If you're having PC memory issues, you might assume clearing your RAM's cache might sound like it'll make your PC run faster. But be careful, because it can actually slow it down and is unlikely to fix whatever PC problem you're troubleshooting.
You can do it if you want to (and we'll show you how, below), but it's not something we recommend.
But if you think you have a legitimate reason, here's how to clear your RAM cache.
Clearing your RAM cache is usually touted as a solution for not having enough memory on hand for the application(s) you're trying to run, leading to poor performance. But that really misunderstands how RAM actually works.
Free memory is wasted memory, right? That's why it's important you only buy or build a PC that has the amount of memory you need and not much more. It just doesn't do much when it isn't in use.
But it doesn't do nothing. To make use of that RAM, Windows, macOS, and other operating systems will load recently used or frequently used application data into your memory, so it's more readily available. This "cache" means that those apps start up faster, as opposed to your system having to grab the data from the comparatively slower storage. If your PC needs that memory for a new task that you're running, it'll just dump that cache and reallocate the memory for the task at hand. It doesn't need manually clearing first.
Indeed, manually clearing your cache will dump the data that's been preloaded, potentially making those frequently used applications run slower when you next need their data.
If you really need to clear your RAM cache, then the best way to do it is just to restart your PC. Any time your PC is powered down, the data stored in the RAM is erased, since RAM is a volatile form of storage.
Reboot it, and you'll have a fresh set of RAM, ready to use.
If that fixed your problem, great! Just reboot when it comes up again. If you'd rather have a more permanent solution to the problem, though, try some of the tips below.
If your RAM is frequently filled and running close to 100% of capacity, then you will indeed experience slowdowns, and preventing that from happening is a good way to improve your system's performance. But clearing the cache is at best a temporary solution, and at worst one that can actively harm your performance.
There are much better methods for maintaining enough RAM for all the tasks you need:
Clearing the RAM cache is really a short term fix, if it even works at all. Upgrading is a better option, but if you're trying to improve gaming performance, here's how to increase FPS and enjoy smooth gameplay.
Touchscreen laptops have been around for years. You can get them in all sizes and shapes. Just not from Apple. For years, the Cupertino giant has treated the idea of a touchscreen MacBook the way I treat a meeting that could have been an email: with open contempt. However, Wednesday looks like the day the company could finally change its mind.
The latest Apple invite puts the “Pro and Tell” showcase in Los Angeles at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET) on October 28, 2026. Instead of a regular live-streamed keynote, it is an invitation-only, hands-on event for a handful of press and creators (similar to what the company did for the MacBook Neo earlier this year).
Two residents of Chicago have filed a lawsuit in the US over claims that robots run by Coco Robotics and Serve Robotics captured their facial and hand measurements without consent, bringing renewed attention to the food delivery robots. The cases raise a troubling question: If a robot delivers food to your door, can it also be gathering sensitive information about you?
According to a report by The Associated Press, the proposed class-action lawsuits were filed in Cook County on Oct. 9 and allege violations of Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act. The complaints claim that the robots’ cameras and LiDAR sensors captured information on customers’ faces and hands as they approached the machines to pick up their orders. Both have denied the allegations.
Nearly a month after announcing the GPT-6.1 Sol model, OpenAI unveiled GPT-6.1 Terra today. The latest addition to the family focuses on computer use, visual reasoning, coding, and professional work, while costing 50% less through the API than GPT-5.6 Terra.
OpenAI says Terra can handle everything from filling out browser forms and working inside spreadsheets to interpreting technical drawings and editing videos. The company says it can also complete computer-based tasks more than three times faster than GPT-6 Astra and GPT-6.1 Sol.