Memory Leaks in Windows 11/10
You should know that a Memory leak is an operating system or software issue to debug – for example, in Java, JavaScript, C/C++, Windows, etc. It is not to be confused with a space leak or high memory usage. Physically replacing RAM or hard disk isn’t required.
Why is a memory leak bad
A memory leak is bad because it is a bug, a flaw in the operating system or software. But let’s find out how exactly it affects the system: In order to identify a memory leak, a programmer needs to have access to the source code of the program.
How to locate the memory leak
To solve a problem, we need to identify it first. The basic steps to locate a memory leak are:
How does Memory allocation occur
There are different modes in which applications allocate RAM. If space is not freed after use, the memory leak will occur irrespective of the mode of allocation. Some common allocation patterns are:
How to prevent memory leaks in Windows
We all know prevention is better than cure, so it is important to monitor your system.
You need to watch for abnormal RAM usage by individual programs and applications. You can go to the Windows Task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC and add the columns like Handles, User Objects, GDI Objects, etc. This will help you easily monitor resource usage. Read: What are the Types of Memory in a computer?
Microsoft tools to diagnose memory leaks
Various tools diagnose memory leaks for various allocation modes:
Usage Tips
How to fix a Memory Leak in Windows 11/10
Just like the various ways to prevent memory leaks, there are various ways to stop memory leaks. But before you begin, remember to create a system restore point first.
1] Close processes and restart
If you see an unnecessary process taking up too much RAM, you can end the process in the Task Manager. You will need to restart the device so that the freed space is available for use by other processes. Without a Restart memory leak issue won’t be solved. Runtime Broker is one process that is known to slow down the PC. See if disabling that one alone works.
2] Memory Diagnostic Tools
To access the inbuilt Memory Diagnostic Tool for Windows: These are still temporary fixes.
3] Check for Driver updates
Outdated drivers cause memory leaks. Keep all drivers updated. Follow one of the methods below to update your device drivers: Updating your operating system and the installed programs and Microsoft Store apps could help too.
4] Optimize performance
Adjusting Windows for performance will manage everything including processor scheduling and memory usage to stop memory leaks. Follow these steps: If this simple solution does not work, try the next solution.
5] Disable Programs running on Startup
Disabling the troublesome programs is the only way to get rid of the memory leak issue. Go to Task Manager and disable the troublemaking program. If you don’t know which programs are creating the trouble, do this:
6] Defrag Hard Drive
Although Windows 11/10 does this for you automatically, you may need to defrag the hard drives occasionally to optimize performance: Restart your computer after the new fragmentation.
7] ClearPage File at shutdown
It is getting complex now – but don’t worry. Here’s how to clear the Page File at every shutdown:
Type regedit on Search to launch the Registry Editor.Enter this path:
Change the value of ClearPageFileAtShutDown to ‘1’.Save the changes and Restart the device.
This ought to do it. Do remember that your shutdown process will take a little more time.
9] Disable Superfetch
This Windows Service optimizes performance by minimizing boot time. It lets Windows manage RAM usage. Life after disabling Superfetch is not convenient but do it if you must. At least try this alone to isolate the problem: Enable Superfetch if this one doesn’t work.
10] Check for malware
Use a third-party antivirus software or Windows in-house Microsoft Defender to scan and eliminate malware. Ensure the antivirus is updated to support your OS so that it doesn’t become the reason for the memory leak.
Every solution you might need to find or prevent memory leaks is here. You can read more about memory leaks on MSDN and Microsoft. Read: Memory leak issue in Remote Registry Service causes Windows to hang.
