This free RAM cleaner uses native Windows features to efficiently clear memory areas, helping to resolve slow performance caused by programs that fail to release allocated memory. With its user-friendly interface and smart functionality, this portable app requires no installation, though it does need administrator privileges to run.
choco install winmemorycleaner
scoop install winmemorycleaner
winget install IgorMundstein.WinMemoryCleanerFeature Description Always on Top Pins the main application window so it is always visible above other windows. Auto Optimization Set the app to clean memory automatically, either by period (
Every X hours
) or when free RAM drops below a specified percentage (When free memory is below X percent
). Auto Update Automatically checks for new versions every 24 hours to keep the application up to date. Close after Optimization The application will automatically close after a memory optimization is completed. Close to Notification Area Minimizes the app to the system tray instead of closing when the 'X' button is clicked. Global Hotkey Trigger an optimization instantly from anywhere with a customizable hotkey (default CTRL+SHIFT+M
). Multi-Language Support Albanian, Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Indonesian, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Macedonian, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Slovenian, Spanish, Thai, Turkish, and Ukrainian. Process Exclusion List Build a list of processes to ignore during memory optimization, protecting critical applications. Run on Low Priority Limits the app's resource usage by reducing its process priority. This may increase optimization time but can prevent system freezes. Run on Startup Automatically starts the application when Windows boots by creating a task in the Windows Task Scheduler. Show Virtual Memory Displays virtual memory (page file) usage in the main window and system tray text. Start Minimized The application will start minimized directly to the system tray. A single-click on the tray icon restores it.
The Compact Mode feature allows you to collapse the main window into a minimal view for at-a-glance monitoring. By clicking the arrow next to the minimize button, the UI shrinks to show only the most essential memory statistics and controls. This mode is ideal for users who want to keep an eye on their systemโs memory usage without occupying much screen space. Toggle Compact Mode on or off at any time to suit your workflow.
๐ System Tray (Notification area)The application provides quick access and information directly from the system tray.
Menu: A right-click menu offers quick access to trigger an optimization or exit the application.
Notification: After an optimization, a notification appears showing the reason and the approximate amount of memory that was freed.
Tray Icon Customization: The tray icon can be configured to display real-time physical memory usage instead of the app logo. You can customize the background and text colors, as well as set warning and danger level thresholds that change the icon's color based on current memory pressure.
WinMemoryCleaner provides a user-friendly interface for powerful, documented Windows API functions. There are no tricks or secretsโjust direct access to the tools needed to manage your system's memory effectively. Each cleaning function targets a specific memory area, and its availability depends on your Windows version.
Hereโs a breakdown of what each function does and the minimum supported Windows version required to use it:
Memory Area Description Windows Server Combined Page List Flushes memory blocks from the page-combining list, a memory-saving feature in modern Windows that merges identical pages of memory. 8+ 2012+ Modified File Cache Flushes the volume file cache to disk for all fixed drives, ensuring all pending writes are committed. XP+ 2003+ Modified Page List Writes unsaved pages from RAM to disk and moves the now-saved pages to the standby list. Vista+ 2008+ Registry Cache Flushes registry hives from memory. Hives are logical groups of keys and values that are loaded into memory when the OS starts or a user logs in. 8.1+ 2012+ Standby List Clears the entire Standby List, which contains cached data from closed applications. This aggressive method frees the maximum amount of cached RAM for demanding tasks. Vista+ 2008+ Standby List (low priority) Clears only the lowest-priority pages from the Standby List. This gentle method frees some cached RAM without removing data that Windows considers more important. Vista+ 2008+ System File Cache Flushes the cache Windows uses for its system files, trimming it to release memory. Useful for refreshing the systemโs state before launching a memory-intensive application. XP+ 2003+ Working Set Removes memory from all user-mode and system working sets, forcing processes (like games or browsers that hoard memory) to release non-essential RAM. This can reduce stutter and improve responsiveness. XP+ 2003+ ๐ด The Problem: Inefficient Memory ManagementModern operating systems are good at managing memory, but they aren't perfect. Over time, RAM can become cluttered with cached data from closed applications (Standby List) or held unnecessarily by running processes (Working Set). This leads to system slowdowns, stuttering in applications, and reduced responsiveness, especially on systems with limited RAM.
The market for PC utilities is plagued by "RAM boosters" that use deceptive tricks and offer no real, verifiable benefits, creating deep-seated skepticism among users.
โ The Solution: A Transparent, Evidence-Based ToolWinMemoryCleaner is the antidote to "snake oil" utilities. It does not use undocumented hacks or harmful tricks. Instead, it provides a clean, user-friendly interface to powerful, native Windows API functions that give you direct control over your system's memory. It is a tool built on transparency, proof, and respect for the user.
๐ Proof of Concept: See It Work YourselfDon't take our word for it. You can verify the effects of this tool using Windows' own Resource Monitor.
resmon.exe
in the Start Menu).Standby List
and click Optimize
.This is a direct, verifiable demonstration that the application converts cached memory into truly free memory, ready for your next task.
All optimization activities and data on essential tasks are logged to the Windows Event Viewer for a transparent audit trail.
Windows Logs > Application
We understand that users are rightfully skeptical of system utilities. This project is built on a foundation of verifiable trust and transparency.
๐ Automated & Secure Builds (CI/CD)Every official release of WinMemoryCleaner is built, signed, and published automatically by a CI/CD pipeline using GitHub Actions. The entire process is defined in the public release.yml workflow file in this repository. This ensures that the distributed executables are compiled directly from the source code hosted on GitHub, eliminating the potential for manual error or intervention.
๐ Verifiable Code SigningSince version 3.0.0, we have been digitally signing our files through SignPath.io using a free certificate provided under the SignPath Terms of Use. The project received the certificate in recognition of its popularity and public value in the open-source community. This process ensures that we distribute authentic files that have not been tampered with.
A digital signature proves two things:
You can verify the signature by right-clicking the .exe
-> Properties
-> Digital Signatures
Even with a valid digital signature, Microsoft Defender SmartScreen may initially flag a new release with a "Windows protected your PC" warning.
This happens because the application is new and has not yet built a strong reputation with Microsoft. This is a standard, reputation-based security measure. By running the app, you help it build a positive reputation, which will cause this warning to disappear more quickly for other users. We appreciate your trust and understanding.
๐ Independent Security ScansEach new version is automatically submitted for analysis to leading security platforms, including VirusTotal and Hybrid Analysis, to ensure it is free from threats.
๐ป Automation & DeploymentYou must run these headless operations with administrator privileges.
Run optimizations silently for scripting and automation. Use any combination of the following arguments:
/CombinedPageList
/ModifiedFileCache
/ModifiedPageList
/RegistryCache
/StandbyList
or /StandbyListLowPriority
/SystemFileCache
/WorkingSet
> Command-line example:
{path}\WinMemoryCleaner.exe /ModifiedFileCache /StandbyList /WorkingSet
For continuous, hands-off optimization, install the application as a background service. The installation will close some processes to install or uninstall the service without requiring a system restart, and log files will be generated along with the .exe file. Some application settings will be modified based on recommendations. You can still open the application (GUI) and configure it as desired. The service will utilize these settings.
โ Install Service:
{path}\WinMemoryCleaner.exe /Install
โ Uninstall Service:
{path}\WinMemoryCleaner.exe /Uninstall
While Windows Memory Cleaner excels at efficiently managing and freeing up memory, the following tools can provide even deeper insights into your system's memory usage and help with advanced troubleshooting:
An advanced task manager from Microsoft Sysinternals that goes beyond what's available in Windows Task Manager. It provides comprehensive information about processes, including their memory usage, handles, and DLLs. Useful for identifying specific applications or services that might be consuming excessive memory.
A powerful physical memory usage analysis utility from Microsoft Sysinternals. RAMMap provides detailed, real-time information about how Windows is allocating physical memory, including how much is in use by processes, drivers, the kernel, and various cached data. It also contains some cleaning features that address certain memory areas similar to Windows Memory Cleaner. It's an excellent tool to use alongside WinMemoryCleaner to understand precisely where memory is being used before and after an optimization.
โ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ๐ญ Is this app still useful on modern PCs, and how is it not 'snake oil'?This is an excellent question that gets to the core of this project's philosophy.
The short answer: Yes, it's still useful for a massive number of users, and it's the opposite of snake oil because it's built on transparency and verifiable proof.
The longer answer: We've all been burned. The PC utility market has a dark history of deceptive "boosters" that preyed on users' frustrations. They were the T-Virus of the software world, promising performance but often making things worse with shady, undocumented tricks. That history creates a lot of justified prejudice.
WinMemoryCleaner is the antivirus serum. It's not a magical cure-all, but a targeted, clean, and honest tool. Here's why it's different and still relevant:
This project exists to serve the users who were left behind by the march of technology, and to restore faith that a utility can be both effective and honest.
๐ญ What are the project requirements?They are saved in the Windows registry path Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\WinMemoryCleaner
One of the reasons for this false alarm is that the application adds entries to the registry and creates a scheduled task to run at startup. Windows doesn't suggest letting applications with administrator privileges run at startup. I understand that, but this is the required method for this functionality. I apologize, but the application cannot perform a deep memory clean without administrator privileges.
That's a common issue that persists with every new app version. I constantly submit the executable to Microsoft. Usually, it takes up to 72 hours for Microsoft to remove the detection. It helps if more users submit the app for malware analysis
Meanwhile, as a workaround, you can add an exclusion to Windows Security
If you're a native speaker of a language other than English, you can contribute by translating the English.json file.
Please note: Translated texts should be provided in lowercase. The application will automatically handle capitalization as needed for the user interface.
๐ฌ How to Test Your TranslationYou can test any translation by creating a file alongside the executable:
If you are a software developer, you can integrate the new file directly into the project:
Resources\Localization
folder.Embedded Resource
.WinMemoryCleaner
project.When new versions require translation updates, we may use AI tools to provide a baseline. We always value and encourage contributions from native speakers to refine and perfect these translations.
Language Contributor(s) Language Contributor(s) ๐ฆ๐ฑ Albanian Omer Rustemi ๐ฏ๐ต Japanese dai ๐ธ๐ฆ Arabic Abdulmajeed Al-Rajhi ๐ฐ๐ท Korean VenusGirl ๐ง๐ฌ Bulgarian Konstantin ๐ฒ๐ฐ Macedonian Dimitrij Gjorgji ๐จ๐ณ Chinese (Simplified) KaiHuaDou, Kun Zhao, Rayden ๐ณ๐ด Norwegian Dan ๐จ๐ณ Chinese (Traditional) Rayden, rtyrtyrtyqw ๐ฎ๐ท Persian Kavian ๐ณ๐ฑ Dutch Jesse, hax4dazy ๐ต๐ฑ Polish Patryk ๐ซ๐ท French William VINCENT ๐ง๐ท Portuguese Igor Mundstein ๐ฉ๐ช German Calvin, Niklas Englmeier, Steve ๐ท๐บ Russian Ruslan ๐ฌ๐ท Greek Theodoros Katsageorgis ๐ท๐ธ Serbian Dragoลก Miloลกeviฤ ๐ฎ๐ฑ Hebrew Eliezer Bloy ๐ธ๐ฎ Slovenian Jadran Rudec ๐ญ๐บ Hungarian Csizmadia Gyorgy ๐ช๐ธ Spanish Ajneb Al Revรฉs, Fran ๐ฎ๐ฉ Indonesian Mochammad Misbahus Surur, Minids ๐น๐ญ Thai nongice ๐ฎ๐ช Irish Happygolucky254 ๐น๐ท Turkish Rฤฑza Emet, Viollje ๐ฎ๐น Italian Michele ๐บ๐ฆ Ukrainian Riebi, Oleksandr โค๏ธ Contribute to the ProjectIn the past, I faced challenges with the proper hardware and software needed to fully enjoy technology and gaming. It was a constant battle to squeeze every last drop of performance out of a limited machine.
Although I may not rely on this tool as much as I once did, I continue to maintain it in my free time for a simple reason: to assist others who still encounter similar challenges. This project is a contribution to the field of technology and a tribute to the wonderful open-source community that supports us all.
If you find this app helpful, please consider tipping. Your contribution helps keep the project alive, optimized, and free for everyone.
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