If you use Windows 11, you have probably noticed that your system is slowing down when running multiple applications or browser tabs. This is normal, as the slowdown happens when your computer uses more and more RAM. But there is also a problem with programs wasting RAM... So with the growing demand for memory driven by AI and other modern applications, managing RAM has become more important than ever. This is why Microsoft provides a helpful tool called PC Manager that can assist you in reducing RAM usage quickly and easily. Funnily enough.... Microsoft are also one of the main causes for RAM price hikes...

Takeaways:

  1. Are there any good ways to reduce RAM usage on Windows 11?
  2. Learn how to reduce RAM usage on Windows 11

New Windows RAM Usage Tools on Windows 11?

PC Manager is a free utility designed to simplify system maintenance by bringing together several tools into one interface. While it doesn’t introduce completely new system features, it has options like storage cleanup, startup app management, security checks, and memory optimisation. The “Boost” feature in PC Manager is especially useful for freeing up system memory with just one click.

Unlike traditional manual tweaks, such as disabling startup programs or turning off background services, the Boost feature instantly forces Windows to release memory held by apps that do not need it at that moment. This means the memory that these apps were reserving, but not actively using, becomes available for other tasks. You should notice the memory usage percentage drop right away, which can help improve performance if your system feels sluggish.

How to reduce RAM usage using the Microsoft PC Manager app on Windows 11

  • Install the PC Manager app. You can find it through the Microsoft Store if it is not already installed on your system.
  • Open the PC Manager application.
  • In the left pane, select Home.
  • Click the Boost button to immediately optimise memory usage.

How to reduce RAM usage with PC Manager’s one-click feature on Windows 11

There are also optional settings that you can enable for automatic management:

  • Click on Set Smart Boost.
  • Enable the toggle for Smart Boost Setting to allow the app to optimise memory usage automatically without manual intervention.
  • Optionally, you can enable the option to launch PC Manager automatically when your computer starts, so memory optimisation runs regularly in the background.

Reducing RAM usage with PC Manager’s one-click feature on Windows 11

After doing this, PC Manager will clean up temporary files and reduce unnecessary memory consumption. Temporary files may include browser cache and other app-related data. Clearing these files can free up additional memory, but it might slightly slow down web browsing initially as pages reload resources that were cleared. If you encounter missing images or other unusual behaviour while browsing, simply refresh the page.

What About Reducing Game RAM Usage on Windows 11?

For gamers, PC Manager also offers an option to enable the Xbox Full Screen Experience, which can reduce memory usage by about 2 GB. This can help improve gaming performance by freeing resources while playing. Outside of this, most games need to be optimised individually via their internal graphics options, and since there are a million different configurations available, it's handy to check YouTube for "The best graphics settings" videos on particular games.