How to Fix 100% RAM Usage in Windows 11: The Ultimate 2026 Guide

Is your PC lagging? Is your Task Manager showing 100% RAM usage even when you aren't doing much? In 2026, Windows 11 uses more memory than ever due to AI features and heavy background apps.

In this guide, we will show you exactly how to find the "memory leak" and fix it step-by-step.

1. Identify the Resource Hog (Task Manager)

First, let's see what is eating your memory.

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

• Click the Memory tab to sort processes by usage.

• Look for apps using high memory. If it’s a browser (Chrome/Edge), close unnecessary tabs.

2. Disable Startup Apps

Many apps start automatically when you turn on your PC, taking up RAM in the background.

• In Task Manager, go to the Startup apps tab.

• Right-click and Disable everything you don't need (like Spotify, Steam, or Cortana).

3. Stop AI Background Services (New for 2026)

In 2026, Windows 11 has many AI services (like Copilot and AI Search Indexing) that can cause high RAM usage.

• Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Permissions.

• Turn off unnecessary AI features and background "Background Apps" permissions.

4. Fix the "SysMain" (Superfetch) Service

SysMain is designed to speed up app launching, but it often causes 100% RAM usage on older systems or SSDs.

• Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.

• Find SysMain, right-click it, and select Stop.

• Right-click it again, go to Properties, and set Startup type to Disabled.

5. Adjust Virtual Memory (Page File)

If your physical RAM is full, Windows can use your Hard Drive/SSD as "Virtual RAM."

• Search for "Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows."

• Go to Advanced tab > Virtual Memory > Change.

• Uncheck "Automatically manage," select your C: drive, and set a Custom size (Recommended: 1.5x your actual RAM).

6. The Registry Fix for NDU (Advanced)

The Network Data Usage (NDU) driver is a common cause of memory leaks in Windows 11.

• Press Win + R, type regedit, and go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Ndu

• Double-click Start and change the value to 4 (Disabled). Restart your PC.

7. Check for Memory Leaks (Non-Paged Pool)

If Task Manager shows high memory but no app is responsible, you have a driver leak.

• Look at the Performance > Memory tab in Task Manager.

• Check the Non-paged pool size. If it's over 1GB, you need to update your Network and Graphics drivers immediately.

Conclusion

Fixing 100% RAM usage is all about managing background tasks and stopping memory leaks. If you still have issues after these steps, it might be time to upgrade to 16GB or 32GB of RAM to handle 2026's modern software.