How to reduce memory consumption in Chrome for Windows 10?

When it comes to browsing, one name that clearly stands out is Google Chrome. It’s advanced, fast and reliable. But, looking at the Task Manager, you’ll realize that Chrome uses up a lot of your system’s memory.

While it might be your browser of choice, weak computers suffer by becoming sluggish or even freeze up, which can be very frustrating. So, why does Google Chrome take up so much memory? And how can you reduce Chrome memory usage?

Why Chrome uses so much RAM

RAM is the temporary storage for data, programs or virtually anything you do with your computer. It’s where the hard work of running your system takes place.

The reason Google Chrome uses so much RAM is that each tab, extension or plugin you open uses a different RAM process. This model, known as Process Isolation, prevents one process from writing to another one. That’s why you can see multiple processes of Chrome in the Task Manager. While each process only uses a small amount of memory, adding them up leads to a high load.

The advantage of this model is that, if one tab or plugin crashes, it will not affect the Chrome browser since each tab is running its own process. This ensures stability and speed when browsing. On top of that, there’s an added security in that, if a malicious program attacks one of the tabs, there is no way it will get to another tab.

The downside, however, is that if too much RAM is used, there isn’t enough memory left for other applications. This means, accessing information from those apps will be a bit slower.

How to reduce Chrome memory usage

With that said, if apps are slowing down, then here are some tips on how to make the Chrome browser use less memory on Windows 10.

1. Check for resource hogs in Chrome’s Task Manager

1. Open Chrome, and then press Shift + Esc.
2. This launches the Task Manager for Google Chrome.
3. Take a look at how much memory each tab is using up.
4. To close a tab, extension or plugin, select it and click “End process.”

2. Enable Click-to-Play for plugins

Plugins such as Flash can take up a lot of memory. If that’s the case, turning on Click-to-Play will stop ads, videos, and games from loading without your permission. This also reduces battery consumption. To do this:

1. Open Chrome Menu.
2. Select Settings > Advanced.
3. Under “Privacy and security,” click on “Content settings.”
4. Click “plugins,” and select “Let me choose when to run plugin content.”

3. Close unused tabs

You probably need all those tabs open. But this takes a toll on your RAM and Chrome browser because they have to work harder. To save on memory, close the extra tabs that you no longer need.

To close a tab, click on the “x” located at the right side of each tab.

4. Stop Google from running in the background

Google Chrome for Windows doesn’t exactly stop working when you close it. If you notice Google’s icon in the system tray or hidden in the arrow in your taskbar, then it’s still running in the background.

This not only uses up memory, but it also consumes your laptop’s battery. To ensure Chrome completely shuts down:

1. Go to Chrome Menu > Settings > Advanced.
2. Under System, click “Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed” to disable it.

5. Remove unwanted extensions or add-ons

Extensions may add to Chrome’s productivity, but they also use up memory. You may have add-ons that are no longer useful, and deleting them will free up some memory. You can turn them off or remove them from Chrome.

1. Launch Google Chrome and open Menu.
2. Go to More tools > Extensions.
3. To disable an extension, click the toggle button to turn it off.
4. To remove an add-on, click the “Remove” button, and then click “Remove” to confirm your action.

6. Tweak your computer

The frequent use of any system eventually leads to clogging up. This calls for regular maintenance. The same applies to Google Chrome. The browser cache and temporary files build up, unnecessary applications run in the background, and system settings might be changed by programs without your knowledge.

To restore the smooth operation of your apps and system, install Auslogics BoostSpeed. Programmed to optimize every process running on your PC, the tool comes with built-in memory and processor management. This allocates resources to active apps only while disabling non-essential programs.

The software comprehensively checks your computer to identify applications that might be dragging your system down and tweaks them for optimal performance. What you get is a faster PC and seamless browsing experience.