What to Do If Your MacBook Says 'Your System Has Run Out of Application Memory'

Posted By Volodymyr Chubei | 18 Mar 2025

In this article, we will consider the causes of the 'Your System Has Run Out of Application Memory' error on MacBook and learn how to fix it. You'll discover why this problem occurs and learn some practical tips for resolving it. We'll also tell you how to prevent the error from recurring and optimize your MacBook's memory usage.

Why Your System Has Run Out of Application Memory

There are several reasons why the 'Your System Has Run Out of Application Memory' error occurs. Among the most common ones are the following:

running too many applications at the same time;
outdated or corrupted software;
lack of free disk space;
RAM problems;
many browser tabs are open, there are conflicting extensions;
disk space is not optimized.

How to Fix 'Your System Has Run Out of Application Memory' on Mac

If you see the error message 'Your System Has Run Out of Application Memory', follow the steps below. It is enough to follow the instructions exactly to find the cause and fix the problem yourself.

1. Close unnecessary applications

Often it is enough to simply close all programs that are not in use at the moment. This will help free up RAM and reduce the load on your system.

Right-click on the software icon in the Dock.
Select End.

2. Restart your MacBook

Reboot your device to clear temporary files and refresh the system memory. This is a simple and effective way to fix temporary problems.

Tap the Apple logo at the top left of the screen.
Touch Reboot.

2. Restart your MacBook

Reboot your device to clear temporary files and refresh the system memory. This is a simple and effective way to fix temporary problems.

Tap the Apple logo at the top left of the screen.
Touch Reboot.

3. Update the software

Make sure all software and macOS are updated. New versions often contain bug fixes and memory management improvements.

Follow these steps to update macOS and apps on your device:

Tap the Apple logo, tap System Preferences, and then tap Software Update.
If updates are available, tap Update Now and follow the instructions.
Open the App Store by tapping its icon in the Dock or finding it via Spotlight (Command+Space and type App Store).
Navigate to the Updates section on the left side of the window.
If new app versions are available, click Update All or update each app individually.
You may need to reboot your system after installation. Follow the on-screen instructions to restart your MacBook and complete the process.

To automatically install macOS updates and apps, go back to the first step in the instructions. Check the Automatically update my Mac check box to have the system check for and install updates in the future.

4. Check for malicious programs

Use antivirus software to scan and remove possible viruses and malware. Malware can significantly slow down your system and consume a lot of memory.

Run a scan with an antivirus application such as CleanMyMac X. This is a powerful tool to keep your MacBook clean and running optimally. It helps to scan your system for malware and remove it.

Follow the below steps:

If you don't have CleanMyMac X yet, download it from the official website https://macpaw.com/cleanmymac.
Open the application by finding it in your Programs folder or via Spotlight (Command+Space and type CleanMyMac X).
From the main menu, select the Protection tab on the left side of the window.
Click on Scan under Malware.
CleanMyMac X will begin scanning your system for malware. It might take a few minutes.
Once complete, the program will display the threats it has detected.
Review the list to make sure that all items are indeed malware.
Click Remove to delete the detected malware.

It is recommended to enable the Real-Time Protection feature, which is available in the Protection section. When activated, the program will automatically scan your system for threats in the background.

5. Delete big and unnecessary files

These actions will help you free up space and improve system performance. To do this, drag files to the Recycle Bin and then empty it. You can also use the built-in macOS Storage and System Monitoring tools for this purpose.

Also: Delete Button Not Working on Mac: How to fix

6. Uninstall unnecessary apps

Uninstall software that you rarely use or the programs that take up a lot of memory. This way you will free up disk space and improve the system performance. Drag unwanted applications to the trash or uninstall them via Launchpad (hold the application icon until it shakes and then click Uninstall).

7. Close browser tabs

If you have a lot of tabs open in your web browser, close the unnecessary ones. Each of them consumes memory, so this way you can significantly free up resources. To do this, simply click the cross on the unnecessary tabs.

8. Review your browser extensions

Disable or remove unnecessary extensions in your browser. Some of them can consume a lot of memory and slow down your system. Go to your web browser settings and check the list of installed extensions to disable the unnecessary ones.

9. Using Activity Monitor

Activity Monitor on a Mac is used to monitor and manage processes on your computer.

How to terminate unwanted processes:

Open the Finder, go to the Programs folder, then to Utilities, and launch Activity Monitor.
At the top of the window, select the Memory tab to see which processes are consuming the RAM most.
Click on Memory to sort processes by memory usage. The most memory-intensive processes will be shown at the top of the list.
Look for processes that seem unfamiliar or that you don't need at the moment. Do not terminate system processes (like kernel_task or WindowServer), as they are necessary for macOS to operate.
Select the process you want to stop by clicking on it.
Click the X button in the upper left corner of the utility window.
In the window, confirm that the process has been terminated by clicking Exit (or Force Exit if the process doesn't stop immediately).

Finally, make sure that the system continues to run consistently. If you accidentally terminate an important system process, restart your MacBook to restore normal operation.

10. Check the status of the disk

This will help ensure that your disk is working properly and avoid performance problems. Just open Disk Utility, select your disk and click First Aid. The utility will detect and fix file system errors.

11. Manage running items

Open System Preferences, select Users and Groups, click the Logon Objects tab and remove unnecessary items. This will help reduce memory usage when the system starts up.

12. Use Apple's Storage Management System

This system helps optimize disk space usage and automatically deletes unnecessary files. The feature is built into macOS and helps to manage your storage.
Open About this Mac from the Apple menu
Select Storage, click Manage.

Enable Optimize Storage and other available features to automatically manage files.

Genuine Apple MacBook Pro 13" 4 TB3 Ports (Core i5 2.3Ghz, 16GB, 512GB) - Space Gray

How to Free Up Application Memory Mac

To free up memory for applications on your Mac, we recommend following a few simple steps.

1. Clean up disk space

Delete unnecessary files and applications that take up a lot of disk space. This will help to better free up memory for other tasks and speed up your system. Simply drag them to the Recycle Bin and then empty it.

Also: How to clean MacBook fan

2. Optimize Storage

Use the Optimize Storage feature in macOS settings to automatically delete old and unnecessary files. Open About this Mac from the Apple menu and select Storage, then click Manage.

3. Using the Activity Monitor tool

Open Activity Monitor and terminate processes that are consuming too much memory. This will help you monitor RAM usage and improve the system performance. Find and disable applications or processes that consume a large amount of memory.

How to Get More Application Memory on Mac

There are additional methods that can help you increase memory for apps on your Mac. Both options will require purchasing components for your laptop.

1. Increase the amount of RAM (Random Access Memory)

Install additional RAM if this is technically possible for your model. This will help improve your system's performance and ability to handle large amounts of data. Refer to your device user manual or visit an authorized service center to install new RAM.

2. Using an external storage device

Transfer large files and rarely used data to an external drive to free up disk space. This will help optimize internal disk usage and improve overall system performance. Connect an external hard drive or flash drive and move your data using Finder.

Techtoro is a trusted partner for all MacBook owners. You can find original parts for various MacBook models on our website. We have a wide selection of used Apple computers, among which you can choose the best option that best suits your requirements and preferences. Each MacBook is thoroughly tested and serviced before sale.

We offer a quality guarantee and competitive prices. Visit our website to browse the product range and choose the perfect device for your needs.

FAQ

1. Why does my MacBook say 'Your System Has Run Out of Application Memory'?

Your MacBook may display this message if it is running out of RAM due to a large number of running applications or other factors.

2. How to fix application memory on Mac?

Close unnecessary applications, restart your MacBook, and update the software. If the problem persists, check the status of RAM and disk space.

3. What are common reasons for application memory running out on a Mac?

Common causes include running too many applications simultaneously, outdated software, lack of free disk space, and RAM issues.

4. How do I clear application memory on Mac?

Close unnecessary apps, delete unnecessary files, and use the storage optimization features in macOS settings

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Volodymyr Chubei
Computer Repair Specialist at TechToro.io

Volodymyr was born in Ukraine and has found his passion for electronics from his childhood. At the age of 13, he was capable of soldering some basic elements of a logic board and today he is one of the co-founders of TechToro.io