Warnings that memory is low
I keep getting a message that my computer is low on memory.
Written by The CommonFixes team · fact checked by CommonFixes review desk
Last updated
Short answer
Either too much is open at once, or one program has a leak and keeps claiming memory without giving it back. The quickest thing to try first: find the greedy program — Open Task Manager and sort by the Memory column. Note anything using several gigabytes that should not be. Most people are done in about 15 minutes.
Full walkthrough below: 5 steps for Windows, rated easy.
Sounds like this
- •Low memory warning
- •Apps close by themselves
- •Everything slows at once
Why it happens
Either too much is open at once, or one program has a leak and keeps claiming memory without giving it back.
Work through these in order
0% done- 1
Find the greedy program
Open Task Manager and sort by the Memory column. Note anything using several gigabytes that should not be.
- 2
Close and reopen that program
A leak resets when the program restarts. If the same program leaks every day, update it or find an alternative.
- 3
Let Windows manage virtual memory
Search for Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows, go to Advanced, Change, and tick Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
- 4
Reduce startup programs
In Task Manager, Startup apps, disable everything that does not need to run the moment you sign in.
- 5
Check whether more memory is possible
Task Manager, Performance, Memory shows how much you have and how many slots are used. Adding a stick is an affordable upgrade on most laptops.
If none of that worked
Four gigabytes of memory is no longer enough for modern browsers. Eight is a comfortable minimum.
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Who wrote this and how we checked it
The CommonFixes team
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We are a small group of people who spend our days repairing laptops and desktops for family, friends and small offices. Every guide here starts with a problem someone actually brought to us, and we only write down the steps that put the machine right.
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CommonFixes review desk
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Before a guide goes live, a second person walks through it on a real machine and checks each instruction against the maker's own support pages. Anything we cannot confirm is removed rather than guessed at.
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This guide was last updated on 10 August 2026. If a step no longer matches what you see on screen, tell us on the contact page and we will test it again.
A gentle reminder: back up anything you cannot afford to lose before major repairs. If a step ever feels risky, stop and ask a technician. There is no shame in that.