Among the most annoying events that can happen when we use Windows we also find “memory leaks”, of which both system apps and installed programs are victims. This memory leak occurs when an app in use did not return resources to the system at the end of use, causing an excessive use of resources: the leak occurs both when the memory remains unnecessarily occupied and when the RAM consumption of the single increases without stopping (instead of decreasing).
These bugs are also annoying but can compromise a whole day’s work, especially if we don’t have a lot of memory to offer to the faulty programs. In the guide that follows we will show you how to fix Windows 10 and 11 memory problems following simple procedures to facilitate the release of the blocked RAM memory or to close the application that generates problems.
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Restart the explorer.exe process
In many cases, it is the process that shows memory problems on Windows explorer.exewhich manages the operation of the Windows graphical interface and the app File Explorer.
To restore the correct functioning of this important process, we press CTRL+ALT+CANClet’s open the menu Activity managementwe press on More details (if any) and identify the process Explorer in the card Processes.
Once we have identified the right process, we right-click on it and press on End activity to close the entire Windows interface and the ERP windows. Now we will have the screen all black, without any lower bar: let’s not panic, since everything is normal! To restart the process, press at the top left on File (in the window of Activity management), click on Run new activity and type explorer.exe to restart the interface.
Start File Explorer as a separate process
Another effective trick to solve Windows memory problems is to start File Explorer as a separate process from the graphical interface, so as to be able to minimize the impact of large files open in the ERP and prevent them from slowing down the computer.
To apply this change we open the app File Explorer on our PC, press on the three dots at the top, click on the item Optionslet’s go to the card Visualization and remove the check mark from the item Run folder windows in a separate process.
After applying this change, press OK at the bottom and restart the computer to make the changes effective.
Remove auto-start apps
If the memory problem is caused by a third-party application that starts with the operating system, it is worth removing the faulty app from autostart, using the specific functions provided by Windows 10 and Windows 11.
On Windows 11 we can remove the auto-start apps by taking us on the path Settings -> Apps -> Startup and turning off the switch next to apps that we no longer want to launch together with the system or that have a high impact on system performance.
On Windows 10 it is possible to remove the startup apps by pressing CTRL + ALT + DEL on the keyboard, opening the menu Activity managementtaking us to the card Startby right clicking on the apps to remove and finally pressing on Disable. This trick also works on Windows 11 and can be used as a backup method than the one featured above.
Restart Windows in diagnostic mode
Can’t identify the process causing memory problems on Windows 10 and 11? In this difficult scenario, it pays off start Windows in diagnostic modethus disabling all secondary processes and services and starting Windows only with the essential elements for operation.
To activate this special mode we press WIN + R on the keyboard, we type msconfig in the window that opens; once in the new window we select Diagnostic startuppress OK at the bottom and restart the PC.
At the next restart, Windows will work in reduced mode, without third-party services and apps: if we do not notice any memory leaks, it is advisable to analyze the apps in auto-start and uninstall the latest apps installed on the systemusing if necessary System Restore to solve the root problem.
At the end of the changes we open again msconfigwe set Normal startuppress OK and restart Windows to solve the memory problems of Windows 10 and 11.
Update Windows
If none of the previous recommendations worked or the problem is with an app or system process we can try to fix it by updating Windows to the latest version.
To update on Windows 11, press the right button on the Start menu, select the menu Settingslet’s open the menu Windows Update and press on Check for updates or, alternatively, on Download and install o Restart now (if updates are already available).
On Windows 10 we can perform updates by taking us on the path Settings -> Update and security and pressing on Check for updates. To learn more we can read our guide on how to force windows update and install the latest version.
Conclusions
An app that generates a memory leak should immediately be uninstalled from the system (or at most it should be updated), but things get complicated if the system processes are causing problems. By following the tips present above we will be able to solve most memory problems caused by Windows apps and processesas well as being able to stop memory leaks caused by auto-starting apps.
Still on the subject of RAM memory and memory problems, we can read our guides on how know how much RAM memory is available on the PC and how to know quanta RAM serve per Windows 11 e 10.