12 effective ways to fix high RAM usage on Windows 11

Q: Does increasing virtual memory improve performance on Windows 11?

Increasing virtual memory can improve stability but not actual performance. Virtual memory uses your SSD or HDD as overflow RAM, which is much slower than physical memory. Raising the paging file size may reduce crashes or app reloads, but it will not make the system faster.

High RAM usage on Windows 11 is often caused by startup apps, background processes, outdated drivers, malware, or memory leaks.
When physical memory runs low, the operating system uses virtual memory, which significantly slows performance.
You can reduce memory usage by disabling startup programs and limiting background app permissions.
Uninstalling unused apps and disabling unnecessary services lowers persistent RAM consumption.
Updating Windows 11, drivers, and apps can fix memory leaks and improve stability.
If optimization fails, resetting or reinstalling Windows 11 restores a clean performance baseline.
Tiny11 can lower system requirements, but is intended primarily for testing scenarios.

On Windows 11, it’s possible to lower the RAM usage to improve the system and app performance, and in this guide, I’ll outline the different ways to complete the task.

Although on modern hardware, high memory usage can slowly reduce performance. As apps grow more complex and background services multiply, systems running Windows 11 can quickly run into memory pressure, especially on devices with 8GB of RAM or less.

When available memory runs low, the operating system turns to virtual memory, using storage as temporary RAM. Since even fast SSDs are significantly slower than physical memory, this shift often results in sluggish app switching, longer load times, and occasional stuttering.

Under heavy workloads, such as gaming, video editing, running virtual machines, or having dozens of browser tabs open, limited memory can also cause freezes or force apps to reload unexpectedly.

Also, upgrading memory is not always the simple solution it once was. As you probably know, memory prices have been highly volatile recently due to supply chain constraints and increased demand from AI infrastructure, data centers, and next-generation hardware. As a result, for many users, adding more RAM can be costly or impossible, particularly on thin-and-light laptops with soldered memory.

Reducing unnecessary memory usage, therefore, becomes a practical and cost-effective strategy. It helps restore responsiveness, improve multitasking, reduce instability, and extend the usable life of existing hardware. It can also improve battery life by lowering background processing and disk activity.

In this guide, I’ll outline the different methods to reduce memory usage on your computer.

Reduce excessive memory usage on Windows 11
FAQs about reducing RAM usage on Windows 11

Warning: If you choose the option to reinstall the operating system, understand that the process will delete everything on the device. As a result, it’s recommended to create a full backup before proceeding. It’s also important to clarify that this guide focuses strictly on system-level adjustments within Windows 11. It does not cover app-specific optimizations, such as memory-saving settings available in browsers like Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.

Reduce excessive memory usage on Windows 11

If your computer feels slow, apps keep reloading, or Task Manager shows high memory usage, you can reduce excessive RAM consumption on Windows 11 with a combination of system tweaks, cleanup steps, and maintenance tasks.

From disabling startup programs and background processes to removing unnecessary services, scanning for malware, updating drivers, and even reinstalling the operating system, the methods below will help you free up memory, improve responsiveness, and stabilize performance without upgrading your hardware.

1. Disable startup programs

Some apps configure themselves to launch automatically when the operating system starts, consuming memory before you even open a single app. Disabling unnecessary startup programs reduces baseline RAM usage and speeds up boot time.

To disable startup apps to reduce memory usage on Windows 11, follow these steps:

Open Settings on Windows 11.
Click on Apps.
Click the Startup page.
(Optional) Select the Startup impact option from the “Sort by” setting.
Turn off the toggle switch for each program to stop it from running at startup.

Once you complete the steps, the apps will no longer run automatically at startup, reducing the device’s memory footprint.

It’s important to note that there’s no specific list of apps you should disable. Instead, you should turn off the apps that have a greater impact on performance and disable as many as possible.

2. Disable background processes

Other apps continue running in the background to sync data, check for updates, or send notifications. If you limit background activity, it prevents constant memory allocation and frees up RAM for the tasks you actively use.

To stop apps from running in the background, follow these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Apps.
Click the Installed apps page.
Click the menu (three-dots) button for the app to disable background settings and click on Advanced options.
Select the Never option under the “Background apps permissions” section.
Repeat steps 4 and 5 to change the background permissions for other Microsoft Store apps.

After you complete the steps, the apps will no longer run in the background, wasting system memory.

3. Disable unnecessary services

Windows 11 (like its predecessors) runs dozens of services in the background, but not all of them are essential for every user. Turning off non-critical services lowers persistent memory usage and reduces system overhead.

To disable services to minimize RAM usage, follow these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Services (or services.msc) and click the top result to open the Services app.
Select the service.
Right-click the service and select the Properties option.
Choose the startup type or the Disabled option to turn off the service from the “Startup type” setting.
Click the Apply button.
Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the app or system service will apply the action.

4. Uninstall apps you don’t need

Unused apps often install background components, services, or startup entries that continue consuming memory. If you uninstall unnecessary software, it eliminates hidden RAM usage and improves system performance.

To manually uninstall unnecessary apps to reduce the memory footprint, follow these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Apps.
Click the Installed apps tab.
Select the app to remove.
Click the app menu (three dots) button and choose the “Uninstall” button.
Click the Uninstall button again to confirm.
Continue with the on-screen directions (if applicable).

After you complete the steps, the app will be uninstalled from Windows 11, along with any associated files, freeing up space and reducing the memory footprint.

5. Scan for viruses and other malware

On Windows 11, malware frequently runs hidden processes that consume significant memory and processor resources. Running a full security scan helps detect and remove threats that may be causing unusual RAM usage.

To perform a full virus scan on Windows 11 to get rid of any malicious code affecting memory usage, follow these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Windows Security and click the top result to open the app.
Click on Virus & threat protection.
Click on Scan options under the “Current threats” section.
Select the Full scan option to check the entire system for viruses and any other type of malware.
Click the Scan now button.

Once you complete the steps, Microsoft Defender Antivirus will scan your computer for viruses and other malware, which can affect your computer’s memory usage.

6. Update Windows 11 to the latest version

Usually, Windows 11 updates include performance improvements, memory management optimizations, and bug fixes. Keeping the system updated can resolve memory leaks and improve overall efficiency. However, it’s also known that system updates can cause additional issues, so this guide will help you with the process to protect your computer before and after installing updates.

To install Windows 11 updates manually, follow these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Windows Update.
(Optional) Check the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle switch to download updates before they roll out automatically to everyone.
Click the Check for updates button.
(Optional) Click the “Download and install” option to apply a preview of an upcoming update of Windows 11.

Quick note: Optional updates usually include non-security changes that Microsoft plans to release in the next Patch Tuesday rollout.
Click the Restart now button.

After you complete the steps, if an update is available, it’ll download and install automatically to address bugs or memory leaks affecting how the computer uses RAM on Windows 11.

7. Update apps to their latest version

Outdated applications may contain bugs or memory leaks that cause excessive memory consumption. Installing the latest versions ensures you benefit from performance improvements and stability fixes.

To update apps manually on Windows 11, follow these steps:

Open the Microsoft Store.
Click on Downloads from the bottom-left navigation pane.
Click the Check for updates button to update your apps on Windows 11.

Once you complete the steps, updates will be downloaded and installed for your apps, improving the memory usage.

8. Update drivers to their latest version

Drivers control how hardware interacts with the system, and outdated versions can cause memory leaks or inefficient resource handling. Updating drivers improves compatibility, stability, and memory management.

To update hardware drivers on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the Advanced options page.
Click the Optional updates setting under the “Optional updates” section.
Click the Driver updates setting.
Select the device driver to update.
Click the “Download & install” button.

After you complete the steps, the updated version of the driver will install on your computer, addressing issues and improving the overall experience and memory usage (if applicable).

9. Enable Xbox Full Screen Experience

The Xbox Full Screen Experience prioritizes system resources for gaming by limiting background activity and optimizing memory allocation. Enabling this feature can reduce unnecessary RAM usage while playing games.

At the time of this writing, this feature is still in development, and it’s unclear when it’ll be available for everyone. However, the FSE feature is available on handheld devices, such as the ASUS ROG Ally and Ally X.

To enable the Xbox Full Screen Experience to reduce system memory usage to allocate more RAM for gaming, follow these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Gaming.
Click the “Full screen experience” page.
Select the Xbox app in the “Choose home app” setting.
Turn on the “Enter full screen experience on start-up” toggle switch to allow the system to start directly in this new console-like experience.
(Optional) Turn on the “Show accessibility control hits in Task View” toggle switch to display a one-button alternative to a combo button press.

Once you complete the steps, the next time you restart your traditional desktop computer, Windows 11 will boot directly into the full-screen experience with the Xbox app, optimizing performance and memory usage for your gaming.

10. Check for apps using a lot of RAM

In addition to knowing the different ways to minimize memory usage, it’s also equally important to know how to determine how apps and background services are using the available memory.

The best tool for this job is Task Manager, and here’s how to use it:

Open Start.
Search for Task Manager and click the top result to open the tool.
Click the Process tab.
Click the “Memory” header to sort all running programs.
Determine the apps and services using the most memory.

After you complete the steps, you will have an idea of the apps and services consuming the most memory.

11. Reinstall Windows 11 on your PC

If memory usage remains unusually high despite optimization efforts, system corruption or deep software conflicts may be the cause. In this case, reinstalling Windows 11 restores a clean environment and resets memory usage to a stable baseline.

You can perform a clean installation of the operating system in several ways, but the easiest is to use the recovery settings to perform a system reset, which deletes everything on the computer.

To clean install Windows 11 using the “Reset This PC” feature, follow these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on System.
Click the Recovery page.
Click the Reset PC button in the “Reset this PC” setting under the “Recovery options” section.
Click the “Remove everything” option.
Select the “Cloud download” option to download a fresh copy of Windows 11.
Click the Next button.
Click the Reset button.

Once you complete the steps, a fresh image of the same Windows 11 version installed on your computer will be downloaded and used to reset the device to improve the memory usage and overall performance.

12. Install Windows 11 using the Tiny11 ISO

This option can lower the memory requirement to as little as 2GB, but it is intended strictly for testing scenarios. Tiny11 is an unofficial custom Windows 11 ISO that strips out nonessential apps, services, and features, allowing the operating system to run on low-end and unsupported hardware while enabling setup with a local account.

Despite its reduced footprint, Tiny11 preserves key security components, including Microsoft Defender Antivirus, Microsoft Defender Firewall, Core isolation, and data encryption.

Installing Windows 11 with the Tiny11 ISO follows the same setup experience as the official release. The main difference lies in creating the bootable media, which requires running a dedicated script to generate the customized image.

To create a Windows 11 ISO file with the Tiny11 Builder script, follow these steps:

Open the Microsoft Support website.
Select the Windows 11 option under the “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64” section.
Click the Confirm button.
Select the installation language.
Click the Confirm button.
Click the Download button to save the Windows 11 ISO file.
Open the Tiny11Builder GitHub page.
Click the latest zip file available under the “Assets” section.
Save the file containing the script on your device.
Open the folder location.
Select the Tiny11Builder-main-zip file.
Click the Extract all button.
Click the Extract button.
Open File Explorer.
Open the Windows 11 25H2 ISO folder location.
Right-click the ISO file and select the “Mount” option.
Confirm the drive letter of the virtual drive where the ISO is mounted.
Open Start.
Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and choose the Run as administrator option.
Type the following command to allow the Tiny11Builder script to run on the computer and press Enter:
```
Set-ExecutionPolicy unrestricted
```
Type the following command to run the Tiny11Builder script and press Enter:
```
& "C:\PATH\TO\SCRIPT\tiny11maker.ps1"
```
Quick tip: The folder includes two scripts, the “tiny11maker.ps1” that removes most default apps (recommended), and then there is the “tiny11Coremaker.ps1” script that debloats the operating system and removes Store components, disables Microsoft Defender Antivirus, and turns off the Windows Update system.
Type “R” and press Enter.
Confirm the drive letter of the Windows 11 mount point and press Enter.
Confirm the index number for the edition of the operating system to create the image and press Enter.
Press Enter to complete the process and exit the script.
Type the following command to set the more secure PowerShell execution policy and press Enter:
```
Set-ExecutionPolicy Restricted
```

After you complete the steps, the script will create a lite ISO file that you can use to perform a true clean installation of Windows 11.

In addition, the developer who created the script also created the Nano11 Builder, another script designed to create a more heavily stripped-down setup of Windows 11.

Pureinfotech’s take

There are many ways to reduce high memory usage on Windows 11, but my approach is simple and consistent:

Install only the apps I truly need for work.
Keep Windows 11 updated with the latest cumulative and feature updates.
Update drivers regularly to ensure stability and performance.
Avoid third-party customization tools that modify system components.
Disable unnecessary apps from the startup process.
Perform a clean installation of Windows 11 once a year.

By following these principles, I keep memory usage predictable, reduce background overhead, and maintain Windows 11 running at optimal performance levels over time.

What tweaks are you using to keep memory usage low? Let me know in the comments.

FAQs about reducing RAM usage on Windows 11

Here’s a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers about the different tweaks you can use to lower the system memory usage on Windows 11.

Why is my RAM usage so high on Windows 11?

High RAM usage on Windows 11 is usually caused by startup programs, background apps, memory leaks, outdated drivers, or malware. When available memory runs low, the system relies on virtual memory, which uses your SSD and slows performance, causing lag, stuttering, or app reloads.

What happens when Windows 11 runs out of memory?

When Windows 11 runs out of physical memory, it switches to virtual memory stored on your drive. This process significantly reduces performance because storage is slower than RAN. You may notice slow app switching, freezes, longer load times, or programs reloading unexpectedly.

Is disabling startup apps better than uninstalling programs to reduce RAM usage?

Disabling startup apps reduces memory usage at boot without removing the apps, while uninstalling programs completely eliminates their background components and services. If you don’t use an app at all, uninstalling it is more effective. If you use it occasionally, disabling startup is the safer choice.

Is upgrading RAM better than optimizing Windows 11 memory usage?

Upgrading RAM provides the biggest performance improvement, but optimization is often more practical. On laptops with soldered memory or high upgrade costs, disabling background processes, updating drivers, and removing unnecessary apps can restore responsiveness without hardware changes.

How do I check what is using the most RAM on Windows 11?

You can check RAM usage using Task Manager. Open Task Manager, select the “Processes” tab, and click the “Memory” column to sort apps by usage. This quickly identifies which programs or background services are consuming the most memory so you can take action.

How do I reduce RAM usage on Windows 11 without upgrading hardware?

You can reduce RAM usage by disabling startup apps, limiting background permissions, uninstalling unused software, updating Windows 11 and drivers, scanning for malware, and reviewing services. These steps lower persistent memory consumption and improve system responsiveness without adding more memory.

Should I reinstall Windows 11 if memory usage stays high?

Reinstalling Windows 11 can resolve persistent high memory usage caused by corruption, deep software conflicts, or severe memory leaks. Using the Reset this PC option restores a clean system image and often stabilizes performance when other optimization steps fail.

How much RAM does Windows 11 actually need to run smoothly?

Windows 11 requires a minimum of 4GB of RAM, but that’s only enough for basic tasks. For smooth multitasking, 8GB is the practical baseline, while 16GB is ideal for gaming and creative workloads. Systems with 4GB often rely heavily on virtual memory, which significantly reduces performance.

Does increasing virtual memory improve performance on Windows 11?

Increasing virtual memory can improve stability, but not actual performance. Virtual memory uses your SSD or HDD as overflow RAM, which is much slower than physical memory. Raising the paging file size may reduce crashes or app reloads, but it will not make the system faster.