How to Stop Google Chrome from Using Too Much RAM

Is Google Chrome Lagging Your PC? Here is the Fix

Google Chrome is the world's most popular web browser, but it is notorious for being a resource hog. If your computer fans are spinning like a jet engine and your system is lagging, Chrome's high RAM usage is likely the culprit. Fortunately, you do not need to switch browsers to fix this. Here is how to reclaim your computer's memory in under five minutes.

Step 1: Enable Chrome's Built-In Memory Saver

Google recently introduced a built-in feature designed specifically to combat high memory usage. Memory Saver automatically frees up RAM from inactive tabs, keeping your active tabs running as smoothly as possible.

• Click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of Chrome to open the menu.
• Select Settings from the dropdown.
• In the left sidebar, click on Performance.
• Toggle the switch next to Memory Saver to the On position.

Step 2: Identify and Kill Resource-Heavy Tabs

Just like Windows has the Task Manager, Chrome has its own built-in Chrome Task Manager. This tool shows you exactly which tabs or extensions are eating up your RAM so you can close them immediately.

• Press Shift + Esc on Windows, or on a Mac, click the three-dots menu and navigate to More Tools and then Task Manager.
• Click the Memory footprint column to sort your active tasks by RAM usage.
• Select the tab or extension using the most memory and click End Process.

Step 3: Audit and Disable Memory-Hogging Extensions

Browser extensions are incredibly useful, but running too many of them in the background is a major cause of RAM drain. It is time to prune the ones you do not actively use.

• Type chrome://extensions/ into your address bar and press Enter.
• Review your installed extensions.
• Toggle off any extensions you do not use daily, or click Remove to delete them permanently.

Step 4: Stop Background Apps from Running When Chrome is Closed

By default, Chrome allows some apps and extensions to run in the background even after you close the browser window, continuing to drain your system's resources.

• Go back to Settings.
• Click on System in the left-hand menu.
• Toggle off the option that says Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed.

Enjoy a Faster, Smoother Browsing Experience

By performing these quick adjustments, you will significantly reduce Chrome's memory footprint, leaving your computer feeling faster, cooler, and much more responsive. Make it a habit to audit your extensions every few months to keep your system running at peak performance!