Fix Chrome Ran Out of Memory Error

If Google Chrome shows a “ran out of memory” error or crashes with an “Aw, Snap!” page, the fix is usually to close unused tabs, disable memory-hogging extensions, and update Chrome—but if the problem persists, you may need to adjust Chrome’s own settings or free up system RAM. This guide walks through the most effective steps in order, from quick wins to deeper troubleshooting, so you can get back to browsing without losing your work.

Why Chrome Runs Out of Memory

Chrome is designed to run each tab, extension, and plugin as a separate process. This isolation improves stability and security, but it comes at a cost: every open tab consumes RAM, and many tabs can quickly exhaust your computer’s memory. The “ran out of memory” error appears when Chrome tries to allocate more memory than your system can provide, often because:

Too many tabs are open simultaneously.
One or more extensions are leaking memory or are poorly optimized.
Heavy web pages (like video streaming, large documents, or complex web apps) are using excessive memory.
Your computer has limited RAM (4 GB or less) or other programs are consuming most of it.
Chrome itself has a bug or is outdated.

The error can appear as a full-page message, a tab crash, or a pop-up saying “Chrome ran out of memory while trying to display this webpage.” In severe cases, Chrome may slow down or freeze entirely before the error appears.

Quick Fixes to Try First

Start with these simple actions—they resolve the majority of memory issues without changing any settings:

Close unused tabs. Each tab uses memory even if you haven’t looked at it for hours. Right-click a tab and select “Close” or use the X button. If you have many tabs, consider bookmarking them first.
Restart Chrome. Closing and reopening the browser clears temporary memory and often resolves transient issues. Make sure to save any work in web apps before restarting.
Update Chrome. Go to the three-dot menu → Help → About Google Chrome. Chrome will automatically check for updates and install them. An outdated version can have memory leaks or bugs that are fixed in newer releases.
Disable or remove extensions. Extensions run in the background and consume memory even when you’re not using them. Go to the three-dot menu → More tools → Extensions. Turn off extensions you don’t need, especially ad blockers, shopping assistants, or toolbars. If the error disappears, re-enable them one by one to find the culprit.
Use Chrome’s built-in memory saver. In recent versions, Chrome has a “Memory Saver” feature that automatically frees memory from inactive tabs. To enable it: Settings → Performance → toggle on “Memory Saver.”

If these steps don’t help, move on to the more advanced solutions below.

Use Chrome’s Task Manager to Find Memory Hogs

Chrome has its own task manager that shows exactly how much memory each tab, extension, and process is using. This helps you identify the culprit without guessing.

Press Shift + Esc (Windows) or go to the three-dot menu → More tools → Task Manager (Mac).
Click the “Memory footprint” column header to sort processes by memory usage.
Look for tabs or extensions using an unusually high amount of memory (hundreds of MB or more).
Select the offending process and click “End process.” This will close that tab or extension, but Chrome will remain open.

If a specific website consistently uses huge amounts of memory, try using it in a different browser or clearing its cache. Some sites—like Google Docs, Figma, or video editors—are naturally memory-hungry, so you may need to close other tabs while using them.

Adjust Chrome’s Settings to Reduce Memory Usage

Chrome offers several settings that can lower its memory footprint. These are especially helpful if you have a computer with 4 GB or 8 GB of RAM.

Enable Memory Saver (as mentioned above) to put inactive tabs to sleep.
Disable hardware acceleration if you experience crashes. Go to Settings → System → turn off “Use hardware acceleration when available.” This offloads some graphics work from the GPU to the CPU, which can reduce memory pressure in some cases, though it may make video playback slightly choppier.
Preload pages can cause Chrome to load links in advance, using extra memory. Turn it off: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data → turn off “Preload pages for faster browsing and searching.”
Reset Chrome settings as a last resort. This restores default settings, disables extensions, and clears temporary data. Go to Settings → Reset settings → “Restore settings to their original defaults.” This does not delete bookmarks or passwords, but it will remove extensions and change your homepage.

Note that resetting Chrome can be disruptive, so only do it if other fixes fail.

Free Up System Memory Outside Chrome

Chrome can only use the RAM that your operating system has available. If other programs are consuming most of your memory, Chrome will struggle. Check your system’s memory usage:

Windows: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Look at the “Memory” column under Processes. Close any programs you’re not using, especially heavy ones like video editors, virtual machines, or multiple office suites.
Mac: Open Activity Monitor (in Applications/Utilities). Click the “Memory” tab and sort by “Memory.” Quit apps that are using large amounts of memory.
Restart your computer. This clears the RAM completely and can resolve memory leaks from any program, not just Chrome.

If you frequently run out of memory, consider closing background apps that auto-start with your system. On Windows, you can disable startup programs in Task Manager → Startup tab. On Mac, go to System Settings → General → Login Items.

Advanced Solutions for Persistent Problems

If the error continues after trying the above, you may need to dig deeper:

Clear browsing data. Corrupted cache or cookies can cause memory issues. Go to Settings → Privacy and security → Clear browsing data. Choose “All time” and clear cached images and files, and cookies. Be aware this will log you out of most websites.
Create a new user profile. A corrupted profile can cause crashes. Go to the three-dot menu → Settings → “You and Google” → your profile icon → “Manage profiles” → “Add profile.” Use the new profile for a while to see if the error disappears.
Run Chrome’s cleanup tool. Chrome has a built-in tool to find harmful software that might interfere with the browser. Go to Settings → Reset and cleanup → “Clean up computer” (Windows only).
Reinstall Chrome. Uninstall Chrome completely, then download the latest version from the official site. Make sure to back up your bookmarks and passwords first (they’re usually synced if you’re signed in).

If none of these work, the issue may be with your operating system or hardware. Run a memory diagnostic (Windows Memory Diagnostic or Apple Diagnostics on Mac) to check for faulty RAM.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Chrome actually use too much memory?

Chrome is known for high memory usage because it runs each tab in its own process. This design improves stability and security, but it means that having many tabs open will consume a lot of RAM. Chrome’s Memory Saver feature helps, but if you have limited RAM, you may still see the error.

Will closing tabs lose my work?

Closing a tab will lose any unsaved input in that tab. If you have unsaved work in a web app, save it before closing. You can also right-click a tab and select “Reopen closed tab” (Ctrl+Shift+T) to bring it back, but unsaved form data may be lost.

Can I increase Chrome’s memory limit?

No, Chrome doesn’t have a user-configurable memory limit. It uses as much memory as it needs, up to what your system can provide. The only way to “increase” the limit is to add more RAM to your computer or reduce other memory usage.

Why does Chrome crash even with only a few tabs open?

This usually points to a specific extension, a corrupted profile, or a system issue. Try disabling extensions, creating a new profile, or clearing cache. If the problem persists, check for malware or faulty RAM.

Is it better to use a different browser to avoid this error?

Other browsers like Firefox or Edge also use significant memory but may be more efficient in some cases. However, the same underlying issue—limited RAM—will affect any browser. If you regularly run out of memory, consider upgrading your RAM or closing other programs.

Does incognito mode use less memory?

Incognito mode uses about the same memory as normal mode. It doesn’t save history or cookies, but it still runs each tab as a separate process. However, extensions are disabled by default in incognito, which can reduce memory usage if you have many extensions.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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