Find your RAM amount in three clicks

Your RAM is the working memory your computer uses right now — the more you have, the more programs you can run at once without slowdown. You can see exactly how much RAM is installed on your machine in Windows, Mac, or Linux without opening your computer or installing anything.

The fastest way depends on your operating system, but all three methods take less than a minute. You are looking for a number measured in gigabytes (GB) — most modern computers have between 4 GB and 32 GB.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, right-click "This PC" or "My Computer," select Properties, and read the RAM amount listed under "Installed RAM."
  • On Mac, click the Apple menu, select "About This Mac," and find RAM listed under the Memory tab.
  • On Linux, open a terminal and type free -h to see total RAM and how much is currently in use.
  • RAM is measured in gigabytes (GB), and you need at least 8 GB to run modern programs without frequent slowdowns.
  • If your computer feels slow even when few programs are open, low RAM is often the cause, but checking RAM usage is different from checking total RAM.

Check RAM on Windows

Right-click on "This PC" (Windows 10 and 11) or "My Computer" (older Windows) on your desktop or in the file explorer sidebar. A menu will appear. Click "Properties" at the bottom of that menu.

A window titled "System" will open. Look for the line that says "Installed RAM" — this is your total RAM amount. It will show a number like "8 GB" or "16 GB." This is the only number you need to see.

If you do not see "This PC" on your desktop, open the file explorer (the folder icon on your taskbar) and look for it in the left sidebar. If it is not there, press the Windows key and type "This PC," then press Enter.

Check RAM on Mac

Click the Apple menu (the apple symbol) in the top-left corner of your screen. A dropdown menu will appear. Select "About This Mac" near the top of that menu.

A window titled "About This Mac" will open. You should see several tabs at the top: Overview, System Report, Storage, and Support. The Overview tab is selected by default. Look for the line that says "Memory" — the number next to it is your total RAM.

On newer Macs with Apple Silicon chips (M1, M2, M3), the memory listed includes both unified memory used by the system and available for programs. The number shown is still your total usable RAM.

Check RAM on Linux

Open a terminal window. On most Linux systems, you can do this by right-clicking the desktop and selecting "Open Terminal Here," or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T.

Type the following command and press Enter:

free -h

The output will show several rows. Look at the first row labeled "Mem:" — the second number in that row (under the "total" column) is your total RAM. The -h flag makes the number human-readable, so it will show GB instead of bytes.

If you want to see RAM usage in a live view that updates every few seconds, type top and press Enter instead. Press Q to exit.

Understand what your RAM number means

RAM comes in standard sizes: 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB, and higher. Most computers sold in the last five years have at least 8 GB. If your computer has 4 GB or less, you will likely notice slowdowns when you open more than a few programs at once.

The RAM amount you see is the total installed in your machine. This is different from how much RAM is currently in use — a computer with 16 GB of RAM might only be using 6 GB right now if you have few programs open. Both numbers matter: total RAM tells you your ceiling, and current usage tells you whether you are hitting it.

If you see a number lower than you expected, it may be because your computer is using some RAM for graphics (especially on laptops with integrated graphics). The operating system also reserves a small amount. The number shown is what is actually available to you and your programs.

When to check your RAM usage instead

Knowing your total RAM is useful, but if your computer feels slow, you actually need to know whether you are running out of RAM right now. Total RAM and current usage are two different things.

On Windows, open the Task Manager (press Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and click the "Performance" tab. Look at the "Memory" section — it shows both total RAM and how much is in use. If the "in use" number is close to your total, that is why your computer is slow.

On Mac, open Activity Monitor (search for it with Spotlight by pressing Cmd+Space). Click the "Memory" tab. Look at the number next to "Memory Used" — if it is within 1 or 2 GB of your total RAM, you are running low.

On Linux, the free -h command already shows both. The "used" column under "Mem:" shows current usage, and "total" shows your ceiling.

What to do if your RAM is too low

If you have less than 8 GB total, or if you are regularly using 90 percent of your RAM, your computer will feel slow. You have two options: close programs you are not using, or add more RAM.

Closing programs is free and when ready. On Windows, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), click the "Processes" tab, and close programs you do not need right now by clicking them and selecting "End Task." On Mac, open Activity Monitor, click a program, and click the X button labeled "Force Quit."

Adding RAM is a one-time cost that solves the problem permanently, but it requires opening your computer (or taking it to a technician on some laptops). Before you buy new RAM, check what type and speed your computer uses — this information is in the same System Properties or About This Mac window where you found your total RAM.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 8 GB of RAM enough?

For most people doing web browsing, email, and office work, 8 GB is adequate. If you edit video, run design software, or keep 20+ browser tabs open, 16 GB or more is more comfortable. Gaming and programming also benefit from 16 GB or higher.

Can I add more RAM myself?

On most desktop computers, yes — RAM sticks slot into the motherboard and take two minutes to install. On laptops, it depends on the model; some have RAM soldered to the board and cannot be upgraded. Check your computer's manual or search "[your model] RAM upgrade" to see if yours is upgradeable.

Why does my computer show less RAM than I bought?

If you bought 16 GB but see 15 GB or 15.5 GB, the difference is normal — the operating system and graphics drivers reserve a small amount. If the difference is larger, one RAM stick may have failed or not be fully seated in its slot.

Does more RAM make my computer faster?

Only if you are running out of RAM. If you have 16 GB and only use 6 GB, adding more RAM will not speed anything up. If you have 4 GB and are constantly using all of it, upgrading to 8 GB will feel like a big improvement.

What is the difference between RAM and storage?

RAM is temporary working memory that clears when you shut down — it is fast but limited. Storage (your hard drive or SSD) is permanent and much larger, but slower. You need both: RAM for running programs smoothly, and storage for keeping files.