Has your laptop started to slow down? Are programs opening slowly, and does it freeze when switching between browser tabs? This is often caused by a lack of RAM. This is the system's workspace, and when there is not enough of it, the computer is forced to constantly dump data to a slow hard drive, which leads to delays.
The good news is that in many cases, you can increase the memory on your laptop. This is one of the most effective and affordable upgrades that can breathe new life into your device. After the upgrade, you will notice that the system has become more responsive, and working with several programs at the same time will no longer be a problem.
In this article, we will explain in simple terms how to determine if your memory really needs an upgrade, how to choose the right modules, and what you need to consider before installing them. It's not as difficult as it might seem at first glance, and often only requires a little time and care.
Option 1: Virtual memory
When you install any operating system on a laptop, a swap file is created, which is responsible for distributing virtual memory. It is necessary so that if the entire RAM is filled, the excess data is moved to the hard drive or solid-state drive. This saves users from spontaneous errors.
The swap file may initially be configured incorrectly and its size may not be sufficient for comfortable laptop use. In this case, it is recommended to increase the virtual memory manually. This is done differently in different versions of the Microsoft operating system. We have separate articles for Windows 10 / 8 / 7 / XP on our website. Follow the appropriate link below to read the information provided there.
More details: How to increase the swap file in Windows 10/8/7
Windows 11 users must perform the following steps to complete the task:
- Open the system settings window in any way you can. The easiest way to do this is to use the search function. Click on the corresponding icon on the taskbar and enter your query
“Settings”. In the results, click on the name of the application with the same name. - In the settings window that appears, go to the tab “System”. Then, in the main area, scroll through the list of sections to the very bottom and click on the item About the system.
- Open the hidden menu “Device characteristics” and follow the link “Additional system parameters”, located in the block “Related links”.
- In the window that opens, go to the tab “More” and click on the button “Settings”, located in the block “Fast Action”.
- Open the tab “Additional” and in the area “Virtual memory” press the button “Change”. Here you can also view the current swap file size.
- Uncheck the box “Automatically select the size of the paging file”, set the switch to “Specify size” and enter the desired values in the fields “Original size” and “Maximum size”. Then click “OK”, window to save the changes.
Increasing the RAM on your laptop is one of the easiest and most effective ways to make it work faster. If your laptop slows down when you open several programs or tabs in your browser, it most likely lacks memory. By adding more RAM, you will notice how it switches between tasks faster, no longer slows down, and generally becomes more pleasant to use. The main thing is to check whether your laptop model supports memory expansion and buy a compatible memory module. Even a beginner can do this — with step-by-step instructions, everything will work out.
Option 2: Video memory
Laptops often come with an integrated video chip that is soldered directly onto the processor crystal, while in more expensive models, the video card is completely separated into a separate chip and is discrete. This component is mainly responsible for processing three-dimensional objects, but it can also be involved in other calculations. Its performance is influenced by many characteristics, one of which is memory. If necessary, it can be increased using software. Our website has a separate article in which the author provides methods for both integrated and discrete video cards.
More info: How to increase video memory on a laptop
Option 3: Permanent memory
When using a laptop, you may encounter a lack of disk space for storing files. In this case, there are several solutions to the problem: clearing the already occupied permanent memory, connecting a new drive, or replacing the existing one.
Method 1: Clear up disk space
If your laptop's hard drive is running out of space, you can expand it by deleting unnecessary files. It is highly recommended to delete deleted files. The fact is that in any Windows operating system, after clicking the button “Delete” the data is not cleared, but moved to a separate folder, so it still physically occupies free space on the drive.
To delete them permanently, you will need to use special software from a third-party developer or use the appropriate standard tools. This is described in detail in a separate article on our website.
Read more: How to delete deleted files from a hard drive
When using a laptop, temporary files accumulate in it, which are only important when working with certain software and are created during its installation. After completing this procedure, they are no longer needed and can be deleted. Special programs are used for this, but if necessary, it is possible to clean them manually. Another publication on the site discusses this issue in detail.
Read more: How to delete temporary files in Windows
You can free up a large amount of disk space at once by uninstalling installed software. If there are unused applications on your laptop, it is recommended that you uninstall them. To do this, you can use specialized programs or perform the procedure using standard Windows tools. All these methods are described in detail in another article on our website.
More details: How to remove unnecessary programs from a laptop
Please note! Third-party developers have created many applications designed to clean up disk space efficiently. Each such product is unique in its own way, so before choosing, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with a brief description of such solutions. You can do this by following the link below.
More details: Programs for cleaning your computer of junk files
Method 2: Installing an additional drive
Unlike personal computers with a system unit, connecting an additional drive to a laptop can be difficult, and in exceptional cases, impossible. The main problem is that you will need to disassemble the device's case to access the free memory slots. If you have no previous experience in such activities, we recommend that you do not perform the procedure yourself, but contact a service center for assistance.
If you are installing an additional hard drive or solid-state drive manually, before disassembling the laptop, make sure that there are free slots for the required type of storage device on the laptop's motherboard. It is not necessary to disassemble it for this; the easiest way is to enter the device model into any search engine with the note “characteristics”. In the results, you should then find an online store that provides detailed specifications for the laptop, or a full article with a detailed review.
If there is a free slot for connecting an additional drive, you can proceed with its installation. You need to carefully disassemble the case, connect the hard drive or solid-state drive to the appropriate connector, and then reassemble the case. Our website has a detailed article describing all these steps.
More details: How to replace a hard drive on a personal computer or laptop
Important! If your laptop does not have any free slots for installing additional storage media, but has a drive connector, you can connect a hard drive or solid-state drive through it. To do this, you will need to purchase a special adapter, but otherwise the installation procedure is the same. However, we still recommend that you read the relevant article on our website beforehand to avoid mistakes when performing the task.
Read more: How to install a hard drive instead of a CD/DVD drive in a laptop
This option does not work for all Android devices. Some models do not allow direct data transfer to the proprietary cloud from the phone book.
“Contacts” Open the phone book, then open the additional menu and go to the section where contacts are managed.
Before searching for drivers by ID, it is recommended that you create a system restore point. This will allow you to restore your computer to a working state in case an incompatible driver is installed. It is also important to scan downloaded files with antivirus software, as not all online driver databases are equally reliable. Transferring contacts from one Android device to another is easier than it seems: just log into the same Google account on your new phone, and all your saved contacts will be synced automatically. The main thing is to make sure that the contacts on your old phone are actually saved to your Google account and not just to the phone's memory. If synchronization is enabled, your new smartphone will download them when you first start it up or after you log into your account — and it will only take a few minutes. Regardless of the method you choose, take a few minutes to check. Make sure that all important numbers and data are displayed correctly on your new phone. Now you can use your new gadget with peace of mind, without worrying about losing your contacts.
