Turning off unnecessary startup programs to free up RAM
This is honestly one of the quickest ways to free up some RAM on Windows 11 if your PC’s feeling sluggish. I’ve noticed that after installing a bunch of apps, many of them sneak into the startup list — even things you don’t really need running right away. When these apps launch automatically, they just gobble up memory, which can slow everything down.
To tidy this up, press Ctrl + Shift + Escape to open Task Manager. It’s not always obvious where these startup items hide—they can be a bit hidden, especially on my machine where menu options sometimes feel tucked away. Once in Task Manager, click on the Startup tab on the left. Here, you’ll see a list of apps set to run when your PC starts. Many will be marked as Enabled. Right-click on the ones you don’t recognise or know aren’t essential, then select Disable.
Just a quick heads-up—be cautious. You don’t want to disable anything vital for your system’s stability or security. Some entries might look suspicious, like OneDrive.exe or Updater.exe. If you’re unsure what an app does, a quick Google helps. Disable the ones you’re confident are safe—like third-party updater tools or minor utilities that aren’t part of Windows core.
This isn’t complicated, but it does require a bit of awareness. The idea isn’t to disable every app but to stop those that load unnecessary stuff into memory before you even start working. Disabling things like app update utilities or background tools can really free up RAM. Just remember, don’t disable anything that seems linked to your hardware drivers or security software without checking first.
Managing background apps to keep RAM free
Another piece of the puzzle is background apps you might not even realise are running. These can silently drain RAM over time, especially if you’ve got numerous tabs or apps open for days. Most folk forget that apps like email clients, cloud syncers, or some utility programs keep running in the background — sometimes unnecessarily.
To manage these, press Windows key + I to open Settings. Sometimes I forget the shortcut, so it takes a moment. Then navigate to Apps and look for sections like Installed Apps or Apps & Features. From there, click the three dots or options next to each app and select Advanced Options (most apps have this). Inside, look for Let this app run in the background. It might be a toggle switch or dropdown — set it to Never if you’re sure you don’t want that app consuming RAM in the background.
Some apps have their own settings within the app itself, so it’s worth checking those too. Just don’t turn off everything—especially critical systems like your antivirus or hardware management tools — for example, your graphics driver utilities might need to run constantly. Focus on less critical apps like streaming downloaders or minor background utilities; switching these off can make a real difference. Don’t take too long, especially if you have lots of apps installed, but trust me, it pays off when your PC feels snappier.
Keeping an eye on which processes are hogging RAM
Once you’ve tidied up startup items and background apps, it’s smart to monitor which processes are actually using the most memory in real time. Again, press Ctrl + Shift + Escape to open Task Manager. In the Processes tab, you’ll see everything that’s running. Check out the Memory column — it shows which processes are currently eating up RAM. You might notice some odd or unfamiliar processes, especially after installing new apps or updates.
If a process is taking up a lot of RAM and you know it’s not critical (like a browser tab or background utility), right-click and pick End Task. Just be careful—avoid ending system processes or anything essential for your PC’s stability, as that could cause Windows to crash or become unstable. It’s a quick fix when things are crawling, but not a permanent solution. Sometimes, processes restart automatically, or apps keep running in the background even after you close them.
Always double-check what a process is before ending it. A quick Google search can tell you if it’s vital or just bloatware. Watch out for malware disguising itself with similar names—best to stay cautious if something weird or new starts chewing up your RAM.
It took me a while to find the right balance between killing processes and leaving them. Monitoring RAM for a few hours, especially after installing new software or updates, really opened my eyes to what’s unnecessary. Hope this helps — it took me ages to figure out the best way to disable and kill processes without causing more issues. Hopefully, it saves someone else a weekend of frustration!