Don’t buy more RAM yet — try these Windows tweaks first

Not every slow computer needs a hardware upgrade. Sometimes, the system lags during normal use because of unnecessary startup programs, older apps running in the background, or inefficient browser sessions. When these processes build up, performance drops, even if the hardware is capable.

Windows includes built-in tools for managing startup activity and optimizing memory usage. And they are worth trying before making an upgrade.

Disable unnecessary startup programs

Stops unwanted apps from loading at boot

The first thing worth checking is what loads when Windows starts. Many programs add themselves to the startup list and run in the background before you open anything else. Tools like OneDrive, Dropbox, and Adobe Creative Cloud are common examples. They consume memory, load helper services, and slow down the system during boot.

To review these entries in Task Manager:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Select Startup apps in the left panel.
3. Look through the list for items you don’t need immediately after boot.
4. Highlight any unnecessary entries and click Disable.

Disabling an item here does not remove the program. It only prevents it from launching automatically. With fewer apps loading at startup, Windows has more free memory and fewer background tasks to handle, which can improve responsiveness during everyday use.

6 ways to free up RAM in Windows when your PC starts slowing down

Freeing up vital memory on Windows only takes a moment, and your computer will feel much faster once you’re done.

Stop apps from running in the background

Blocks hidden tasks from using RAM

Another common cause of slowdowns is background activity. Several apps continue running even after you close them and keep small services active in memory. These tasks update data, sync information, or check for alerts behind the scenes. When too many apps run this way, the system ends up maintaining more processes than necessary during normal use.

Windows gives you control over which apps stay active in the background. You can adjust those permissions with these steps:

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Apps and open Installed apps.
3. Scroll to the app you don’t need running in the background.
4. Select the three dots and choose Advanced options.
5. Under Background app permissions, choose Power optimized or Never.

Reducing background activity lowers memory use and leaves Windows with fewer processes to manage, which helps maintain smoother performance.

Close unused applications and browser tabs

Releases RAM from active windows

Open apps and browser tabs consume memory even when you aren’t using them. Some programs store large amounts of data in memory, and most modern browsers create separate processes for every tab. When too many of these stay open together, Windows has less memory available for new tasks and can slow down during simple actions like switching apps or loading pages.

To check which programs are using the most memory:

1. Open Task Manager.
2. Make sure the Processes section is selected.
3. Sort the list by Memory to find apps or browser processes using the most RAM.
4. Close the apps you do not need. If a browser is at the top, switch to it and close tabs you are not using.

Browsers tend to use the most memory during long sessions. Extensions add extra background activity and increase usage even further. Closing extra tabs, removing extensions you don’t use, and restarting the browser after hours of use can free memory that the browser may still be holding.

Adjust virtual memory (paging file)

Windows uses virtual memory as extra working space when RAM starts to fill up. Instead of closing apps, it stores some of the less active data on your drive in a paging file. This extra space helps the system stay stable when several programs are open. If the paging file is set too small or was changed manually in the past, Windows may struggle when running multiple apps at once.

Most systems handle the paging file well on their own. When the size is managed automatically, Windows can expand it when memory runs low and keep apps stable during heavy use. Check this setting if you see low memory warnings or apps hanging when multiple programs are running.

To review the paging file settings:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type SystemPropertiesAdvanced in the text field and hit Enter.
3. In the System Properties window, under Performance, click Settings.
4. Open the Advanced tab.
5. Under Virtual memory, click Change to view the paging file settings.

In most cases, Automatically manage paging file size for all drives should be enabled. If it’s unchecked and any drive is set to a custom size, switch back to automatic management to avoid slowdowns when the system is under heavy load.

Before you consider a RAM upgrade

These fixes usually address the main factors behind slow performance, but you can improve stability by removing apps you no longer use. It’s easy to install something for a single task and forget about it. Some programs then keep background services running long after you stop opening them.

If the system still behaves differently than it should, running a quick malware scan can rule out unwanted processes using your resources. After these checks, you get a clearer picture of whether your PC truly needs more RAM or if the slowdown was caused by issues that were easier to fix.