Encountering the dreaded “Error code: Out of memory” while browsing or gaming can be frustrating. This issue usually occurs when your system or browser runs out of available RAM, preventing it from handling tasks smoothly.
Whether you’re streaming videos, playing Minecraft, or multitasking with multiple tabs, memory overload can bring everything to a halt. Luckily, there are practical fixes you can apply both in your browser and on your PC.
Common Reasons for the “Out of Memory” Error
Here are the most frequent causes behind this error:
• Too many open tabs or windows – Each tab consumes memory, and having dozens open can overwhelm your system.
• Inactive tabs consuming resources – Without memory saver enabled, unused tabs still occupy RAM.
• Corrupted cache or cookies – Accumulated browsing data can slow performance and trigger memory errors.
• Graphics hardware acceleration issues – Sometimes GPU acceleration conflicts with browser processes.
• Problematic extensions – Certain browser add-ons/extensions may hog memory or cause leaks.
• Outdated browser version – Older builds may contain bugs that lead to memory mismanagement.
• Corrupted browser settings – Misconfigured or damaged settings can cause instability.
• Too many background applications – Running multiple heavy apps simultaneously eats into RAM.
• Insufficient virtual memory allocation – If paging file size is too small, Windows may struggle to manage memory.
• Malware infections – Malicious programs can consume resources and trigger memory errors.
• Corrupted browser installation – Damaged files in the browser itself may cause persistent issues.
Browser Solutions
If you are getting Error code: Out of memory” in browsers like Chrome, follow these solutions.
1. Close Unused Tabs and Windows
To resolve an “Error code: Out of memory” in browsers like Chrome, close In-Close any tabs or windows you are not actively using to free up RAM. So, close the unnecessary windows and check if this helps.
2. Enable Memory Saver
The next thing you can do is enable memory saver in your browser’s settings.
- To do so, open your browser settings.
- You can type chrome://settings/performance in the address bar for Chrome browser.
- Then enable the Memory Saver feature to reduce memory usage from inactive tabs.
3. Clear Cache and Cookies
The next thing you can do is clear cache and cookies in web browsers.
- To clear browser settings in Chrome browser, click on the three dots menu and then select delete browsing data.
- Select all time for Time range.
- Then select browsing data, cookies and other site data, cached images and files, to remove accumulated data.
- Then select Delete data.
4. Disable Graphics Acceleration
For Google Chrome:
- Click the three dots menu in the top-right corner of the browser window.
- Select Settings.
- On the left-hand side, click on System.
- Toggle the switch for “Use hardware acceleration when available“ to the off position.
- Click the Relaunch button to restart Chrome and apply the changes.
5. Disable Extensions
Temporarily disable browser extensions to see if one is causing the memory issue.
Here’s how to disable the Chrome browser extension:
- Click on the three dots at the top right corner of the Chrome browser.
- Select the Extensions. Then select Manage Extensions button.
- Select the extensions you want to disable and turn off the toggle button.
- Now, check if this has solved your problem. Enable each extension and check
because of which browser extension, the issue returns and keeps it disabled.
7. Update Your Browser
Ensure your browser is updated to the latest version, as this can fix bugs causing memory errors.
To update Chrome browser, click on the three dots menu, then select Home then About Google Chrome. Wait for the process to finish. Once done, relaunch Chrome and check.
8. Reset Browser Settings
Resetting your browser’s settings to their default can resolve corrupted configurations.
Here’s how you can reset Chrome browser settings.
- Click the three dots menu in the top-right corner of the browser window.
- Select Settings.
- Then select Reset Settings. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process.
PC Solutions
In case you are experiencing error code: Out of memory” in PC then follow these methods to fix it.
1. Close Unnecessary Applications
The first thing you can do is close the applications you are not using. Here’s how to do so.
- Right-click on the Windows Start button and select Task Manager.
- Go to the Processes tab and right-click on the processes you want to close.
- Select the End Task option.
- Repeat the same for each task you want to kill. Then exit the window.
- A simple restart can often clear the system’s RAM and resolve temporary glitches causing the error.
2. Adjust Virtual Memory
If the issue is widespread, you may need to increase your system’s virtual memory settings to allocate more space for memory management.
Here’s how to do so:
- Go to Windows search and type ‘Advanced System settings’. Select the top search result.
- Click on Settings below Performance.
- Next, head to the Advanced tab. Under Performance select Settings.
- Go to the Advanced tab again.
- Under Virtual Memory, click on Change.
- Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
- Choose the drive where you want to store the paging file.
- Select Custom size.
- In the Initial size field, enter a value equal to 1.5 times the total available RAM on
your system. - In the Maximum size field, enter a value that is 3 times your total RAM.
- Now, here is how to check your system’s available RAM.
- Go to Windows Settings and select System.
- Next, select About. Check RAM.
- After you have set the value as per your system, click on Set, then click on OK, and
again on OK. - Once done, restart your PC.
3. Check for Malware
Scan your computer for malware, as it can consume system resources and contribute to out-of-memory errors.
Here’s how you can scan your system using Windows Security.
- Open Windows Security.
- Click the Start button, then type “Windows Security” and select the app from the results.
- In the Windows Security app, click on the Virus & threat protection option.
- Select a scan option: You’ll get several scan options like –
Quick scan – That Checks common virus locations and is a faster option.
Full scan – This Scans all files on your hard drive, which can take a significant amount of time.
Custom scan – This Allows you to select specific files or folders to scan.
- Microsoft Defender Antivirus offline scan – This option will restart your PC into a specialized mode to scan for threats before Windows fully loads, making it harder for malware to hide or run.
- After selecting your desired scan, click Scan now. Wait for the process to complete. If you have any other antivirus install in your system you can scan your system using that.
4. Reinstall Your Browser
Uninstalling and then reinstalling the browser can fix issues caused by a corrupted installation.
So, you can unsinstall the browser from your system and then reinstall it or, a a temporary workaround, you can use a different web browser to see if the problem is specific to your current browser.
Wrapping Up
So, there you have it. The “Out of memory” error is usually a sign that your system or browser is overloaded, but it’s rarely permanent. By closing unused tabs, enabling memory saver, clearing cache, adjusting virtual memory, or scanning for malware, you can restore smooth performance.
If all else fails, reinstalling your browser or switching temporarily to another one can help confirm whether the issue is browser-specific.
With these fixes, you’ll be back to browsing, streaming, and gaming without interruptions. Stay proactive—keep your browser updated, manage extensions wisely, and maintain your PC’s health to avoid future memory issues. For more quesries, ask uss in the comments section provided below.
