When you launch an app, its code is loaded from disk into RAM for execution. RAM is faster than a hard disk or SSD, but it’s much more expensive and is wiped clean when you restart or shut down your Mac.) What Is RAM Used For? (To make sure we’re all on the same page, RAM and memory are two terms for the same thing, and are distinct from disk space or storage, where files are stored permanently even when your Mac is turned off. Let’s look at how memory is used, how you can determine if you need more, and what to do about it. Also known as random-access memory, RAM is the temporary working space where macOS loads apps and documents while you’re using them. But if these problems are happening more frequently, one possible fix is to install more RAM.

Such problems won’t happen all the time, and you can often fix them by quitting a piggy app or restarting your Mac. No matter how fast your Mac was when it was new, the time will come when apps launch slowly, the spinning beachball appears more often, and everything responds sluggishly. Slow Mac? Here’s How to Figure Out If You Need More RAM