[Solved] Your Computer Is Low on Memory Windows 7/8/10 in 8 Ways

Jean updated on Mar 15, 2024 | Home >Computer Instruction

All solutions to Your computer is low on memory on Windows 10/8/7:

Workable Solutions Step-by-step Troubleshooting
Fix 1. Close programs Your computer is low on memory error is displayed when your programs are using too much memory...Full steps
Fix 2. Use Windows troubleshooter Windows troubleshooter can be helpful if a program is forcefully closed, or if something isn't working...Full steps
Fix 3. Run system file scan  Run SFC scan to check and repair corrupted system files, like a corrupted registry file. SFC scan...Full steps
Fix 4. Increase virtual memory By increasing your virtual memory, you will be able to resolve the low memory issues or alerts...Full steps
Other 4 more useful tips Other solutions are: upgrade RAM, update Windows to the latest version, repair bad sectors...Full steps

One of the most common issues Windows users encounter is low memory on computers. The error message is as follows:

In Windows 10, the error message reads as "Your computer is low on memory. To restore enough memory for programs to work correctly, save your files, and then close to restart all open programs."

In Windows 7, it reads a little different but suggests the same problem "Close programs to prevent information loss. Your computer is low on memory. Save your files and close these programs."

your computer is low on memory

When you meet Your computer is low on memory problem, your computer runs out of RAM and becomes low on virtual memory. Computer memory RAM and Virtual Memory items are totally different from the physical disk space of hard-drives or removable storage devices. You may receive Your computer is low on memory alerts repeatedly or sometimes, Your computer is low on memory but it's not. 

As long as you are bothered by a computer out of memory, you come to the right place. We hope that the troubleshooting methods on this page will be useful to help you out.

Backup Files to Avoid Data Loss Due to Low Memory on Computer

Some users report that the low memory error also triggers black screen issues, forcing users to reboot their PCs. In general, when your computer has running low memory warning, you may encounter data loss caused by the computer stuck, so it's best to back up data frequently.  

EaseUS Todo Backup offers you ultimate data backup solutions to protect data on Windows-based computers. It enables you to perform system backup, disk/partition backup, and file backup. 

It also allows you to clone the system to duplicate your operating system to another hard drive, USB, or other storage media. You can migrate OS to SSD without reinstalling Windows. 

You can free download EaseUS data backup software on your Windows 10/8/7 computer and use it to back up your computers to avoid data loss regularly.

If Your computer is low on memory problem has caused a boot issue, you can still use EaseUS Todo Backup to restore and backup files with bootable USB in the WinPE environment. 

8 Ways to Fix Your Computer Is Low on Memory Windows 10/8/7

Some malicious files infected by viruses or malware might lead to Your Computer is low on memory but it's not. So, you can first run Windows' built-in antivirus, Windows Defender, or third-party antivirus program to perform a full scan of your computer to remove malware viruses.

If a virus or malware infection isn't the cause of low memory, apply the following troubleshooting steps to resolve the problem.

1. Close the Programs That Are Using Too Much Memory

Some processes using too much memory would probably throw you the exact low memory error on your computer. In fact, the following way of ending the process that is using too much memory in the Task Manager is beneficial when Windows OS is with high RAM or CPU usage issue.

Step 1. Press "Ctrl + Alt + Del" to bring up a menu and choose "Task Manager".

Step 2. Under the Process tab, you'll clearly see which process is using the most memory. Right-click the process's name and choose "End task". This should resolve your problems.

fix your computer is low on memory - close program

2. Use Windows Troubleshooter

If a program or something else doesn’t work properly on your Windows 7/8/10 system, you might be prompted with the Your Computer is low on memory error message. In this case, you can run Windows Troubleshooter and perform system maintenance to solve the issue.

Step 1. Type Troubleshooting in the search box.

Step 2. On the left panel, select "View All" and choose "System Maintenance" from the list.

Step 3. Click on "Next" and wait while your system to finish the troubleshooting process.

fix your computer is low on memory windows 7

3. Run System File Scan 

When your system files, such as registry files, have corrupted, you may also receive the Your computer is low on memory Windows 7 or Windows 8, and 10. Use Microsoft's System File Checker to check for system file corruption. This utility verifies the integrity of all protected system files and repairs files with problems. 

Step 1. Type cmd in the Search box. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator.

Step 2. Now type the sfc /scannow command, and press Enter. 

Step 3. Wait for the scanning process to complete and then restart your computer. If corrupted system files cause the computer low memory, the problem will be solved.  

run SFC to fix computer low on memory

See: How to fix Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them

4. Increase the Virtual Memory

By increasing the virtual memory, you will be able to resolve the computer low memory issue. Follow the steps below to do it manually as there are no apps dedicated to this matter.

Step 1. Press "Windows + R" and type sysdm.cpl in the Run dialog box, and click "OK" to open System Properties.

Step 2. Click "Advanced system settings".

click advanced system settings

Step 3. Then click "Settings" under the Advanced pane on System Properties.

click settings in the advaced tab

Step 4. Go on to click "Change" under the Advanced pane.

click change under advanced

Step 5. Uncheck "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives".

  • Tick on "Custom Size".
  • Then set "Initial size" and "Maximum size" by yourself. (The sizes you set should be moreover than the Recommended size.)
  • Click "Set" and "OK".

change the maximum size of virtual memory

5. Upgrade RAM

If you really don't have a lot of memory and often have a computer low memory problem, you can upgrade your RAM. RAM upgrades can speed up your computer, and you'll experience fewer system freezes or hangs.

Note: If you are not a computer professional, it's better not to do this yourself. You can turn to a computer expert for help.

6. Update Windows to the Latest Version

Make sure you are running the latest Windows version. Microsoft constantly rolls out Windows update to improve the system's stability and fix various issues. Updating your Windows OS to the latest version is one fix for your computer is low on memory.

Step 1. Open "Settings" on your Windows 10/8/7. Click "Update & security" and click on the "Check for updates" button under the Update status to check whether there is a new version of Windows available.

Step 2. If there is one, install the update immediately and restart your computer afterward.

fix computer is low on memory

7. Check and Repair Disk Errors

Your disk has bad sectors is also one of the reasons for Your computer is low on memory problem. In this case, you can run a file system check to repair the corrupted file system disk.

EaseUS Partition Master Free is a mature disk management tool that enables you to create/delete/format partition, resize/move partitions to solve low disk space issue, merge partitions, clone disk, wipe data, and convert disk/partition, which is totally free.

Now, download and use this free disk management tool to check and repair bad sectors on your disk to solve computer low memory issue on Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

8. Run System Clean Up to Remove Junk and Temporary Files

The last useful way to fix Your computer is low on memory Windows 7/8/10 is to delete the junk and temporary files and folders. Here is a free PC disk clean up tool to help you make it effortlessly.

Step 1. Download and install EaseUS Partition Master Suite.

Free Download 

Windows 11/10/8/7100% Secure

download and install CleanGenius

Step 2. Click PC Cleaner and install EaseUS CleanGinus. Then, click "Cleanup" and click "Scan" to start cleaning up the system and make your PC as good as new.

system cleanup step 1

Step 3. The software will scanning all over your computer to find idle data files that take a huge amount of disk space, you can select useless large files, system junk files and Windows invalid entries and click "Clean" to start system cleanup process.

system cleanup step 2

Step 4. When the scan is complete, click "Done" to finish cleaning system junk files.

system cleanup step 3

To Sum Up

We've given you all the possible solutions in this article to solve Your computer is low on memory issue on Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7. We hope they would be resultful. If you've tried them all, but nothing worked, don't be discouraged. Contact our technical support team via live chat or email [email protected] to get instant assistance.

More FAQs About Your Computer Is Low on Memory Windows 7

Here are more frequently asked questions about the problem: Your computer is low on memory. Let's check them together.

What does it mean when your computer is low on memory?

When you receive Your computer is low on memory error message, your computer is running out of RAM and becomes low on virtual memory. When you encounter a low memory problem, you can't open a program or save data to a computer until you correct the situation.

Why is my available RAM so low?

Why is the computer low on memory? That’s because some programs on your computer take too much allocation of memory. The problem may also occur because the system BIOS is outdated. If you have an older computer, the system may be unable to access all the installed RAM. In this case, you have to update the system BIOS to the latest version.

What are the signs of insufficient RAM on your computer?

When your computer is out of RAM, you may get the error: Your computer is low on memory to restore enough memory for programs to work correctly, save your files and then close or restart all open programs.

You might also have difficulty running multiple programs at once. You won't be able to open the application or save data to your computer. What's worse, sometimes, the low memory error also leads to black screen issues, forcing you to reboot your computer.

How do I fix low RAM on my computer?

There are a few ways to fix computer out of memory on Windows 10/8/7:

  • Run antivirus software for a full system scan
  • Close the programs that are using too much memory
  • Use Windows troubleshooter
  • Manually increase virtual memory
  • Repair corrupted file system
  • Update Windows to the latest version
  • Clean junk and temporary files and folders
  • Remove recently installed software

How do I free up more memory on my PC?

If your RAM is in high usage, try the following methods to reduce the amount of RAM.

  • Restart your PC
  • Close used software
  • Use lighter apps and manage programs
  • Scan for malware
  • Adjust virtual memory
  • Try ReadyBoost
  • Increase more RAM

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Updated by Daisy

Daisy is the Senior editor of the writing team for EaseUS. She has been working at EaseUS for over ten years, starting as a technical writer and moving on to being a team leader of the content group. As a professional author for over ten years, she writes a lot to help people overcome their tech troubles.

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Written by Jean

Jean is recognized as one of the most professional writers in EaseUS. She has kept improving her writing skills over the past 10 years and helped millions of her readers solve their tech problems on PC, Mac, and iOS devices.

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