Google Chrome — Not Enough Memory Error — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Chrome is showing this error because it has used up all the available memory (RAM) on your computer. Chrome is known for using a lot of memory — each tab, extension, and plugin runs as a separate process. With many tabs open, Chrome can easily use several gigabytes of RAM. The good news: you do not need to buy new hardware to fix this. Closing tabs, disabling extensions, and adjusting Chrome's settings can make a big difference immediately.

Affected Models

Google Chrome (Windows)
Google Chrome (Mac)
Google Chrome (Linux)
Google Chrome (Chromebook)

Common Causes

Too many browser tabs are open at the same time, each using its own portion of RAM
Browser extensions are running in the background and consuming memory even on tabs you are not using
Chrome's hardware acceleration is using GPU memory alongside RAM, leaving less available overall
A memory leak in a specific tab or extension is consuming more RAM than it should over time
The computer does not have enough total RAM for the number of tabs and programs running simultaneously

How to Fix It

Close tabs you are not actively using. Right-click any tab and choose Close Other Tabs to close everything except the one you are on. Or press Ctrl + W to close individual tabs one at a time. Fewer tabs = less memory used, immediately.

Chrome uses roughly 100–300 MB per tab depending on the content. Ten tabs can easily use 2–3 GB.
Enable Chrome's Memory Saver feature. Click the three-dot menu (top right) > Settings > Performance. Turn on Memory Saver. This automatically puts inactive tabs to sleep, freeing up their memory until you click on them again.

Memory Saver was introduced in Chrome 108. If you do not see it, make sure Chrome is up to date.
Disable extensions you do not use. Go to the three-dot menu > Extensions > Manage Extensions. Turn off or remove extensions that you do not need. Every active extension consumes memory even when you are not using it.

Ad blockers, password managers, and tab managers are the heaviest extension types. Keep only what you truly need.
Turn off hardware acceleration if Chrome is crashing. Go to Settings > System and toggle off Use hardware acceleration when available. Restart Chrome. This reduces GPU memory usage, which sometimes frees enough resources to stop the crashes.

Hardware acceleration usually improves performance, but on computers with limited VRAM it can compete with RAM and cause memory errors.
Open Chrome Task Manager to find which tab or extension is using the most memory. Press Shift + Esc while in Chrome. You will see a list of all tabs and extensions with their memory usage. Sort by Memory Footprint to find the biggest consumers and close them.

Chrome's built-in Task Manager is the fastest way to identify a rogue tab or extension that is eating all your memory.

When to Call a Professional

Chrome memory errors are almost always fixable through settings and usage habits. If Chrome crashes repeatedly even with few tabs open and no extensions, your computer may have failing RAM. You can test your RAM using the free Windows Memory Diagnostic tool (search for it in the Start menu). If the test finds errors, contact a PC repair technician.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Chrome use so much memory compared to other browsers?

Chrome runs each tab as a completely separate process in Windows. This is actually a safety feature — if one tab crashes it does not bring down the whole browser. But it means Chrome uses more RAM than browsers that share a single process. Microsoft Edge (which is built on the same technology as Chrome) has similar memory usage but often handles it slightly more efficiently.

Will adding more RAM to my computer fix Chrome memory errors?

Yes, if your computer genuinely does not have enough RAM. For everyday browsing with 10–20 tabs, 8 GB of RAM is the comfortable minimum. For heavy research, multiple windows, or running other programs at the same time, 16 GB makes a big difference. But before spending money, try the Memory Saver feature and extension cleanup — many people fix the problem without any hardware upgrade.

Chrome keeps crashing even after I close most tabs. Is something else wrong?

Check for a rogue extension using Chrome's Task Manager (Shift + Esc). Also try opening Chrome in Incognito mode (Ctrl + Shift + N) — Incognito disables all extensions. If Chrome runs fine in Incognito, an extension is definitely causing the problem. If it still crashes in Incognito, try resetting Chrome settings via Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults.