How to Increase RAM in macOS?
Last Updated :
30 Sep, 2024
Lack of memory or RAM which refers to random access memory can be an extremely irritating affair. This is particularly the case if you work with resource-demanding apps or you have several concurrent processes on your macOS device. While some models of Windows computers allow for RAM upgrades, the latest Macs have parallel memory, so physical upgrade Of course, that is not entirely true because there are several things you can do to optimize your Mac’s memory.
How to Increase RAM in macOS?
1. Understanding macOS Memory Management
Before delving into optimization techniques It's important to understand how macOS manages memory. macOS is designed to manage RAM efficiently using memory compression. Introduced in OS This leaves more space for active applications.
However, if you frequently run out of memory macOS may not be able to compress the data enough to prevent slowdowns. That's where the following method comes in.
2. Upgrade macOS to the Latest Version
macOS receives regular updates that optimize system performance. Including memory management Newer versions often have bug fixes and better memory management. Therefore, upgrading to the latest version can sometimes improve RAM performance.
Steps to upgrade macOS:
- Click the Apple Menu in the top-left corner of the screen.
- Select system settings Then click Software Update.
3. Use macOS Activity Monitor to Free Up RAM
Activity Monitor is a built-in tool that lets you see which applications and processes are consuming the most memory.
Steps to increase RAM using Activity Monitor:
- Open Activity Monitor by searching for it in Spotlight (Command + Space) or searching in Applications > Utilities.
- Once opened Click the Memory tab to view current RAM usage.
- Find some applications that are using high memory that you are not using.
- Select the application and click the X button in the top left corner to force quit.
About Mac for free space to add memory 
After knowing about the macOS we Use macOS Activity Monitor to Free Up RAM4. Optimize Storage and Manage Apps
Your storage space can indirectly affect how well macOS uses RAM. If your startup disk is full, macOS may have trouble managing RAM because it needs disk space to swap files.
Optimize storage space:
- Go to Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage.
- Click Manage and follow the instructions under Instructions.
- Enable Store in iCloud to store files in iCloud and free up local disk space.
- Turn on Optimize Storage to automatically delete downloaded iTunes content.
After Activity Monitor we go with Optimize Storage and Manage Apps
after optimizing we quit all necessary apps
After quitting all apps we go for quit force to free up space
We will merge all windows 
Last but not least we update the software5. Use Terminal Commands for Memory Management
Terminal commands give you more direct control over how macOS manages memory.
Steps to clear unused memory using the terminal:
- Open Terminal from Applications > Utilities.
- Type the following command and press Enter.
sudo purgue
This command will force macOS to clear free memory and free up RAM.
Although this command may help free up temporary memory, keep it in mind. , it is not a permanent fix.
6. Disable Startup Items and Background Processes
Many applications launch automatically at startup and run in the background, eating up RAM even when you're not using them.
Disable default objects:
- Open system settings Then go to users and groups.
- Click on your user account. Then select the login item.
7. Use a Third-Party Application for Memory Management
These can manage the memory, clean the RAM, and provide an increased level of performance.
- Popular memory management apps for macOS: Popular memory management apps for macOS:
- Clean My Mac X: Can erase ‘system clutter,’ eliminating threats such as viruses and malware, as well as increasing memory.
- Memory Clean: Other utilities include RAM cleaner for free exhausted RAM and RAM Counter, which indicates the RAM usage.
- Dr. Cleaner: It is a small clean master application that cleans RAM to get the best out of the system.
8. Reset SMC (System Management Controller)
The SMC manages a lot of things about your Mac, including power management, which in turn interacts with memory. Some of the performance problems may be solved by resetting the station management command or SMC.
Steps to reset the SMC on an Intel-based Mac:
- Shut down your Mac.
- Press Shift + Control + Option and then the Power button at the same time and then let all the buttons be held down for approximately 10 seconds.
9. Use Swap Memory (Virtual Memory)
When RAM is fully used, macOS uses swap memory, which moves inactive data to the hard drive or SSD, allowing more space for active processes.
Monitor swap memory:
- Go to Activity Monitor, and under the Memory tab, you’ll see information about how much swap memory is being used.
- Although macOS handles swap memory automatically, keeping your disk space optimized (as mentioned in section 4) will ensure that macOS has enough room to use swap efficiently.
Here we can see that the total memory space and take action according to that to add more memory to macOSIncreasing RAM in macOS doesn't always mean increasing physical memory. But by optimizing your system's memory usage through Activity Monitor. You take proactive steps to maintain system performance. Physical upgrades are not an option on newer macOS devices, especially those with soldered RAM.
1. Keep an Eye on System Updates
2. Reboot Regularly
3. Use Lightweight Apps
4. Clear Cache and Unused Files