How to fix memory leaks in Windows 10.
A memory leak in Windows 10 occurs when an application that you were using did not return resources to your system when you finished using that application. In this case, you will not be able to perform other tasks on your computer, as it does not have enough RAM to work.
In most cases, you can fix Windows 10 memory leak problems yourself. You can close resource-intensive applications, disable some startup applications, and perform similar tasks to fix a memory leak.
Restart Your PC
The easiest way to clear your PC’s memory is to restart your PC. This should fix the memory leak in most cases, at least temporarily, until you find a permanent fix.
Open the start menu on your computer. Select the power icon from the Start menu. Select Restart to restart your computer.
Use Windows Memory Diagnostic to Fix a Windows 10 Memory Leak
Windows 10 comes preinstalled with a tool called Windows Memory Diagnostic. You can use this tool to find and fix problems with your PC’s RAM.
Since the tool automatically detects a problem with your memory, you don’t need to understand computers to use it.
Open the Start menu, search for Windows Memory Diagnostics, and select this tool from the search results.
Select Restart Now and check for problems (recommended) in the tool.
Your computer will restart and the tool will try to fix your memory problems.
Close the Problematic App to Resolve the Windows 10 Memory Leak Issue
Most memory leak problems in Windows 10 are due to a problematic application that you have installed on your system. This app usually eats up all your RAM and leaves no memory for other apps to use.
In this case, you can fix the problem by closing the problematic application on your computer. The task manager should tell you which application is using which amount of RAM. If you find that an application is using an unusual amount of memory, it could be the culprit.
Right-click the Windows taskbar and choose Task Manager from the menu.
Select the Processes tab in the Task Manager. You will see a list of applications showing the amount of memory they are using. If you find that an application is using too much memory, right-click it and select End Task to close the application.
Repeat the above process for each application that is using a lot of memory. If this resolves your Windows 10 memory leak problem, you know which apps are causing the problem. You can then manually remove these applications from your computer.
Disable Startup Programs
If your computer starts showing signs of a memory leak as soon as you turn on your computer, the application being launched might be the cause. These applications are automatically launched when your computer boots up.
In this case, you can remove the problematic application from the list of startup applications. The app will no longer automatically open when you turn on your computer.
Open the Settings app in Windows 10 by pressing the Windows + I keys at the same time. In the Settings window, select Applications.
In the sidebar on the left, select Launch. Find the application you don’t want to start when your computer boots up in the right pane. Click the toggle for this app to the off position. Repeat this process for each application that you do not want to start when you turn on your computer.
Update Your Device Drivers
Outdated device drivers cause various issues, including memory leak issues in Windows 10. In this case, you need to update all drivers to the latest versions.
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Updating drivers in Windows 10 is easy and free.
Open Device Manager by going to the Start menu by searching for Device Manager and selecting this option from the search results.
Find the device you want to update drivers for in the Device Manager window. Typically, to fix a memory leak problem, you need to update your graphics, sound, and network drivers. Right-click the device and select Update Driver Software.
In the next window, select “Search for drivers automatically” so that Windows 10 will automatically find the latest drivers for your device.
Install new drivers if available. Restart your computer when the drivers are installed.
If you are using an Nvidia graphics card, you can manually update your drivers as well.
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Run an Antivirus Scan to Get Around the Windows 10 Memory Leak Problem
Sometimes a virus or malware will end up using all of your memory, leading to a memory leak issue in Windows 10. In such cases, use your PC’s built-in antivirus tool to find and remove all viruses from your computer.
If you have a third-party antivirus installed on your computer, you can use that as well.
Open the Start menu, search for Windows Security, and select this application from the search results.
On the next screen, select Virus & threat protection.
In the right pane, select Scan Settings. Then select the Full Scan option and select Scan Now.
Wait for the antivirus to scan your entire computer.
Disable Sysmain on Windows 10
Sysmain is a Windows 10 feature that automatically preloads frequently used apps into RAM. This speeds up the launch of these applications.
But if you run into any RAM related issues, it’s worth turning this feature off to see if it matters. You can always turn this feature back on at a later time.
To turn off Sysmain:
Open a Run window by pressing the Windows + R keys at the same time. Type the following in the Run box and press Enter: services.msc
Find Sysmain in the Services window, right-click the service and select Stop.
To ensure that the Sysmain service does not start when you restart your computer, right-click the service and select Properties.
From the Startup Type drop-down menu, select Disabled. Then select “Apply†and then click “OK†at the bottom.
Close the Services window.
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Your Windows 10 Memory Leak Problem Should Now Be Fixed
Memory leak problems are quite common on Windows PCs. If you ever run into this problem on your computer, now you know what to do to work around it. In short, stay away from any untrusted apps and you should be fine.
How to fix memory leaks in Windows 10
How to fix memory leaks in Windows 10