Having computer issues like system crashes, failed booting or bad performance? This is possibly the case of faulty RAM or hardware incompatibility. To rule out the latter factor, you need to check the specification of your original RAM card and compare it with the one your purchased. More often than not, however, it is necessary to diagnose the RAM card for stability and performance issues. That’s why you’re suggested check out the best 4 free RAM test software for Mac and Windows 10/8/7 in this article.

Computer RAM Diagnostic Troubleshoot

Sd memory card formatter end user license agreement. Notice: by downloading, installing or using the product, the entity or individual entering into this agreement agrees to be bound by the following terms. MemTest86 – RAM Test Tool for Windows & Mac. This memory diagnostic tool is available for a variety of OS for PC. PC’s with Mac, Linux and Windows OS can use this tool for checking the memory. This is an open source tool which simply means that this tool is available for free for all users. This tool is very compatible and reliable.

The common symptoms of faulty RAM are beeping of PC, getting overheated unnecessarily and not working up to the desired performance marks. So, if you are facing some real issues, then you should look after them before they cause any problem or loss for you.

As we mentioned, there may be two reasons of this issue to occur. So, if your hardware system is up to the mark and if you think that there is no such issue with its compatibility, then possibly there is a fault in RAM memory card chip. You can consider some of the following points mentioned below:

Check Memory Usage Macbook Pro

1. First of all, RAM memory cards are made with a perfection and quality by the tech companies. So, if you have purchased RAM from a low-level company, then there is a very high probability that RAM is a defective. Always purchase computer peripherals from named brands of this field like Samsung, Kingston, Corsair, etc.
2. There is also a chance that your PC is loaded with outdated processing drivers and chipsets. So, kindly upgrade them to their latest version to use new RAM chip in your PC.
3. There is also a probability that the CPU coolers of your PC is not working properly which results in the overheating. Please check the CPU coolers and if they are not working properly.
4. Incompatibility of PC’s hardware with the RAM chip may also raise this issue. Because users just purchase RAM of higher memory without analyzing the hardware compatibility of their PC with it, that’s why this issue rises.
5. Another very common issue is the lack of knowledge among the users. Sometimes, users insert the RAM chip in the wrong slot which results in this issue. Make sure to insert the RAM chip inside the slot which is reserved for it.

Pro tips: Special attention should be given to the above factors, otherwise data loss could happen once there is system error. If you have unluckily lost precious files, don’t hesitate to use Jihosoft File Recovery Software to recover lost files from Windows 10 or Mac.

In case after testing all the points and measures listed above, if this issue is still persisting you, then you have to test RAM memory. This is so done to access the full detailed report of the memory because we all know that memory is very sensitive and if any part of the memory gets corrupted, then it will make suffer all the PC. So, kindly check your PC’s memory with one of the software listed below:

Top 1. Windows Memory Diagnostic

This is a Microsoft homemade utility since Windows Vista and now still pre-installed in Windows 10. Actually, Windows Memory Diagnostic tool sometimes automatically run the memory check process every time it detects any error or complexity in the memory management. But you can manually check for the memory to detect the error. It might take up to several minutes, but once the error is detected, it will automatically fix the issue if possible. After the scan process is completed, the Windows will automatically get restarted.

To run the memory check process manually, you have to type “Windows Memory Diagnostic” in the search box and then press Enter key. As we mentioned, once the scan process starts, it might take several minutes to finish the things off. So, just be patient and let the errors in the memory to be fixed automatically.

Top 2. MemTest86 – RAM Test Tool for Windows & Mac

This memory diagnostic tool is available for a variety of OS for PC. PC’s with Mac, Linux and Windows OS can use this tool for checking the memory. This is an open source tool which simply means that this tool is available for free for all users. This tool is very compatible and reliable to use because it supports all the latest technology versions like 64-bit processor, GI, XMP, Self-booting from the USB drives or flash drives etc. That’s why it becomes important to note that every time use this tool to check the memory errors, it takes a lot of time.

Another main advantage is that this tool thoroughly checks all the points and runs a variety of tests so that there will be no error left. And that’s why Passmark Mem Test86 is a very good tool to check memory errors.

Top 3. Rember – Memory Test Tool for Mac

First of all, this RAM memory test tool is exclusively available for Mac users. Windows and Linux users are not capable to use this RAM test Mac tool. There are several numbers of tests which this tool runs to check the memory thoroughly. And obviously due to several tests, it might take a long to complete the scan process. And once the scan process is done, your computer will be restarted automatically to fix the issues.

There is a very less chance that the memory chips of MacBook get corrupted or get infected. The chips are made so specially by the Apple company so that if any error occurs, then users can fix that error automatically. And in case if the quantity of errors is more than expected, then just ask for the replacement of memory chip from the Apple customer support.

Top 4. Apple Diagnostics (Apple Hardware Test)

Just like Windows Memory Diagnostic tool, this is a homemade testing tool of Apple which is exclusively available for Mac users. This tool is really a very great way to check all the hardware components as well as memory errors. It will also help you access to the Apple customer care support for further assistance. But before you contact with them, you can try to fix small issues at you own.

This tool will suggest you the fixes which can be done to fix the issues. You can easily fix the issues using this tool. Moreover, the optimized features of this tool are really very amazing to use and access. That’s why this is one of the most popular tools for the Mac users. So, this is our last choice from over several tools which we had selected. We really hope that this tool will surely persist you to accomplish your task.

Mac Freeware

Conclusion

Here this list of handpicked RAM memory test tools ends. This is not a very big list because this issue rarely occurs if you don’t replace RAM cards. But if you are one of them who is suffering with this issue, then use these tools to fix these issues. But we strongly recommend you analyze your PC’s hardware and compatibility with the RAM memory chip which you are going to purchase. You can leave a reply or can start a discussion below in the comments section. If you encounter with any problem with them, we will surely persist you in the best possible way.

One of the most common problems that Mac users encounter is low computer memory. Over time, even the most powerful computer will get cluttered with apps, files, extensions , and processes that are too much to handle. To get everything back to normal (because every byte matters), you need to declutter your Mac by cleaning up the mess and removing unnecessary stuff that consumes your computer’s memory.

So when your computer is slowing down, you are likely to notice a “Your system has run out of application memory” message, many of your apps are crashing, or you keep on seeing a lot of spinning rainbow wheels. All these mean your computer is probably low on memory or RAM.

This article will show you how to free up memory on a Mac and other tips to optimize your machine.

What Is RAM?

RAM stands for Random Access Memory and it is one of the most important components of computers and laptops. It is where the computer stores data before being processed. It is a form of volatile memory, where the data is available only when the device is powered on, and everything gets deleted when it is shut down.

Pro Tip: Scan your Mac for performance issues, junk files, harmful apps, and security threats
that can cause system issues or slow performance.

Free Scan for Mac Issues

Special offer. About Outbyte, uninstall instructions, EULA, Privacy Policy.

Most Macs are equipped with 8GB RAM, but older versions only have 4GB RAM. This is enough if you’re not using RAM-hungry apps, but even then, you’ll still most probably run into memory-related problems in the long run. If you notice that your Mac is taking ages to load or your applications are often crashing, you need to do something to manage your computer’s memory and give it some breathing space.

However, upgrading your Mac’s RAM is more complicated than it sounds. Not all Macs have upgradeable RAM , so you need to check first whether your Mac model has a removable RAM or not. In some models, particularly MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, the RAM is soldered to the board and cannot be replaced.

Before you think about installing more RAM, you should first try the tips listed below to free up your Mac memory.

How to Free Up RAM on macOS Mojave

There are several things you can do to manage your Mac memory usage and fix any RAM-related problems you are experiencing.

Reboot Your Mac

The first thing you should do when you free up RAM is to restart your Mac. Refreshing the system solves the problem most of the time, especially if the issue was caused by a minor glitch or an app that crashed. Restarting your Mac will delete the data on your RAM and any disk cache, so things should run smoother and faster after rebooting.

However, if you’re in the middle of something and you’re afraid of losing whatever you’re working on, restarting your computer might not be a good idea. If your macOS has hung because you ran out of memory but you don’t want to lose any unsaved information, you might want to try the other solutions below.

Update Your macOS

It is also possible that your memory problem is being caused by a macOS bug or issue. If this is the case, it is important to check whether you are running the latest version of macOS and install any necessary updates.

To check whether there’s an update you need to install, follow the steps below:

1. Click the Apple logo and choose App Store under System Preferences.
2. Click the Updates tab.
3. Install all updates, if there are any.

After installing all the updates, restart your Mac and check whether your RAM problem has been resolved.

Check Memory Usage via Activity Monitor

When your app freezes or your Mac seems to be slower than usual, the first thing you need to check is the Activity Monitor. This is a built-in tool that shows you how much memory is being used, which apps are using it, and how much memory each app or process is hogging. The Activity Monitor will also help you determine if a particular process or app is consuming memory resources more than it should.

When you access the Activity Monitor app, you’ll see complete information regarding each running process or app. You can also add extra data by adding columns on the window.

Mac Check Free Memory

To launch Activity Monitor, go to Finder > Go > Utilities > Activity Monitor or type in activity monitor in Spotlight. In the Activity Monitor Window, you’ll see a list of processes along with tabs of information regarding those processes, namely CPU, Memory, Energy, Disk, and Network.

Click on the Memory tab to understand how your memory is actually being used by your apps and processes. At the bottom of the window, you’ll see a graph on Memory Pressure and information regarding Physical Memory, Memory Used, Cached Files , and Swap Used. On the rightmost side of the graph, you’ll see data for App Memory, Wired Memory, and Compressed.

The Memory Pressure graph shows how much pressure your computer’s RAM is currently under. Ideally, the graph should be green, which indicates low pressure for your memory. A yellow graph means that you are short of memory while a red graph indicates a critical situation for your RAM, at which point you need to free up some space as soon as possible.

Follow the instructions below to free up some of your RAM using Activity Monitor:

1. Launch Activity Monitor and click on the Memory tab.
2. Click on the Memory column to arrange the processes according to their memory usage. Make sure that the processes are sorted out from the highest to the lowest.
3. If you think that an app is consuming more than its share of memory resources, you can easily kill the process by clicking on the Quit button. Take note, however, that this does not necessarily kill the app. If the process you killed is a webpage, it will just close and reload that page without closing the browser. But if you closed a specific app, you’ll usually see a “closed unexpectedly” warning.

Warning: Don’t close processes that you are not familiar with because they may be related to other important processes on your computer.

Close Unnecessary Apps

Some Mac users are guilty of clicking the close button and thinking that the app is already close d. Note, though, that clicking the close button only closes the window, not the app itself. More often than not, you’re left with several apps still open without you even knowing about it.

Even without looking at the Activity Monitor, you can see which apps are running just by looking at the Dock. If you see a dot below the icon of the app, it means that these apps are still open.

Here’s how to properly close an application and free up some of your memory:

1. Right-click the app icon on the Dock.
2. Select Quit from the right-click menu.
3. Alternatively, you can also choose Quit from the app’s top menu.

Tidy Up Your Files

If you have the habit of saving everything on your Desktop and just leaving them there, then you might want to organize your stuff to lessen the stress on your computer. macOS treats every icon on the Desktop as an active window, so the more items you have on it, the bigger your memory consumption will be.

Delete all unnecessary files and get rid of your junk files using an app such as Mac repair app. You can also drag all of them into one folder to make your Desktop neat and tidy.

Delete Cache Files

Deleting cache files will help free up some of your memory, but this is not something a beginner should do. The Cache folder contains some system files that are important for your Mac to run properly, so you should know which files to delete and which ones to keep.

If you’re confident that you know what you’re doing, you can delete cache files by following these steps:

1. Click Finder > Go > Go to Folder.
2. Type in ~/Library/Caches/ in the dialog box.
3. Delete the cache files that you don’t need in the folder, but make sure that you know what files you are deleting.

Clear Inactive Memory via Terminal

Another way to free up your computer’s memory is by purging it using the Terminal. To do this, open the Terminal and type in sudo purge. Hit Enter and type in the admin password. Next, wait as your Mac’s inactive memory is being deleted.

8. Edit Your Finder Settings.

If you launch the Finder app and you see either All My Files or Recents, then you might want to change how your Finder app is configured because all the locations of the files shown in that window will be stored in RAM, therefore using up more resources. What you can do is show a specific folder so that only one location will appear.

To do this:

1. Launch Finder and go to Preferences.
2. Click the General tab.
3. Under New Finder windows show , choose a specific folder such as Documents or Desktop.
4. Close Finder and relaunch the app.

If you have multiple Finder windows open, you can either close those that you don’t need or merge them all together. To merge all open window, click Window from the top menu and click Merge All Windows. This may not save you a huge chunk of memory space, but it helps.

Summary

Mac Free Downloads

A computer’s memory is a precious commodity that needs to be managed strategically. Since upgrading RAM on Mac computers can be difficult, and sometimes not possible, you can try the methods above to gain back some breathing room for your memory. The trick here is to quit all that you don’t need, delete your junk files, and streamline your processes. Once you do, you’ll definitely notice a huge improvement in your Mac’s performance.