How-To

Not Enough Memory on Windows 11: 7 Fixes

By Brian Burgess

Published July 9, 2023

If you’re having problems with not enough memory on Windows 11, there are steps you can take prior to installing more RAM modules. Here are some of them.

Are you running into a problem with having not enough memory on Windows 11? The problem can be frustrating, and sometimes your system will display the “Your computer is low on memory” error message.

When you don’t have enough Random Access Memory (RAM), your system and apps will be less responsive or fail to launch. RAM allows your system to run apps and processes on your PC until it is permanently stored on your local drive.

Luckily, if you are experiencing an issue with not having enough RAM, there are steps you can take, from disabling apps and services to installing more physical RAM. If that’s too expensive an option, however, we’ll show you some troubleshooting options you can try that won’t cost you a penny.

1. Disable Background Apps

Many of your apps run in the background, taking up space and depleting the amount of RAM available for other applications. When you disable background apps on Windows 11, it has several benefits.

Turning off background apps will save on RAM usage, improve system performance, improve data connectivity, and improve battery life on a laptop.

To disable background apps on Windows 11:

1. Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.
2. Select Apps from the left column and Installed apps on the right.
3. Search for the app you don’t want to run in the background in the Search field at the top.
4. Click the three-dot button next to the app and select Advanced options from the available menu.
5. Scroll down to the Background apps permissions section and set the Let this app run in the background dropdown menu to Never.

Once you follow the steps, the app will no longer run in the background and waste system resources like RAM. Do this for each app you don’t want to run in the background.

However, it’s important to note that you’ll need to manually check apps like Mail & Calendar, OneDrive, or others to get updated information.

2. Disable Startup Apps to Save RAM

Another thing you can do to save on RAM and other system resources when you turn on your PC is to disable startup apps on Windows 11. Since the apps won’t run, you’ll save memory, and your PC will boot faster.

To disable startup apps using Task Manager:

1. Right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager from the menu.
2. Click the Startup apps tab on the left.
3. Right-click the app you don’t want to run during startup and choose Disable.

Follow the steps for each app you don’t want to run during boot. You can also disable them through Settings. For more, read our step-by-step guide on disabling startup apps on Windows 11.

3. Perform a Clean Boot

When you perform a clean boot of Windows 11, it disables third-party apps and services from running, which minimizes RAM usage. To perform a proper clean boot, you need to disable all startup apps first.

To disable third-party services and perform a clean boot on Windows 11:

1. Press the Windows key to open the Start menu.
2. Type msconfig and select the System Configuration app from the top result.
3. Click the Services tab at the top.
4. Check the Hide all Microsoft services box and click the Disable all button on the screen.
5. Click Apply and OK.
6. Click the Restart button on the System Configuration window.

4. Free Up Storage Space

When your system’s RAM is low, Windows utilizes a page file from the hard drive to act as virtual memory. However, a drive maxed out on storage space will restrict virtual memory. So, it’s a good idea to free up drive space using Storage Sense on Windows 11.

Once you enable and configure Storage Sense, you can use it anytime to free up space. Open Settings > System > Storage and wait while it runs. Once it is complete, select all options and click the Clean up button.

In addition, check out how to free up disk space on Windows 11 with cleanup recommendations. You can also free up additional space by manually deleting temp files and emptying the Recycle Bin.

5. Increase Virtual Memory Allocation

Another thing you can do is increase the virtual memory amount, which expands the page file’s amount of drive space used.

To increase virtual memory on Windows 11:

1. Press the Windows key.
2. Type advanced system settings and choose the top result.
3. When the System Properties screen opens, select the Advanced tab at the top and click the Settings button in the Performance section.
4. From the Performance Options screen, click the Advanced tab, and click the Change button in the Virtual memory section.
5. Uncheck the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives at the top of the window.
6. Select the Custom size option and enter the desired size for virtual memory indicated in megabytes.
7. After entering the values, click the Set button and OK to close the window.

Note: While it’s best to allow Windows to manage the page file size, you can increase it if you experience problems with insufficient memory. You might think increasing it a lot will be beneficial—however, if it’s too large, it will lead to system instability. Bumping up the size can help, but it is a temporary fix until you can install more RAM later.

6. Run Windows Memory Diagnostic Scan

If you just recently started to have problems with not having enough memory on Windows 11, there could be an issue with it. The good news is Windows has a built-in diagnostic utility that can scan your RAM and detect errors.

The diagnostic scan won’t fix potential errors but can point you to a faulty module you need to reseat or replace.

To run a memory diagnostic:

1. Press Windows key + R to launch the Run dialog window.
2. Type mdsched and click OK or press Enter.
3. Click the Restart now and check for problems (recommended) option.
4. Your PC will restart, and the tool will run a diagnostic scan of your system’s memory.

If an error is detected on one of your RAM modules, you can start troubleshooting it by reseating it. If that doesn’t work, take your PC to a reputable repair shop. And if the PC is still under warranty, contact support for further instructions; you should be able to get a new RAM module for free.

7. Install More Physical RAM

If you have exhausted the above options, you’ll need to purchase more memory for your PC. Again, if the PC is still under warranty, you should be able to get an upgrade for a discount. And if you don’t have the skills (or tools) to replace it yourself, bring it to a reputable repair service.

If you want to add more, you can use Windows to check the RAM information and purchase some online. You can also get detailed RAM information using a third-party app like Speccy from the creators of CCleaner.

Fixing Not Enough Memory on Windows 11

If you have problems with apps running slow or system errors about insufficient memory, you can fix the problem using the troubleshooting steps above. Unless you want more RAM for gaming, for example, using the built-in system tools and settings should be used first.

There are other ways to fix problems with Windows 11. For example, if you have issues with other components, you can check hardware and system specs on your PC. Or, sometimes, you might need to fix a slow Windows 11 computer.

If your graphics card (GPU) isn’t working correctly, learn to fix high GPU usage on Windows 11. And sometimes, you might have problems with your display, and nothing is showing. In that instance, you can fix a black screen on Windows 11.