Windows 11 can be a bit sneaky about how much memory it grabs, especially if you’re running a lot of apps or just have an older setup. Sometimes, it’s not about your RAM being totally maxed out but more about how much background stuff is hogging resources without you really noticing. Or maybe some startup programs just start up automatically and slow things down from the get-go. This guide’s got some practical fixes that actually work in reality — not just theory. Implementing these can help your system breathe a little and give you a noticeable boost in speed and responsiveness.
How to Lower Memory Usage on Windows 11
Method 1: Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs
This one’s a classic, but kind of overlooked. When Windows boots up, some apps decide to run in the background for no good reason. These can quietly eat away at your memory over time. To fix this, go to Settings > Apps > Startup. Or, in newer builds, open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and head over to the Startup tab. Disable programs that aren’t essential. For example, those fancy cloud sync apps or browser extensions that start automatically. On some setups, this doesn’t always work instantly, but after a reboot, many of these apps stay dormant and free up memory. Just keep an eye out for anything you don’t recognize or don’t need launching every time you press power.
Method 2: Use Task Manager to End Background Tasks
Ever notice certain apps just sit there forever, using up RAM even when you’re not actively using them? Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), go to the Processes tab, and sort by memory usage. Right-click on the apps hogging resources and pick End task. Be cautious here — don’t end system-critical processes, or your PC might get wonky. This helps clear out memory hogs temporarily, especially when you’re gaming or doing something intensive. Sometimes, apps just don’t close readily, so this is a quick way to free up RAM on the fly. Just a heads-up: some apps might restart automatically or after a reboot, so periodic checks help.
Method 3: Adjust Virtual Memory Settings
Virtual memory, or paging file, acts like a safety net when your RAM runs out. If your PC’s feeling sluggish and you see high memory usage, tweaking this can help. Navigate to Settings > System > About > Advanced system settings. Under the Advanced tab, click Settings in the Performance section, then head to Advanced again and click Change under Virtual Memory. Here’s the trick: uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives. Pick your OS drive (usually C:), then select Custom size. Set the initial and maximum size to about 1.5 to 2 times your RAM. For example, if you have 8GB, try 12288 MB (around 12GB).Apply and restart. This can stabilize your memory handling, especially if you’re hitting the ceiling often. Not sure why it works, but on some machines, this really helps smooth out performance dips.
Method 4: Turn Off Visual Effects
Windows 11’s visual effects look pretty, but they’re also memory hungry. If you’re after speed, consider dialing them down. Head to Settings > Accessibility > Visual effects or use System Properties — right-click on This PC, choose Properties, then click on Advanced system settings. Under the Performance section, hit Settings. From here, you can select Adjust for best performance or pick custom options to disable animations, shadows, and transparency effects. Disabling transparency (by turning off Transparency effects in Personalization > Colors) can free up some GPU and RAM usage, which is weird but true. Especially useful on older or lower-spec machines where eye candy isn’t worth the lag.
Method 5: Uninstall Unused Programs & Clean System Files
This one’s obvious but often forgotten. Over time, software piles up and quietly consumes space and background resources. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps and get rid of anything you haven’t used in ages. For cleaning system files, use built-in tools like Disk Cleanup (just search for it in the Start menu).It can remove temporary files, system cache, and old update logs, freeing up space and sometimes reducing background memory load. Additionally, check your startup items again — sometimes, apps you removed still launch at startup because they’re stubborn. Double-check the task manager or use programs like Winhance or similar to see what’s pulling memory in the background.
All in all, these tips can really help make Windows 11 behave better with memory. Sometimes, just disabling a few background apps or tweaking virtual memory settings makes a noticeable difference. It’s kind of weird, but on some setups, you have to try a mix of these since Windows isn’t always consistent about how it manages resources. Anyway, just keep an eye on memory usage via Task Manager and adjust as needed.
Summary
- Disable unnecessary startup programs from Task Manager or Settings.
- End resource-heavy background apps periodically in Task Manager.
- Adjust virtual memory size to better handle memory peaks.
- Turn off visual effects and transparency for a performance boost.
- Uninstall unused apps and clean temporary files regularly.
Wrap-up
Lowering Windows 11’s memory consumption isn’t always straightforward, but these tweaks are worth trying if the system’s feeling sluggish. Sometimes it’s just about cleaning up or adjusting settings to make the most of what you have. On one setup, it worked right after changing the virtual memory; on another, disabling animations was what really freed things up. It’s not always perfect, but a little patience can go a long way. Fingers crossed this helps someone get a smoother, snappier experience—worked for me, and hopefully, it does for you too.