Introduction
Google Chrome can use a lot of memory when many tabs are open. Memory Saver frees memory by making tabs you aren’t using inactive; when you go back to an inactive tab, it reloads. To turn it on, open chrome://settings/performance and switch on Memory Saver. It is a desktop feature for Windows, Mac, Linux and Chromebook.
How to Enable Chrome Memory Saver
Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Open Chrome and click on the three dots in the upper-right corner to open the menu.
- Select Settings.
- Select Performance on the left.
- Turn Memory Saver on.
- Choose a level: Moderate (tabs become inactive after a longer time), Balanced (recommended), or Maximum (tabs become inactive sooner).
These steps follow Google’s help page Personalize Chrome performance.
Android and iOS
Chrome on phones and tablets has no Memory Saver setting. Google says you can’t personalize Chrome’s performance on iOS and Android.
Managing Excluded Sites
To keep certain tabs active and prevent them from sleeping, you can exclude specific sites:
- Go to Settings > Performance.
- To the right of Always keep these sites active, select Add.
- Either pick sites from the tabs you have open under Add current sites, or choose Add sites manually and enter the web address.
- Select Add.
Understanding Tab Behavior
Chrome Memory Saver makes tabs you aren’t using inactive to save memory. When you click an inactive tab, it reloads. Google lists things that can stop a tab from becoming inactive, including audio or video playing or a call, screen sharing, page notifications, active downloads, partly filled forms, pinned tabs and connected USB or Bluetooth devices. To mark inactive tabs in the tab strip, turn on Inactive tabs appearance on the Performance page.
Monitoring Memory Savings
To see how much memory is being saved, you can check Chrome’s Task Manager:
- Press Shift + Esc (Windows/Linux), or on any computer select More > More tools > Task Manager.
- Look for the Memory footprint column to see resource usage.
- To see a tab’s memory when you point at it, go to Settings > Appearance and turn on Show tab memory usage (on Mac, Show memory usage on tab hover preview card).
Performance Settings
Additional performance settings can help manage memory:
- Clear cached files: More > Delete browsing data.
- If graphics problems slow Chrome down, try turning off hardware acceleration: Settings > System > Use graphics acceleration when available.
- Manage extensions:
chrome://extensions.
Keyboard Shortcuts
- Open Chrome Task Manager: Shift + Esc (Windows/Linux). On a Mac, use the menu: More > More tools > Task Manager.
- Open the Chrome menu: Alt + F or Alt + E (Windows/Linux). Open Settings: Command + , (Mac).
Conclusion
Chrome Memory Saver is a powerful tool to optimize memory usage by managing inactive tabs effectively. By following these steps, you can enhance your browser’s performance and maintain a smooth browsing experience. For further assistance, see Google Chrome Help.