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

Is your Mac running slow? Are apps unresponsive, or are you seeing messages like “Your system is out of application memory” or the infamous spinning beach ball? These signs could be a sign that your memory (RAM or Unified Memory) is at its maximum. Here's how to clear RAM and optimize memory usage on your Mac, including steps to take if your RAM is constantly full.

What is RAM?

RAM, or Random Access Memory, acts 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 easily 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 with 8GB of Unified Memory as standard, but you can choose more at the time of purchase. While 8GB may be enough for general use, memory-intensive applications and poorly designed web pages or apps can quickly eat up the available RAM. If you’re not sure how much RAM you have, check out our guide to determining how much RAM your Mac has.

How Much RAM Do I Need?

Unified Memory in Apple's M1 and later chips delivers superior performance over standard RAM thanks to its direct integration with the CPU and GPU. “The 8GB in the M3 MacBook Pro is probably more like the 16GB in other systems,” said Bob Borchers, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, thanks to its more efficient use.

However, 8GB may still be insufficient for many users. Applications like Safari and Photoshop can consume several gigabytes of RAM. For most users, especially those running multiple or memory-intensive applications, investing in 16GB or 18GB of Unified Memory is recommended. The extra capacity will provide a smoother experience and future-proof your Mac for increased demands.

Do I Have Enough RAM?

Is your Mac slowing down due to insufficient RAM? If you are experiencing issues such as:

• Performance glitches
• Spinning beach ball
• “Your system is out of application memory” warnings
• Delay in typing
• Unresponsive or freezing applications
• Slow application or web page load times

These could be signs that your RAM is at its maximum capacity.

On older Macs that allow RAM upgrades, increasing the memory can solve these issues. However, most new Macs, especially those with M-series processors, have Unified Memory, which cannot be upgraded after purchase. Before you rush out to buy more RAM, try these simpler solutions to improve performance:

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

If these steps don’t resolve the issue and your Mac allows it, upgrading the RAM may 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 doing any upgrades, there are a few 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 out temporary files and caches, and often fixes performance issues. If your Mac is frozen or unresponsive, a restart may be necessary, but it’s important to save any unsaved work if possible. If restarting isn’t possible at this time, you can try the other methods listed below.

Step 2: Update macOS

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

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

Step 3: Check Activity Monitor

Activity Monitor gives you insight into how much RAM each app and process is using. Here's how to use it:

1. Open Activity Monitor Search for it from the Utilities folder or using Spotlight (press Command + Space).
2. Go 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 as follows: Memory Column to quickly identify memory-consuming applications.

Inside Memory In the tab you will find:

• Memory Print: A graph showing how efficiently your RAM is being used.
• Physical Memory: Total amount of installed RAM.
• Memory Used: The amount of RAM currently in use.
• Cached files: RAM used for cached data that can be cleared when necessary.
• Used in Exchange: Amount of disk space used as virtual memory.

If you find that a particular app or process is consuming excessive memory, consider closing or restarting the app to see if performance improves.

Additional Tips

• Close Unnecessary Applications: Free up RAM by closing applications you are not using.
• Manage Startup Items: Go System Preferences > Users and Groups > Login Items to remove unnecessary startup programs.
• Free Up Disk SpaceMake sure you have enough free disk space, as low disk space can affect performance.

Solution

As you can see, clearing RAM on a Mac and restoring performance on your Mac is pretty simple. If none of the above work, you’re probably trying to do more than your device can handle. If you can upgrade the RAM, go for it, but if your device doesn’t support upgrades, go for a better variant.