improvements and bug fixes.

If these steps don’t resolve the issues, and if your Mac allows for it, upgrading the RAM could be the next step. For Macs with M-series processors, consider optimizing your current setup or upgrading to a model with more Unified Memory if needed.

How to Clear RAM on Mac

If adding more RAM isn’t an option, or you want to troubleshoot before making any upgrades, there are several effective ways to free up RAM on your Mac. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Restart Your Mac

Restarting your Mac is one of the simplest ways to clear RAM. It resets the system, clears temporary files and caches, and often resolves performance issues. If your Mac is frozen or unresponsive, a restart might be necessary, though it’s important to save any unsaved work if possible. If restarting isn’t feasible at the moment, you can try other methods outlined below.

Step 2: Update macOS

Running the latest version of macOS ensures you benefit from the latest bug fixes and performance improvements. Outdated software might be contributing to your RAM issues. To check for updates:

1. Click on the Apple menu () in the top-left corner of your screen.
2. Select System Preferences.
3. Click on Software Update.
4. Follow the prompts to install any available updates.

Step 3: Check Activity Monitor

Activity Monitor provides insight into how much RAM each application and process is using. Here’s how to use it:

1. Open Activity Monitor from the Utilities folder or search for it using Spotlight (press Command + Space).
2. Go to the Memory tab.
3. Review the list of processes and applications to see their memory usage. Look for any that are using an unusually high amount of RAM.
4. You can sort the list by Memory column to quickly identify memory-hogging apps.

In the Memory tab, you’ll find:

• Memory Pressure: A graph showing how efficiently your RAM is being used.
• Physical Memory: Total amount of RAM installed.
• Memory Used: Amount of RAM currently in use.
• Cached Files: RAM being used for cached data, which can be cleared if necessary.
• Swap Used: Amount of disk space being used as virtual memory.

If you identify a particular app or process consuming excessive memory, consider quitting or restarting it to see if performance improves.

Additional Tips

• Close Unnecessary Applications: Free up RAM by closing apps you’re not using.
• Manage Startup Items: Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items to remove unnecessary startup programs.
• Free-Up Disk Space: Ensure you have ample free disk space, as low disk space can affect performance.

Conclusion

As you Can See, it’s pretty simple to clear RAM on Mac and get your performance back on Mac. If nothing above helps, you probably are trying to do more than your device can achieve. If you’re able to upgrade RAM, do it, but if your device does not support upgrades, then opt for a better variant.