patrick2000q Author

Level 1

10 points

Hidden processes taking up a lot of ram?

As you can see the sum here doesn't really add up.

App Memory: 16.88 GB
Wired Memory: 2.45 GB
Compressed: 123.8 MB
Total: 19.4538 GB

Memory Used: 23.61 GB

"Unaccounted for": 23.61 GB - 19.4538 GB = 4.156 GB

Which in my opinion is a lot.

I know that macOS manages RAM really well, and if it needs more memory, it will compress it and close other apps. But let’s say “App X” needs 4 GB of RAM. I would prefer that my system doesn’t close or compress anything and instead uses the available RAM left, without compromising the app’s status or performance, rather than compressing or closing apps because there are 4 GB used by some hidden process I can’t figure out.

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 15.3

Posted on Mar 17, 2025 1:47 AM

23 replies

patrick2000q Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 17, 2025 8:24 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

yes, I know that macOS keeps cached files in the ram. that's what "Cached Files" in the activity monitor is for.

I'm not talking about that however. I'm talking about "Memory Used".

patrick2000q Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 17, 2025 10:57 PM in response to den.thed

I already know what compressed mean. That’s not my question.

patrick2000q Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 17, 2025 10:59 PM in response to Owl-53

As I already mentioned. I know that Apple manages the ram. And I didn’t mention that I want to manage the ram myself. Please read the initial text.

patrick2000q Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 17, 2025 11:01 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

I never said I would do better nor I want to force release. My question is different. Probably a question that only kernel developers can answer (Apple ones not other ones)

patrick2000q Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 18, 2025 2:32 AM in response to Owl-53

I honestly don't care about fame. It's useless to me. I want to understand what process is taking up 4gb of ram.

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,144 points

Mar 18, 2025 4:03 AM in response to patrick2000q

Probably a question that only kernel developers can answer (Apple ones not other ones)

Then you should call the Apple ones. They’re not here.

patrick2000q Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 18, 2025 12:21 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thank you!

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,290 points

Mar 18, 2025 2:15 PM in response to patrick2000q

TL:DR: The operating system is in charge of RAM and related math calculations. Users are not.

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Hidden processes taking up a lot of ram?