The software using the most RAM can be identified via Task Manager on Windows or Activity Monitor on macOS. To check, open Task Manager (Ctrl Shift Esc) and sort by memory usage under the Processes tab, or use Activity Monitor’s Memory tab on macOS. Common memory-heavy apps include web browsers like Chrome, video/photo editing tools, games, virtual machines, and even long-running productivity apps. To reduce RAM usage, close unnecessary tabs, limit background apps, restart regularly, use lighter software alternatives, or consider upgrading your RAM if needed.
If you’ve ever noticed your computer slowing down and wondered, “What software is eating up my RAM?” — you’re not alone. It’s a common issue, especially when running multiple apps or background processes. The good news is, identifying and managing memory-hungry programs isn’t that hard once you know where to look.

How to Check Which Programs Are Using the Most RAM
The easiest way to see what’s using your RAM is through Task Manager (on Windows) or Activity Monitor (on macOS). Here's how:

-
Windows: Press
Ctrl Shift Esc
to open Task Manager, then go to the "Processes" tab. Click on the "Memory" column header to sort by RAM usage. -
macOS: Open Spotlight (
Cmd Space
) and search for "Activity Monitor." In the Memory tab, you'll see a list of apps and their memory use.
This will show you exactly which apps are taking up the most memory right now. You might be surprised — sometimes it's not the obvious ones like browsers or video editors, but background services or even system processes.
Common Apps That Use a Lot of RAM
Some programs are just built to consume more memory than others. Here are the usual suspects:

- Web browsers – Especially Chrome, which tends to open each tab in its own process. If you have dozens of tabs open, this can add up fast.
- Video/photo editing software – Programs like Adobe Premiere or Photoshop load large files into memory for faster editing.
- Games – Modern games often use several gigabytes of RAM, especially if they’re running in the background or minimized.
- Virtual machines and development tools – Running a VM or Docker containers can eat up RAM quickly, especially if you're not limiting their resources.
Even basic productivity tools like Microsoft Excel or Slack can become memory hogs over time, especially if left running for days without a restart.
What You Can Do to Reduce RAM Usage
Once you’ve identified the culprits, here are some practical steps to free up memory:
- Close unused browser tabs or switch to a lighter browser
- Limit background apps via System Settings > Privacy & Security > Background apps (on Windows)
- Restart your machine regularly — memory leaks happen and restarts clear them
- Use lightweight alternatives (e.g., Firefox instead of Chrome, or Lite versions of apps)
Also, consider upgrading your RAM if you consistently max out your memory — especially if you do multitasking, streaming, or creative work.
That’s basically it. RAM issues are pretty normal, and a few small changes can make a big difference.
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