Not Enough Memory in Windows 11? Here’s What to do

If you encounter the Your computer is low on memory issue on your Windows 11 computer, it means that your PC is low on RAM and, therefore, won’t be able to process the applications you are trying to use.

In this guide, we will discuss some expert-recommended solutions to fix not enough memory on Windows 11 issue right after examining the causes of the same.

Why is my computer low on memory?

There could be various reasons for the not enough memory issue; some of the common ones are mentioned here:

• Low on virtual memory – If the virtual memory settings are not configured properly on your computer, you might face memory-related issues. Check the Virtual memory settings to fix it.
• Unnecessary background processes – Unwanted background processes can consume memory and cause your system to slow down. Open Resource Monitor to identify the culprit.
• Resource-intensive apps – If multiple resource-hogging programs run on your computer simultaneously, it will consume the available memory, and you will get the message.
• Memory leaks – It is a situation that occurs when a program uses up memory resources unintentionally and fails to release them even when not used. Try uninstalling the app.
• Faulty physical RAM – If the RAM on your computer has some defects, it can lead to memory management issues. To fix it, you might have to upgrade it.

Now that you know the reasons for the issue, let us check the solutions to fix it.

How do I fix the not enough memory issue on Windows 11?

Before engaging in advanced troubleshooting steps, you should consider performing the following checks:

• Restart your computer.
• Press Shift + Ctrl + Esc to open Task Manager and disable Startup items.
• Ensure there are no pending Windows Updates.
• Close unwanted browser tabs and remove useless extensions.
• Reinstall the affected app.
• Use a reliable antivirus tool to run a deep scan on your computer for malware infection.
• Verify if the RAM is seated correctly, and if not, remove it, clean the dust from the slots, and reseat it.

Once done, move to the detailed methods mentioned below.

1. Close the resource-intensive apps & processes

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type resmon.exe and click OK to open Resource Monitor.
3. Go to the Memory tab and review the processes to find resource-hogging items.
4. Right-click any of them and select End Process or End Process Tree to close them.

If your device cannot use all the RAM, we have a great guide with step-by-step instructions to fix it.

2. Increase Virtual memory

1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
2. Go to System, then click About.
   
3. Next, click the Advanced system settings link to open System Properties.
4. Go to Performance, and click the Settings button.
5. Next, switch to the Advanced tab, locate Virtual memory, and click Change.
6. Remove the checkmark next to Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
7. Select the system drive, then the radio button next to the Custom size option, and input values for Initial size and Maximum size in MB.
8. Click Set, then OK.
9. Click OK, then again OK to close the System Properties window.

The Initial and Maximum size of the RAM, under the Custom size option, could be between 1.5x – 3x of your actual RAM. So, if the RAM on your computer is 8 GB (1 GB = 1024 MB), then you can set the Initial size of the RAM up to 9728 MB and the Maximum size of the RAM up to 24576 MB.

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3. Run your computer in a clean boot environment

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type msconfig and click OK to open the System Configuration window.
3. Go to the Services tab, place a checkmark next to Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all.
4. Switch to the Startup tab, and click Open Task Manager.
5. On the Task Manager window, locate the unnecessary Startup item and click Disable from the top.
6. Close Task Manager, click Apply, and OK on the System Configuration window to save the changes.
7. Click Restart.

Once the computer comes back online, you will have a clean environment with only the necessary services and processes running, reducing the load on RAM.

To know more about RAM consumption on your Windows 11 PC, we suggest you check out this informative guide.

4. Run the Windows memory diagnostic tool

1. Press the Windows key, type memory, and select Windows Memory Diagnostic under Best Match to launch the app.
2. On the Windows Memory Diagnostic dialog box, select Restart now and check for problems.
3. The PC will boot up, and the tool will start scanning your device in Standard mode to spot memory-related problems. You can switch to Extended or Basic mode using the Function keys mentioned on the screen.
4. Once the scan is complete, the computer will restart automatically, and you will see the results on your desktop screen.

In case there are no issues with the system memory, the results would say no errors were detected. However, if it detects problems, run the scan in the Extended mode to be sure.

If the scan again comes with errors, chances are you might have faulty RAM and need to replace it to fix the issue.

So, these are the methods that you can use to fix the not enough memory issue on Windows 11. If you are encountering similar memory-related issues, like not enough memory to complete an operation, then read this guide to find solutions.

Please feel free to give us any information, tips, and your experience with the subject in the comments section below.