Is your Android phone slowing down, lagging, or freezing more than usual? High RAM usage is often the culprit—and the good news is, you can fix it with just a few simple adjustments. In this guide, you’ll learn practical, beginner-friendly tips to free up memory, improve performance, and keep your device running smoothly.
Close background apps
Background apps are one of the most common causes of high RAM usage on Android. Even when you’re not actively using them, many apps continue running behind the scenes—syncing data, sending notifications, or staying active in memory. Closing these unused processes can immediately free up RAM and help your phone run more smoothly.
Why background apps consume RAM
Apps often stay partially active even after you leave them, using memory to keep their features ready.
- Social media and messaging apps constantly refresh feeds and sync conversations
- Games may leave heavy assets cached in RAM after closing
- Navigation, music, and fitness apps continue tracking in the background
- RAM fills up faster on older devices or phones with limited memory
- Too many background processes can cause lag, stuttering, or app reloads
How to check and close running apps
Android gives you built-in tools to monitor and shut down apps that are using unnecessary resources.
- Open the Recent Apps screen and swipe away apps you’re not using
- Go to Settings > Apps > Running apps (or App info) to see active processes
- Force stop apps that are stuck or consuming excessive RAM
- Use Device Care (Samsung) or similar tools to view memory usage
- Restart your phone to close stubborn background processes all at once
Disable or uninstall unused apps
Unused apps don’t just take up storage—they often run hidden services, send notifications, or stay partially active, all of which consume valuable RAM. Removing or disabling the apps you don’t use helps keep your phone fast, reduces clutter, and prevents background processes from draining memory.
Identifying apps you don’t need
Many Android devices come with preinstalled apps you may never use, and over time you may install apps that you later forget about.
- Check your app list for tools, games, or services you haven’t opened in months
- Look for duplicate apps (e.g., two browsers, two file managers)
- Uninstall old apps that constantly run in the background, such as shopping or social media extras
- Pay special attention to apps that send frequent notifications—they’re likely running in RAM
- Review “unused apps” recommendations in Settings if your phone supports it
How to disable preinstalled bloatware safely
Some preinstalled apps can’t be uninstalled, but you can safely disable them to stop them from running.
- Go to Settings > Apps > Select the app > Disable
- Disabling stops the app from opening, running background services, or using RAM
- Safe candidates include duplicate apps, carrier-installed tools, and unused manufacturer apps
- Avoid disabling system-critical apps such as Phone, Messages, Android System, or Google Play Services
- If unsure, quickly search the app name to confirm whether it’s safe to disable
Turn off auto-sync for non-essential apps
Auto-sync keeps apps updated in the background, but it can quietly consume RAM and battery by constantly checking for new data. Turning off sync for apps that don’t need real-time updates helps reduce background activity and keeps your phone running smoother.
How auto-sync affects RAM and battery
When auto-sync is enabled, apps repeatedly wake up in the background to refresh information, even when you’re not using them.
- Email, social media, and cloud apps frequently check for updates
- Background sync wakes the CPU, increasing RAM usage over time
- Constant syncing drains battery, especially on older devices
- Too many apps syncing at once can slow down system performance
- Reducing unnecessary syncing frees up memory for apps you actually use
Steps to manage sync settings
Android allows you to control which apps can sync automatically, giving you more control over background activity.
- Go to Settings > Accounts or Passwords & accounts
- Select an account (Google, email, cloud storage, etc.) to view sync options
- Toggle off sync for apps you don’t need updated constantly
- For Google accounts, disable items like Google Fit, Drive, Keep, or Calendar if you don’t use them
- Some apps have in-app sync settings—turn off auto-refresh or reduce update frequency
- You can also disable global auto-sync from Quick Settings if needed
Limit widgets and live wallpapers
Widgets and live wallpapers may look great and offer quick access to information, but they constantly run in the background. Each active widget or animated wallpaper uses RAM and CPU resources, which can lead to slower performance—especially on phones with limited memory.
Why widgets and live wallpapers use extra RAM
Both widgets and live wallpapers remain active even when you’re not interacting with them, continuously refreshing data or rendering animations.
- Widgets update in real time, pulling data for weather, calendars, news, or battery stats
- Some widgets refresh every few seconds, keeping background processes alive
- Live wallpapers render constant animations, using RAM and GPU power
- Heavy widgets and animated wallpapers increase battery drain
- Using too many at once can cause lag on older or budget devices
Best lightweight alternatives
You can still keep your home screen functional and visually appealing without sacrificing performance.
- Use static wallpapers instead of animated ones
- Replace heavy widgets (like full weather dashboards) with simple icon shortcuts
- Choose lightweight widgets that refresh less frequently
- Limit yourself to one or two essential widgets, such as a clock or calendar
- Try minimalist launcher themes designed for low-resource use
Restart your phone regularly
Restarting your phone might seem simple, but it’s one of the most effective ways to refresh system resources. A reboot clears temporary files, stops stuck background processes, and frees up RAM that apps may be holding onto unnecessarily.
How rebooting clears RAM
Over time, Android accumulates cached data and background tasks that don’t always shut down properly. Restarting forces the system to start fresh.
- It clears temporary system files stored in RAM
- Stops hidden or unresponsive background services
- Resets memory leaks from buggy apps
- Frees up cached processes that Android kept “just in case”
- Often fixes lag, app freezes, and slow multitasking
Setting reminders or using scheduled restarts
If you keep your phone on for days or weeks at a time, setting up regular reboots can maintain smooth performance.
- Set a weekly reminder to restart your device manually
- Some Android phones (Samsung, Xiaomi, etc.) offer built-in scheduled reboot features
- Schedule restarts during the night when you’re not using your phone
- If your phone lacks this feature, automation apps can help
- Even rebooting once every few days can noticeably improve speed and stability