Keeping your Windows 10 or 11 PC running smoothly often boils down to how well you manage your system’s memory. As an expert in PC optimization, I’ve gathered the most effective techniques to help you clean and optimize your Windows memory—whether you’re a beginner just starting out or an advanced user seeking deeper control. Here are the top 10 ways to optimize and improve your Windows memory, with practical steps and real-world examples.
1. Use Glary Utilities for One-Click Memory Cleanup
For Beginners:
Glary Utilities is a powerful, user-friendly suite designed to optimize and maintain your Windows PC. Its “Memory Optimizer” tool can quickly free up RAM and remove unnecessary memory-hogging processes.
How to Use:
1. Download and install Glary Utilities.
2. Open the program, go to the “Memory Optimizer” section.
3. Click “Optimize” to automatically free up memory.
For Advanced Users:
Glary Utilities also allows scheduled memory optimization and detailed customization. Explore the settings to adjust aggressive or passive memory cleaning based on your workload.
2. Manage Startup Programs
For Beginners:
Too many startup programs slow down your system and consume memory. Windows Task Manager lets you review and disable unnecessary startup items.
How to Do It:
1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Go to the “Startup” tab.
3. Right-click and disable programs you don’t need running at startup.
For Advanced Users:
Use Glary Utilities’ “Startup Manager” for a more detailed view, including non-standard startup entries and scheduled tasks.
3. Monitor Background Processes
For Beginners:
Background apps can silently eat up memory. Use Task Manager to check which processes use the most RAM.
How to Check:
1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
2. Click on the “Processes” tab and sort by “Memory”.
3. Right-click and end unnecessary tasks.
For Advanced Users:
Use Resource Monitor (type “resmon” in the Start menu) for deeper analysis of memory usage by process.
4. Regularly Restart Your PC
For Beginners:
A simple reboot clears temporary memory leaks and resets system RAM, especially after extended use.
Best Practice:
Restart your computer at least once a week, or whenever you notice sluggishness.
5. Update Windows and Drivers
For Beginners:
Outdated system files and drivers can lead to poor memory management.
How to Update:
1. Go to Settings > Windows Update.
2. Check for updates and install any available latest updates and drivers.
For Advanced Users:
Use Device Manager to update specific device drivers, such as graphics or chipset drivers, for optimal memory handling.
6. Adjust Virtual Memory (Paging File) Settings
For Beginners:
Windows uses part of your hard drive as “virtual memory” when physical RAM is full. Ensuring this is correctly configured can prevent slowdowns.
How to Adjust:
1. Right-click “This PC”, select “Properties”.
2. Click “Advanced system settings”.
3. Under “Performance”, click “Settings”.
4. Go to “Advanced” and click “Change” under Virtual Memory.
5. Let Windows manage it, or set a custom size (recommended: 1.5x your RAM size for initial, and up to 3x for maximum).
For Advanced Users:
Experiment with custom paging file sizes based on your usage pattern. Place the paging file on an SSD for faster access.
7. Uninstall Unused Software
For Beginners:
Unused programs take up memory and background resources.
How to Uninstall:
1. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
2. Find software you no longer use and click “Uninstall”.
For Advanced Users:
Use Glary Utilities’ “Uninstall Manager” to remove stubborn or hidden applications and their leftover files.
8. Disable Visual Effects
For Beginners:
Fancy animations and transparency effects use extra RAM.
How to Disable:
1. Right-click “This PC”, select “Properties”.
2. Click “Advanced system settings”, then “Performance Settings”.
3. Select “Adjust for best performance” or customize to disable individual effects.
For Advanced Users:
Use the “sysdm.cpl” command for direct access and create custom profiles for different performance scenarios.
9. Clean Up System Junk and Temporary Files
For Beginners:
Temporary files and caches can occupy valuable memory.
How to Clean:
1. Open “Disk Cleanup” (type in the Start menu).
2. Select your system drive and check items like “Temporary files” and “System cache”.
3. Click “OK” to remove them.
For Advanced Users:
Glary Utilities’ “Disk Cleaner” and “Tracks Eraser” go deeper, removing obsolete files and privacy traces that Windows tools may miss.
10. Upgrade RAM for Physical Memory Expansion
For Beginners:
If your PC regularly runs out of memory, adding more physical RAM can be the most effective solution.
How to Check:
1. Open Task Manager, go to the “Performance” tab.
2. See how much RAM you have and how much is used.
For Advanced Users:
1. Research your motherboard’s maximum supported RAM.
2. Buy high-quality, compatible RAM sticks.
3. Install them physically, or consult a technician if you’re unsure.
Summary Table: Key Tools and Features
Task | Beginner Tool | Advanced Tool
—————————————————-
One-click memory cleanup | Glary Utilities | Glary Utilities Scheduled Optimization
Disable startups | Task Manager | Glary Utilities Startup Manager
End processes | Task Manager | Resource Monitor
Remove junk files | Disk Cleanup | Glary Utilities Disk Cleaner
Uninstall programs | Windows Settings | Glary Utilities Uninstall Manager
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re just starting or have advanced system management skills, optimizing your Windows memory can greatly improve performance and stability. Glary Utilities stands out for its comprehensive tools that suit both beginners (with one-click fixes) and advanced users (with deep customization). Regularly applying these techniques will keep your Windows PC running at its best, prevent memory-related slowdowns, and extend your system’s usable life.