How to Check RAM on Mac? Step-by-Step Tutorial

RAM is critical for Mac performance, affecting multitasking and resource-heavy tasks. Checking RAM helps assess capacity, usage, and upgrade needs. Here are 4 practical methods:

Method 1: Using "About This Mac"

Step 1: Click the Apple logo (top-left) and select "About This Mac".

Step 2: The pop-up shows basic info, including total RAM next to "Memory".

Step 3: For details (e.g., memory type/slots), click "System Report" → "Hardware" → "Memory" in the left sidebar.

Method 2: Using Activity Monitor

Step 1: Open "Activity Monitor" via "Applications > Utilities" or Spotlight (Command + Space, type "Activity Monitor").

Step 2: Click the "Memory" tab to view:

• Total physical memory, used/free memory, and swap space.

• Memory pressure graph: Green (normal), yellow (mild pressure), red (high pressure = potential lag).

• App-specific memory usage breakdown.

Method 3: Using Terminal Commands

Step 1: Open Terminal via "Applications > Utilities" or Spotlight.

Step 2: Check virtual memory stats: Type vm_stat and press Enter (shows free/active memory).

Step 3: Check physical memory: Type top -l 1 -s 0 | grep PhysMem (displays total, used, and free physical RAM).

Method 4: Using Third-Party Apps

iStat Menus

Real-time RAM monitoring (usage, pressure) in the menu bar, plus CPU/disk stats.

CleanMyMac X

Shows app-specific memory usage and lets you free up RAM with one click.

Memory Clean

Lightweight tool that auto-frees RAM when available memory is low.

These methods let you check RAM quickly (e.g., "About This Mac") or dive into details (e.g., Activity Monitor). Regular checks help spot performance issues and decide if upgrading RAM is needed.