Learning how to free up memory on PC allows you to optimize your system by safely closing hidden background apps and cleaning out temporary files that slow you down.
📢 TL;DR: How to Free Up PC Memory
This guide addresses the two types of computer "memory": RAM (system performance) and Drive Space (storage capacity).
✔️ Key Methods to Free Up Memory:
Boost Drive Space: Use AOMEI Partition Software to safely move heavy apps and games from a crowded C drive to a secondary drive without reinstallation. Alternatively, clear temporary files via Windows Storage Sense, delete old System Restore points, empty the Recycle Bin, and flush the Windows Update cache.
Optimize RAM: Reduce Windows visual effects, automate page file clearing at shutdown, or create a desktop shortcut to manually flush the RAM cache.
✔️ Diagnostic Summary:
If your PC lags during multitasking: You are low on RAM. Close background apps or consider a hardware upgrade.
If you see low disk warnings: You are low on Drive Space. Clean junk files or migrate data.
When a computer begins running low on storage, the C drive is usually affected first. Since it is commonly an SSD with faster read and write speeds, many users choose to install large games, video editing tools, and other demanding applications there for better performance. However, after months of use, these programs can take up hundreds of gigabytes of space. As the drive becomes crowded, Windows has less room for updates, cache files, and everyday system tasks, which may lead to slower performance, SSD slowdowns, or constant low disk space notifications.
In many cases, deleting programs is not the ideal solution because reinstalling large games or software can take a long time and may require downloading massive files again. Moving installed applications to another drive is often a more practical option. By transferring them to a larger HDD or a secondary SSD, users can quickly free up valuable space on the system drive while keeping their apps and data intact. A cleaner C drive also helps Windows operate more efficiently and keeps the overall system more responsive.
AOMEI Partition Software offers a convenient way to handle this task with its App Mover feature. It allows users to move installed programs, Steam or Origin games, folders, and other large applications from one drive to another without losing data. During the transfer, the software automatically adjusts program paths and Windows Registry information so the applications can continue running normally after being moved.
In addition to app migration, it also provides tools for cleaning junk files, deleting large files quickly, and managing disk partitions, making it easier to keep a PC organized and running smoothly.
Step 1. Launch the Software. Download, install, and open AOMEI Partition Software.
Step 2. Open the App Mover. On the main interface, navigate to the top menu, click on Free up, and select App Mover.
Step 3. Select the Target Drive. You will see two options: "App Mover" and "Move Folders." Select App Mover. The software will display all your partitions. Click on your C drive (the SSD) and click Next.
Step 4. Choose the Programs to Move. The software will scan the drive and generate a list of all installed programs that can be safely moved, along with their file sizes. Tick the checkboxes next to the heavy software you want to migrate to your HDD (like Adobe Premiere, Microsoft Office, or heavy Steam games).
Step 5. Select Destination and Move.
At the bottom of the window, select your destination drive (e.g., your D drive HDD) from the dropdown menu. Click Move, confirm the warning prompt by clicking OK, and let the software handle the complex registry transfers.
Lots of visuals can consume a lot of RAM; if you just have RAM with poor capacity installed, these effects may have an impact on your PC's performance. As a result, you might try decreasing the visual effects to empty the RAM cache.
Step 1. Open the File Explorer, and then right-click This PC entry and select Properties.
Step 2. Select About from the left window, and then scroll down the right sidebar and click on the Advanced system settings.
Step 3. Go to the Advanced tab and click on the Settings button under the Performance section.
Step 4. Tick the checkbox next to Adjust for the best performance to disable all the animated visual effects.
Step 5. Click on Apply and then on OK to save the change.
Tip: While this action frees up RAM, it may severely restrict the aesthetics of your machine. You may also pick Custom and select various aesthetic effects based on your tastes.
When you shut down your computer, the system RAM is cleaned, but the page file remains on your disk. Clearing paging files might assist in clearing the RAM cache in Windows 11. You may clear the page file automatically when the computer shuts down.
Step 1. Press the Win + R keys to open the Run box, and then type Regedit in it and hit Enter. Then click on Yes to open Registry Editor.
Step 2. Go to the following registry key via the left navigation bar:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control/Session Manager/ Memory Management
Step 3. With the Memory Management folder selected in the left panel, double click the ClearPageFileAtShutdown DWORD and set its Value data to 1, and click on OK.
To clear the RAM cache, there is a shortcut that may be employed.
Step 1. Go to your desktop and right-click on any empty space. In the pop-up menu, select New > Shortcut.
Step 2. In the pop-up window, type:
%windir%\system32\rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks, and click on Next.
Step 4. Give a new name for the shortcut, such as Clear RAM Cache, and click on Finish. After that, you can double-click the shortcut at any time you want to flush the memory cache.
Windows has built-in utilities to clean up temporary Internet files and leftover update logs.
Step 1. Windows 11/10: Press Win + I to open Settings. Navigate to System > Storage.
Step 2. Click on Temporary Files. Windows will scan your drive for junk data.
Step 3. Check the boxes for Windows Update Cleanup, Thumbnails, and Temporary Internet Files.
Step 4. Click "Remove files". This can occasionally free up 2GB to 5GB of space.
If you are suffering from the C drive full but no files phenomenon, Windows is likely hoarding massive amounts of hidden data in "Shadow Storage" to create System Restore points.
Step 1. Press Win + S, type Create a restore point, and press Enter.
Step 2. In the System Properties window, select your C: drive and click Configure.
Step 3. Under the "Disk Space Usage" slider, you might see that Windows is hoarding 20GB+ of data.
Step 4. Click the "Delete" button next to "Delete all restore points for this drive."
Step 5. Slide the Max Usage bar down to a reasonable 3% to 5%, click Apply, and then OK.
Sometimes, Windows downloads massive OS updates but fails to delete the installation files once the update is finished, triggering the low disk space warning Windows 11.
Step 1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
Step 2. Scroll down to Windows Update, right-click it, and select Stop.
Step 4. Open File Explorer and navigate to: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download.
Step 5. Select every file and folder inside this directory and delete them permanently (Shift + Delete).
Step 6. Go back to the Services window, right-click Windows Update, and select Start.
It sounds obvious, but forgotten files are the leading cause of sudden storage drops.
Step 1. Right-click the Recycle Bin on your desktop and select Empty Recycle Bin.
Step 2. Press Win + R, type %temp%, and press Enter.
Step 3. Press Ctrl + A to select all hidden temporary app files, and press the Delete key. (If Windows says some files are in use, simply click "Skip").
If you are searching for how to free up memory on PC or wondering how do I free up memory on my PC, it is important to understand what “memory” actually means. In everyday computer use, memory often refers to two different things: RAM and drive space. Although people use the same word for both, they affect performance in different ways.
RAM (Random Access Memory) is temporary working memory. It helps your PC handle active tasks such as gaming, web browsing, video editing, and multitasking. When RAM runs low, programs may lag, freeze, or take longer to respond.
Drive space refers to storage on your SSD or HDD, such as the C drive. When storage becomes full, Windows has less room for updates, temporary files, virtual memory, and system processes, which can make the computer feel slow.
| Situation | What It Usually Means | What You Should Do |
|---|---|---|
| Apps freeze or slow down when multitasking | RAM is running low | Free up RAM on PC by closing background apps, reducing visual effects, or consider upgrading RAM |
| Browser tabs crash or games stutter | Not enough RAM for current workload | Upgrade RAM if this happens often |
| C drive is almost full | Drive space is running low | Free up memory on PC by deleting junk files or moving large apps |
| Windows updates fail or low disk space warnings appear | Storage shortage | Clean temporary files and free drive space |
| PC is slow only after installing many large programs | Storage congestion | Move heavy apps or games to another drive |
If your goal is how to free up RAM on PC, focus on memory usage caused by running programs. Closing unnecessary apps, reducing startup programs, disabling visual effects, or clearing RAM cache may help improve responsiveness.
However, if you want to free up memory on PC because your storage is full, cleaning junk files and moving large software are usually more effective. Tools such as partition managers can also help move installed programs from a crowded C drive to another partition without reinstalling them.
In simple terms, if your computer slows down while running tasks, RAM is often the issue. If you constantly see low storage warnings or a full C drive, you likely need to free up drive space instead of upgrading hardware.
Knowing how to free up memory on PC can help improve both storage space and overall system performance. Whether the issue is low RAM or a nearly full C drive, the right solution depends on what is slowing down your computer. You can free up RAM by reducing unnecessary background tasks and visual effects, while cleaning junk files or moving large applications can help recover valuable drive space. With the methods above, it becomes much easier to keep your PC running smoothly and avoid performance problems caused by limited memory or storage.
You can free up C drive space by deleting temporary files, emptying the Recycle Bin, uninstalling unused programs, and clearing old Windows update files. Moving large games or applications to another drive is also an effective way to recover storage without deleting important software. Windows tools like Storage Sense and Disk Cleanup can help remove unnecessary files automatically.
RAM becomes full when too many programs, browser tabs, or background processes are running at the same time. Games, video editing software, and modern web browsers can consume large amounts of memory. Startup apps and memory leaks from certain programs may also increase RAM usage over time.
32GB of RAM is not automatically faster than 16GB, but it allows your PC to handle more demanding tasks smoothly. For heavy multitasking, video editing, virtual machines, or high end gaming, 32GB can improve performance and reduce lag. For everyday tasks, many users may not notice a major speed difference compared to 16GB.
For most modern games, 16GB of RAM is still considered a good amount. It is usually enough for gaming, streaming, and regular multitasking. However, some newer AAA games and heavy background applications may perform better with 32GB, especially if you play at high settings or run multiple programs while gaming.
The amount of RAM you need depends on how you use your PC.
| Usage Type | Recommended RAM |
|---|---|
| Basic web browsing and office work | 8GB |
| Everyday multitasking and gaming | 16GB |
| Video editing and advanced multitasking | 32GB |
| Professional creative work or virtual machines | 64GB or more |
If your computer often slows down or freezes while multitasking, upgrading RAM may help improve performance.