How to Fix Memory Pressure on Linux

What Causes This?

Memory pressure happens when your system is using most of its available RAM and has to rely more heavily on virtual memory or the page file on disk. On Windows, this is usually caused by too many background apps, browser tabs, startup programs, memory-hungry software, or low available disk space affecting virtual memory. In some cases, outdated drivers or a memory leak in an app can keep RAM usage high even when you are not doing much.

Common Symptoms

• Apps take a long time to open or switch between
• Windows feels sluggish, especially with multiple programs open
• High memory usage shows in Task Manager even when the PC is idle
• You see frequent stuttering, freezing, or disk activity spikes
• Programs crash or display low memory warnings

How to Fix It Manually

1. Check memory usage in Task Manager

   • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
   • Click More details if needed.
   • Open the Processes tab and click the Memory column to sort by highest usage.
   • Look for apps using unusually large amounts of RAM.

2. Close apps and browser tabs you do not need

   • In Task Manager, select a non-essential app using a lot of memory and click End task.
   • Save your work first before closing anything important.
   • If your browser is the main issue, close extra tabs and remove extensions you do not use.

3. Disable unnecessary startup apps

   • In Task Manager, open the Startup tab.
   • Find apps marked High impact that you do not need launching with Windows.
   • Right-click each one and choose Disable.
   • Restart your PC after making changes.

4. Check virtual memory settings

   • Press Windows + S, type advanced system settings, and open View advanced system settings.
   • Under Performance, click Settings.
   • Go to the Advanced tab and click Change under Virtual memory.
   • Make sure Automatically manage paging file size for all drives is enabled.
   • If it was off, turn it on, click OK, and restart your PC.

5. Free up disk space

   • Press Windows + E to open File Explorer, then go to This PC.
   • Check whether your system drive is nearly full.
   • Open Settings > System > Storage and remove temporary files, old downloads, and other unnecessary data.
   • Low free space can make paging and overall system performance worse.

6. Restart and update Windows

   • Restarting clears stuck processes and releases memory that apps may not be handling properly.
   • Then go to Settings > Windows Update and install available updates.
   • If one app keeps causing high memory use, update or reinstall that app.

7. Scan for software problems

   • Open Windows Security from the Start menu.
   • Run a Quick scan to check for malware that may be consuming system resources.
   • If memory usage stays abnormally high all the time, test by uninstalling recently added software.

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