Use Activity Monitor by opening it via Spotlight, clicking the Memory tab, and checking the memory pressure graph and app RAM usage. 2. Check About This Mac for a quick overview of total RAM installed and memory type. 3. Use Terminal with the command "top -l 1 | head -n 10 | grep PhysMem" to see RAM usage in command-line format. Activity Monitor is the best method for most users because it provides real-time, detailed insights into memory usage and system performance.

Checking RAM usage on your Mac is simple and can help you understand if your system is running efficiently or if you need to close some apps to free up memory. Here’s how to do it using built-in tools.

1. Use Activity Monitor (Easiest Method)

Activity Monitor is the go-to app for checking memory usage on macOS.

• Click the Spotlight icon (magnifying glass) in the top-right corner of your screen, or press Command Space.
• Type "Activity Monitor" and press Enter.
• In the Activity Monitor window, click the Memory tab at the top.
• You’ll see:
  • A graph showing memory pressure (green is good, yellow means moderate, red means high).
  • A list of all running apps and processes with their RAM usage in the "Memory" column.
  • Total physical memory (RAM) installed on your Mac listed at the bottom.

Tip: If the Memory Pressure graph is red or yellow, your Mac is running low on RAM, which can cause slowdowns.

2. Check Memory via About This Mac

For a quick overview without details:

• Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner.
• Select About This Mac.
• Click the Memory tab.
• You’ll see:
  • How much RAM is installed.
  • What type of RAM (e.g., LPDDR5).
  • A visual breakdown of memory usage (app memory, wired memory, compressed, etc.).

This method doesn’t show real-time usage per app, but it gives a snapshot of total memory and system info.

3. Use the Terminal (For Advanced Users)

If you prefer the command line:

• Open Terminal (you can find it via Spotlight).
• Type the following command and press Enter:

top -l 1 | head -n 10 | grep PhysMem

• It will show output like:

  PhysMem: 8.0G used (2.1G wired), 2.3G unused.

  This tells you how much RAM is used, wired (required by system), and free.

  Note: The top command refreshes continuously. The -l 1 flag limits it to one update, making it easier to read.

  Final Tips

  • Memory Pressure is more important than raw RAM percentage. Green = fine, red = problem.
  • Apps like Chrome or video editors can use a lot of RAM — monitor them in Activity Monitor.
  • If you consistently run out of RAM, consider upgrading your Mac (if possible) or using lighter apps.

  Basically, Activity Monitor is the best tool for most users — it’s clear, real-time, and built-in.

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