How to clear RAM on a Mac and reduce memory usage
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Kamso Oguejiofor-Abugu
If your Mac is running slowly or showing a memory warning, you may be looking for a cleanup app or command-line trick to clear RAM. You don’t need either. macOS manages RAM automatically, and forcing it to clear memory can reduce performance instead of improving it.
A good first step is to look at Memory Pressure in Activity Monitor. It tells you whether your Mac is struggling, rather than just how much memory is currently in use.
RAM is your Mac’s working memory, the temporary space it uses to keep open apps and active files running well. Below, we’ll walk through how to check whether RAM is really the problem and how to clear RAM on Mac safely when it is. You’ll also learn how to keep memory pressure from building back up.
Check whether your Mac is really running low on RAM
Before trying to clear RAM, open Activity Monitor and check whether memory pressure is causing the slowdown. In the Memory tab, the Memory Pressure graph shows whether your Mac is using memory efficiently. For more detail, see our guide to using Activity Monitor to troubleshoot Mac problems.
- Open the Finder app.
- Go to Applications > Utilities and open the Activity Monitor app. You can also press Command + Space bar to open Spotlight, then type Activity Monitor, and press Return.
- Click the Memory tab at the top.
- Look at the Memory Pressure graph at the bottom of the window.
This graph, not the Memory Used figure beside it, gives you a true picture of how well your Mac is handling things:
| Memory Pressure graph color | What it means |
| Green | Your Mac is managing its memory efficiently. You don’t need to clear RAM. |
| Yellow | Available memory is becoming limited. If performance slows, close unused apps or restart your Mac. |
| Red | Your Mac needs more memory for its current workload. Close demanding apps or reduce the number of open windows and tabs. |
The other numbers on this tab are worth knowing, mostly so you don’t worry when you see them:
- Memory Used: The amount of RAM being used. A high number doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong.
- App Memory: The amount of memory currently taken up by your open applications.
- Wired Memory: Memory the system needs to keep running. It has to stay in RAM, so other apps can’t use it.
- Compressed: Data that your Mac has shrunk down in the background to free up working space for other tasks.
- Cached Files: Information your Mac keeps in otherwise unused memory so apps open faster. macOS can reuse this memory when another app needs it.
- Swap Used: Space on your startup disk used to move inactive data in and out of RAM when memory demand is high.
How to clear RAM on a Mac safely
If your Memory Pressure graph is showing yellow or red, you can clear up space in a few steps. Start with the easiest fixes first and only move to the deeper ones if your Mac is still lagging:
- Restart your Mac: Restarting closes running apps and clears active memory, which can quickly reduce memory pressure. Save any open documents first so you don’t lose unsaved work.
- Quit apps you’re not using: Closing an app’s window doesn’t always stop it from running, and it can continue using memory until you fully close it. If the app is responding, right-click its icon in the Dock and select Quit. If it’s frozen, force it to close using Activity Monitor. Before you force-quit an app, though, save any open work if possible, or you’ll lose any unsaved changes.
- Close extra browser tabs and check your extensions: Web browsers can use a lot of memory, particularly when you have dozens of tabs open. If closing tabs doesn’t help, disable extensions you don’t need and test the browser again.
- Check Activity Monitor: Open the Memory tab and click the Memory column header to sort your apps by how much memory they’re using. This gives you a clear look at what’s actually taking up room so you aren’t left guessing.
How to reduce memory usage over time
If you’re wondering how to clear RAM usage on your Mac for the long term, it comes down to day-to-day routines rather than one-time fixes.
You don’t need to keep your Mac’s RAM as empty as possible. macOS is designed to make full use of available memory, so it’s normal for RAM usage to increase as you open more apps and files. Instead, focus on habits that keep your Mac from running low on memory when you need it most.
- Keep browser tabs and extensions under control: The more tabs and add-ons you leave running, the more memory stays tied up, even when you aren’t using those windows.
- Trim down your startup items: Open System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions and turn off anything you don’t need opening when your Mac turns on. Fewer background apps mean your Mac starts with plenty of memory available right from the beginning.
- Uninstall apps you no longer use: Apps you’ve stopped using can keep background processes running that take up memory. Removing them clears those resources for the apps you rely on.
- Keep your Mac and main apps updated: Updates may contain fixes for software bugs that cause apps to take up more memory than they actually need.
- Keep some free space on your startup disk: When RAM fills up, your Mac uses free disk space as temporary memory, so leaving some room keeps things running smoothly.
What to do if your Mac keeps running out of memory
If your Mac still struggles, slows down during normal work, or throws out-of-memory warnings even after you’ve tried the above fixes, there’s likely something deeper going on.
Check whether a specific app is causing the problem
If you’re trying to reduce RAM usage on your Mac, check whether one demanding app is causing memory pressure to rise. Video editors, developer software, and games can use a lot of memory. If one app consistently sits at the top of Activity Monitor, it may need more memory than your Mac can offer.
Other times, an app has a bug that causes it to hoard memory without letting go. If updating the app and your Mac doesn’t fix it, you may want to uninstall the app and look for an alternative.
Check if your RAM can be upgraded
Older Intel Macs sometimes allow you to add more memory yourself. Apple silicon Macs use unified memory built into the main chip, so it can’t be upgraded after purchase. If you’ve reached the hardware limit on a newer model, your best option may eventually be getting a new Mac with more memory.
Consider factors outside of memory
Memory is just one of many things that can cause a Mac to run slow. Low storage space, too many apps opening at startup, or outdated software can slow your Mac down even when memory usage looks fine.
SmartClean gives you a quicker way to see what’s slowing your Mac down and take action. Its RAM Monitor shows how memory is being used, helps you identify apps using the most resources, and lets you quickly free up RAM when memory pressure starts affecting performance. It also monitors CPU and storage use, giving you a broader view of your Mac’s performance in one place.
SmartClean also monitors CPU and storage use, giving you a broader view of your Mac’s performance in one place.
Run a quick check for malware if things feel strange
While malware isn’t usually the primary cause of high RAM usage, malicious software can run hidden processes that drain system resources. If the slowdown happens alongside unwanted pop-ups or strange browser behavior, run a malware scan. If malware is present, removing it may restore your Mac’s normal performance.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I clear RAM on my Mac?
You don’t need to put this on a schedule. macOS handles its own memory in the background, so clearing RAM isn’t something you need to do as regular maintenance. It’s only worth thinking about if your Mac feels sluggish or the Memory Pressure graph in Activity Monitor turns yellow or red.
Is there a shortcut to clear RAM on a Mac?
There’s no one-click button or shortcut for clearing RAM on your Mac. Restarting your Mac is the quickest way to free active memory. Just remember to save what you’re working on first.
Should I use a third-party RAM cleaner on a Mac?
A tool like SmartClean can make it much easier to manage memory when your Mac starts slowing down. Its RAM Monitor shows how your memory is being used, helps you spot apps using the most resources, and lets you quickly free up RAM when needed.
SmartClean also monitors CPU and storage use, so you can see what’s affecting your Mac’s performance in one place instead of checking each area separately.
How is clearing RAM different from clearing cache on a Mac?
If you’re looking for how to clear RAM cache on your Mac, know these are two different things. RAM holds what your Mac is actively working with right now, and clears automatically when you restart. Cache files are stored on your Mac’s startup disk to speed up repeated tasks, and wiping them won’t free up memory. In fact, deleting cache files can cause apps to behave unexpectedly.
Can I add more RAM to my Mac?
It comes down to which Mac you have. If you run out of memory, some older Intel models let you add more later on, while Apple silicon Macs use unified memory that can’t be upgraded after purchase.
To check an older Mac, open System Information and look under Hardware > Memory. If you see an Upgradeable Memory option, your Mac supports a memory upgrade. If it isn’t shown, the memory can’t be upgraded.
