- Users are experiencing memory leak issues in Windows 11, specifically with RAM not releasing memory allocated to File Explorer.
- To fix memory leaks, users can check for memory leaks in Windows 11 using Resource Monitor, close File Explorer windows, make changes in File Explorer settings, close unnecessary apps, manually clean RAM, close startup apps/services, and update Windows.
- Following these troubleshooting steps can resolve memory leak issues in Windows 11 and improve system performance.
Users have come up with a new memory leak issue in Windows 11. Users running Windows 11 have reported that their RAM refuses to release the memory allocated to File Explorer. This can be a real issue if you donโt like turning off the machine when not working, as it can lead to slowing down and an unresponsive system. If you have been facing a memory leak in Windows 11 due to which your system has slowed down and has been unresponsive, then this article may be a real lifesaver.
Fix Memory Leak In Windows 11
In this article, we will be discussing how you can fix memory leaks in Windows 11.
How To Check If Thereโs a Memory Leak In Windows 11
Firstly, you will have to check whether thereโs a memory leak in Windows 11 or not. To do so, follow the steps given below-
- Open the Start Menuย and then search forย Resource Monitor. Click onย Resource Monitorย in theย Start Menuย to open the app.
- Head to the Memoryย tab in theย Resource Monitor.
- Here, check the physical memory. You will have to check the memory consumption, due to which there will be less memory on standby and less free memory.
Troubleshooting Steps To Fix Memory Leaks In Windows 11
Given below are all the fixes to fix memory leaks in Windows 11-
Close File Explorer Windowsย
Many users have reported facing a memory leak with the File Explorer app. You should try to close the File Explorer in Windows 11 to check if that fixes the issue or not. Right-click on the File Explorerย icon on the taskbar and click onย Close all windowsย to close the File Explorer app.
This should most probably fix the issue that you have been facing. However, if the issue is not fixed, you should move to the next troubleshooting step mentioned in this article.
Make Changes In The File Explorer
Even after you have made the changes to the File Explorer, you are likely to experience issues with it. Therefore, you will have to make certain changes to the File Explorer to ensure you fix the memory leak issue. To do so, follow the steps given below-
- Open theย Start Menuย by pressing theย Windowsย key on your keyboard.
- In theย Start Menu, search forย File Explorer Optionsย and click on it to open it.
- Head to theย Viewย tab in theย File Explorer Options.
- Here, check the checkbox sayingย Launch folder windows in a separate process.ย Click onย Applyย and then click onย OKย to save the changes.
Close Unnecessary Apps And Browser Tabs
Another thing that you can try doing is closing all the unnecessary applications and browser tabs. If you have unnecessary apps opened on your PC, this may also be why facing memory leaks. You should try closing all the unnecessary apps and all the unnecessary browser tabs. The issue should be solved by now. However, if it isnโt, you should move to the next step in this article.
Manually Clean The RAM
You can also try manually cleaning or freeing up the RAM. You can do so by using the Task Manager. To manually clean the RAM, follow the steps given below-
- Press theย Windows + Xย key combo or right-click on theย Start iconย on the taskbar.
- From the menu that opens up, selectย Task Managerย and open it.
- Ensure you are on theย Processesย tab in theย Task Manager.ย If you are not on it, you can click on theย Processesย tab.
- Theย Memoryย section here will show which process is consuming a lot of RAM. Close unnecessary processes that are consuming a lot of RAM. To do so, select the process, and click onย End Task.ย
Close Startup Apps And Services
Memory leak issues can also be fixed by closing the Startup apps and services. When too many apps and services open up during your PCโs startup, it can consume a lot of your RAM. This can probably cause the memory leak issue. You should try closing the startup apps and services to fix the issue. To do so, follow the steps given below-
- Open theย Settingsย app on your PC by pressing theย Windows + Iย key combo.
- Head to theย Appsย section from the left sidebar of theย Settingsย app, and then on the right side, selectย Startup.ย
- Now turn off the toggle for the apps which have a high impact.
This will close all the startup apps and services that can be causing the issue with your system.
Update Windowsย
Updating your Windows to the latest version can often fix the issue you have been facing. Microsoft releases bug fixes with every new update, and a new Windows update can fix the Memory leak issue. To update Windows, follow the steps given below-
- Press theย Windows + Iย key combo to open theย Settingsย app on your PC.
- Now on the left sidebar of theย Settingsย app, click on theย Windows Updateย section.
- On the right side, click onย Check for updates.ย
- Download and install all the updates you find, and then restart your PC. This should probably fix the memory leak issue in Windows 11.
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Final Words
Memory leak issues can make your PC slow down and unresponsive. If you have been facing a memory leak issue in Windows 11, then you can follow the steps in this article. We have discussed all the troubleshooting steps to help you fix the memory leak in Windows 11.