Sometimes, your Mac may display a message that says “Your system has run out of application memory” and ask you to quit some apps. This can happen when your Mac runs out of both physical RAM and virtual memory on your hard drive. This can cause your Mac to become slow, unresponsive, or even freeze.
Fortunately, there are some ways to fix this error and avoid it in the future. In this article, we will explain the possible causes of this error, and how to solve it using different methods. We will also give you some tips on how to optimise your Mac’s performance and memory usage.
Causes of the “Your System Has Run Out of Application Memory” Error
Several factors can contribute to this error, such as:
- Having too many apps or processes running at the same time, especially those that use a lot of memory, such as web browsers, video editors, or games,.
- Having too many browser tabs or windows open, especially those that run JavaScript or other scripts, can cause memory leaks.
- Having too little free space on your hard drive limits the amount of virtual memory that your Mac can use to swap data in and out of RAM.
- Having a faulty or outdated app that has a memory leak or a bug that causes it to use more memory than it should.
- Having an outdated or incompatible macOS version that has a memory management issue or a conflict with some apps.
How to Fix the “Your System Has Run Out of Application Memory” Error
When you see this error message, you need to act quickly to free up some memory and restore your Mac’s stability. Here are some steps you can take:
Force Quit Unused Apps
The first thing you should do is to force quit any apps that you are not using or that are taking up too much memory. You can do this by:
- Clicking on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen and choosing Force Quit.
- Select the app that you want to quit, and click on the Force Quit button.
- Repeat this process for any other apps that you want to close.
You can also use the Activity Monitor app to see how much memory each app is using and force quit them from there. You can find the Activity Monitor app in the Applications folder, or by using Spotlight search.
Restart Your Mac
After you have forced quit some apps, you should restart your Mac to clear the memory and fix any potential issues. You can do this by:
- Clicking on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen and choosing Restart.
- Unchecking the option to reopen windows when logging back in, and clicking on the Restart button.
- Waiting for your Mac to reboot and log back in.
Free Up Disc Space
Another way to fix this error is to free up some disc space on your hard drive, which will allow your Mac to use more virtual memory. You can do this by:
- Deleting any files or folders that you don’t need, such as downloads, trash, or duplicates.
- Emptying the trash can be done by right-clicking on the trash icon and choosing Empty Trash.
- Use a dedicated Mac cleaner app, such as Intego Washing Machine, to scan and remove any junk files, cache files, or other unnecessary data that may be taking up space on your hard drive.
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Manage Browser Extensions
If you use a web browser, such as Safari or Chrome, you may have some extensions installed that can use a lot of memory or cause memory leaks. You can manage your browser extensions by:
- Opening your browser and going to the settings or preferences menu.
- Finding the extensions or add-ons section and disabling or uninstalling any extensions that you don’t use or that are causing problems.
- Restarting your browser and checking if the error is gone.
Limit the Memory Usage by Finder
Finder is the app that lets you access and manage your files and folders on your Mac. Sometimes, Finder can use a lot of memory, especially if you have a lot of files or folders open. You can limit the memory usage in Finder by:
- Closing any Finder windows that you don’t need.
- Going to the Finder menu and choosing Preferences.
- Clicking on the Advanced tab and unchecking the option to show all filename extensions.
- Click on the Sidebar tab and uncheck any items that you don’t need to see in the sidebar.
Stop Apps from Starting Up Automatically
Some apps may be set to start up automatically when you turn on your Mac, which can use up some memory and slow down your Mac. You can stop these apps from starting up automatically by:
- Going to the Apple menu and choosing System Preferences.
- Clicking on the Users & Groups icon and selecting your user account.
- Click on the Login Items tab and uncheck any apps that you don’t want to start up automatically.
- Clicking on the minus (-) button will remove any apps that you don’t want to start up automatically.
Update Your macOS
Finally, you should make sure that your macOS is up to date, as this can fix any memory management issues or conflicts with some apps. You can update your macOS by:
- Going to the Apple menu and choosing System Preferences.
- Clicking on the Software Update icon and checking for any available updates.
- Click on the Update Now or Upgrade Now button and follow the instructions to install the latest macOS version.
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How to Prevent the “Your System Has Run Out of Application Memory” Error
To prevent this error from happening again, you should follow some best practices to optimise your Mac’s performance and memory usage, such as:
- Closing any apps or processes that you are not using or that are using too much memory.
- Limiting the number of browser tabs or windows that you have open, and closing them when you are done.
- Keeping at least 10% of your hard drive free for virtual memory and other system functions.
- Update your apps regularly and avoiding any apps that have memory leaks or bugs.
- Upgrading your RAM if possible, or considering replacing your Mac if it is too old or slow.
Conclusion
The “Your System Has Run Out of Application Memory” error on Mac can be annoying and frustrating, but it can be fixed and prevented with some simple steps. By following the methods and tips in this article, you can free up some memory, fix the error, and improve your Mac’s performance and stability. We hope this article was helpful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment below.
