Chrome is known for consuming significant memory on desktop systems, particularly Macs. Despite Google’s efforts to enhance its memory efficiency over time, users may still encounter “out of memory” errors when using the web browser. This guide outlines solutions for addressing this issue without immediately resorting to hardware upgrades.
How to fix Chrome’s “out of memory” error code
Having sufficient RAM is crucial for smooth computer performance. A system with at least 16GB of RAM is generally recommended to manage a typical number of Chrome tabs without problems. While 32GB offers even more headroom, it might be excessive for most users. For PCs with only 8GB of RAM, it becomes necessary to limit the number of open tabs, and a RAM upgrade or a new computer might be a consideration. Until then, here are methods to address “out of memory” errors:
- Refresh the affected tab. Refreshing the problematic tab can often resolve the error, especially if the computer has sufficient RAM, suggesting a temporary glitch. Any data entered might be saved, but it is advisable to back up extensive writing in a separate application.
- Close any unnecessary tabs and refresh the broken one. Individual Chrome tabs can consume significant RAM. Closing tabs that have not been used for an extended period can free up resources. For pages needed later, bookmarking them or adding them to a Reading List is recommended. Content can also be sent to a Kindle or other reading tablets.
- Make sure Memory Saver is enabled. Chrome’s Memory Saver feature automatically releases RAM from inactive tabs. Users can verify its activation by navigating to the triple-dot menu > Settings > Performance. There is also an option to designate specific websites, like Gmail, Spotify, or work-related dashboards, to remain active even when not in use.
- Check for updates to Chrome. Google frequently releases Chrome updates, which often include bug fixes, security enhancements, and sometimes memory usage optimizations. To update the desktop browser, access the triple-dot menu > Settings > About Chrome.
- Clear Chrome’s cache. Chrome stores cached data to speed up page loading. Although “out of memory” errors are typically RAM-related, clearing the cache can help rule out storage-related issues. To do this, click the triple-dot menu > Settings > Clear browsing data. Ensure only Cached images and files is selected before clicking Clear data. This action will require the browser to reload all website assets upon subsequent visits.
- Remove any unused extensions. While extensions enhance Chrome’s functionality, some can be resource-intensive, and users often accumulate unused ones. To remove extensions, click the triple-dot menu > Extensions, then select Remove for any unnecessary items. Extensions no longer available on the Chrome Web Store are also flagged and should generally be removed unless they are essential and still functional.
- Restart Chrome. A simple restart of the Chrome browser can sometimes resolve temporary glitches that might be contributing to memory issues.
- Restart your computer. Rebooting the entire computer can clear operating system-level cache or process conflicts. This action provides a fresh start, as most non-essential data in RAM is cleared.
- Disable hardware acceleration. If previous steps are unsuccessful, disabling Chrome’s hardware acceleration might help. This feature can be toggled off via the triple-dot menu > Settings > System > Use hardware acceleration when available. This step addresses potential issues where the graphics card (GPU) struggles with Chrome’s demands. If no improvement is observed, re-enable acceleration.
- Increase available virtual memory. Computers allocate a portion of storage as “virtual” memory to supplement RAM. While Macs manage virtual memory automatically, Windows PCs allow manual configuration. For Windows 11 users, search for “advanced system settings” in the taskbar and open the relevant result. In System Properties, navigate to the Advanced tab, then Settings under Performance. Proceed to the next Advanced tab, then click Change under Virtual memory. To manually adjust, uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives. It is important to only increase the allocated amount to avoid potential issues with Chrome and other applications.
