Is your Mac slowing down? Do you spend more than and more time waiting for applications to do what you want? If and then, there is a very good gamble that you have high memory usage and need a Mac RAM upgrade.

RAM stands for Random Access Memory. This retention is temporary and used by the CPU to concur data that processes actively utilise on your organization. Your Mac slows down when it experiences loftier memory usage, in other words, when the running applications demand more RAM than your Mac can provide. The more RAM bachelor, the better your Mac is able to execute the tasks that are existence thrown at it.

The obvious solution would be to increase Mac RAM, but before I show you how to do that, let'due south make sure that your lack of RAM is actually the crusade of your Mac slowdown.

Does your Mac need more than RAM?

If you concluded up reading this article, you probably suspect yous need Mac RAM upgrade. But how to check if you have enough RAM? Mac technicians say 8GB is enough for your everyday tasks. Intensive processes, though, like video editing, require more RAM.

If you lot're considering MacBook RAM upgrade, first let me show you how to bank check RAM usage on Mac.

  1. Open Spotlight Search (Control-Space)
  2. Type in Action Monitor.
  3. In Activity Monitor, select the Memory tab on the meridian of the window.

Memory Pressure is the graph you demand to report.

If there is mostly green, your system RAM is currently fine. If at that place is a lot of yellow, the jury is still out. If there is a lot of cherry-red, your memory is under strain, and your Mac has a high memory usage.

How to free up RAM on Mac without purchasing it

If yous're running out of memory merely don't want to buy more RAM, you tin try quitting unused active apps in Activeness Monitor. Select the app and click the "X" button to shut it. This should release some memory on your car.

Another alternative is to use a third-party tool to optimize your RAM usage. I highly recommend CleanMyMac X, which has a Maintenance module that helps free up RAM and speed upwards your Mac. CleanMyMac X is notarized by Apple and has a free version.

Here'due south how to gratuitous upwards RAM with the help of this tool:

Free up Mac RAM with CleanMyMacX
  1. Download CleanMyMac X for free here.
  2. Install and launch the app.
  3. Go to Maintenance — hither, select Free Upwardly RAM and Run Maintenance Scripts,
  4. Click Run.

When to use this tool? When your Mac or a detail app hangs upward, this feature will temporarily affluent retentivity, helping your Mac to unfreeze.

Check if you have slots for more RAM

If you have reached the conclusion that you need more retentivity, I'grand going to show yous exactly how to increment your Mac RAM. The showtime step is to check if your Mac has slots for new RAM.

This may non be what you desire to hear, merely information technology'due south possible that yous tin't add more RAM to your Mac, even if you wanted to. Let'due south wait under the hood and encounter what your memory situation is like.

  1. Click the Apple icon.
  2. Select "About this Mac"
  3. Click Arrangement Written report.
  4. The System Information window volition launch. Select Retention in the left cavalcade.

You will encounter the verbal details of your RAM modules or sticks on the right. The "banks" are the slots that the RAM is inserted into. If y'all have an empty bank or two, you lot're in luck, upgrading your memory but got that much easier. As you see in the screenshot above, my MacBook Pro doesn't take infinite for the new RAM.

    Where should you lot buy RAM?

    You lot navigated to your Mac retentiveness information and discovered whether you had space for new retentiveness. At present information technology'south only a matter of choosing your new RAM, and I recommend starting with MacSales. If you're located outside the US, Google will probably tell you which stores sell RAM nearby.

    How to upgrade RAM on Mac

    Adding your new RAM into your Mac is not as difficult every bit it sounds. This is definitely an upgrade that you can perform yourself, as long every bit you have a screwdriver on mitt. The only tricky thing is to know exactly where the RAM is, and that it varies between types of Macs.

    Below are handy tutorials to install new retention on your specific type of Mac.

    Tin yous upgrade RAM on MacBook Pro?

    If you own MacBook Pro and want to upgrade RAM on this automobile, yous should know that only a few models have slots for additional RAM. These are:

    • 13-inch models from 2009 to 2012
    • 15-inch models from 2008 to 2012
    • 17-inch models from 2008 to 2011

    MacBook RAM upgrade is possible with:

    • MacBooks from 2008 to 2011

    Tip

    Vesture an antistatic wrist strap to avoid damaging estimator components due to static discharge when removing and installing RAM.

    MacBook Pro retention upgrade

    Here's how to upgrade RAM on your MacBook or MacBook Pro:

    • Turn your MacBook off and permit it cool down.
    • Turn your MacBook upside downwards and pop the latch on the back to remove the plate.
    • Use a tiny Phillips head screwdriver to unscrew the larger backplate.
    • Note - one screw volition be a lot smaller than the others. Remember where it goes.
    • Impact metal to ground yourself before touching the RAM.
    • The RAM is to the left or right of the middle. Pull apart the latches on each side of it, and the RAM volition pop upward.
    • Slide the RAM out. Try to agree the memory module by its edges and avoid touching the gold connectors.
    • Slide the new RAM into the slot and button information technology downward till it clicks into place.
    • Put the large backplate dorsum on and screw information technology into place.
    • Screw the smaller backplate back into place.
    • Turn your MacBook on and go to About This Mac to confirm the new RAM installed.

    iMac RAM upgrade

    You tin install new RAM on almost whatsoever iMac. To observe out if y'all tin can upgrade RAM on your particular iMac model, check this list on the Apple tree Support website.

    • Shut down your iMac and unplug everything. Let your iMac absurd down,
    • Place your iMac face down, ensuring the screen is protected from anything that could scratch information technology.
    • Printing the small push button located higher up the Air-conditioning port to open the retentiveness compartment.
    • You'll find a diagram on the bottom of the door that shows the memory cage levers and the correct orientation of the RAM modules.
    • Push the two levers on the right and left sides outward — this should release the memory muzzle.
    • One time you release the memory, pull the levers up.
    • Yous can now remove each module —have a photograph of the location of the notch on the bottom of the modules: the notch must be placed correctly when reinstalled.
    • Install new memory past placing it into the slot until it clicks.
    • After installing new retention, button the levers back into the housing until yous hear the clicking sound.
    • Install the memory compartment door and put your iMac into the upright position.
    • Re-connect everything, turn your iMac back on and become to About This Mac to confirm new RAM has been installed.

    Mac Pro retention upgrade

    All Mac Pro computers take user-upgradeable memory, which means you can upgrade RAM on any Mac Pro model. Here's how to do that:

    • Turn off your Mac and allow it cool downward.
    • Disconnect all cables.
    • Touch the metal case of your Mac Pro to belch any static electricity.
    • Unlock the housing by flipping the top latch up and and so twisting it left.
    • Lift the housing and remove it.
    • Toggle the RAM cover lock to the left to open it. Remove the modules.
    • Place your new RAM module into the slot and gently push until it clicks. Avoid touching the gilded collectors.
    • Reinsert the RAM modules encompass and gently push button until they click.
    • Turn the top latch right to lock it.
    • Reconnect all the peripherals and go to About This Mac to check if new RAM has been installed.

      Mac mini RAM upgrade

      Adding a new retention in Mac mini is simple, merely not every model allows you to do that. Information technology is possible to install RAM on Mac mini models from 2010 to 2012, but Mac minis from 2014 have a memory that tin can't be upgraded. Mac mini models from 2018 don't accept user-installable RAM, and Mac minis M1 have their RAM integrated into the Apple tree flake.

        So, here'southward how to upgrade memory on Mac mini 2010-2012:

        • Shut down your Mac mini. Permit it cool downwards and disconnect all cables.
        • Place your Mac mini upside downward on a soft cloth and rotate the lesser case counterclockwise.
        • Gently press on the case to let the opposite side pop up. And then, remove it.
        • Spread the clips of the memory module and let it pop upwards. Remove the module.
        • Repeat the same for the bottom module.
        • Place new retention modules into the slots.
        • Replace the bottom case and rotate it clockwise until information technology's locked.
        • Reconnect the power string and become to About This Mac to check if new RAM has been installed.

        Tin can you upgrade RAM on MacBook Air?

        Apple has soldered RAM onto the motherboard on MacBook Air laptops to make the computers thinner. That's why a MacBook Air RAM upgrade isn't possible.

        Most Macs available today don't take a user-upgradable memory. MacBook Air M1 is no exception — all M1 Macs have their memory unified onto the chip. So, if y'all're thinking about purchasing a new Mac, consider what you will utilize information technology for and ameliorate opt for the largest amount of RAM yous tin can beget.

        Mac is still slow after RAM upgrade?

        Hopefully, the new RAM gave your Mac a new lease of life. Though, sometimes, RAM replacement doesn't solve the memory shortage problem on Mac. You lot could try examining what apps and programs overload your retention. But there is a faster way. CleanMyMac X, the app I mentioned before, has a handy Optimization feature that identifies hung and memory-consuming apps and lets you quit them.

        CleanMyMac X - heavy consumers
        1. Launch CleanMyMac 10.
        2. Go to Optimization.
        3. Cull Heavy Consumers
        4. Select the app that's wasting your Mac's resources and quit it.

        Done!

        In this guide, I showed you how to identify loftier memory usage on your Mac. I besides outlined the steps to make up one's mind what RAM your Mac has installed, whether it can exist upgraded, how to purchase new retentiveness for your Mac, and finally, how to install your new RAM into your Mac.

        Once your new RAM is installed, depending on how much you lot were able to add, you should come across a considerable boost to your Mac operation. Hope this article was helpful.