I've noticed that my RAM usage is really high even when I only have Task Manager open—over 50%, which is more than 4GB when my total is 8GB. I suspect there's something running in the background that's hogging my memory and causing my games and programs to lag. How can I identify what's using up my RAM and fix the issue?
4 Answers
Your OS really draws a ton of memory. If you're not using widgets, turning them off can help. Also, consider a lightweight antivirus if you're using one that's resource-heavy. Check Task Manager to disable any startup apps you don’t want opening automatically; it can make a difference. For apps like Microsoft Store that aren’t listed in Startup Apps, you can stop them from running in the background via Settings > Apps > Installed Apps > Microsoft Store > Advanced Options > Background App Permissions.
Honestly, Windows itself eats up a lot of RAM. Even a fresh install of Windows 11 can use about 4-5 GB after boot. So your numbers seem pretty typical.
Yeah, seeing around 4GB of RAM being used at idle is pretty normal for Windows 10/11. The OS and background processes like antivirus, OneDrive, and telemetry can really add up. With only 8GB, you're kind of on the edge for multitasking without issues. A good start would be to check Task Manager for any unnecessary startup apps and disable things like Xbox Game Bar, OneDrive (if you're not using it), and Widgets to free up some RAM.
I just disabled my startup apps and restarted my laptop, but now my usage went up to 60%! What's up with that?
Among things, always remember that Windows uses quite a bit of RAM. That said, it’s always good to tweak your startup programs to optimize what runs in the background.
Okay, I'll check the startup apps and see what I can disable.