Mac 'Your System Has Run Out of Application Memory' Error

The macOS 'Your system has run out of application memory' alert indicates RAM and swap are exhausted, requiring you to close applications. This guide covers everything you need to know about this topic, including common causes, step-by-step solutions, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Here are the key things to understand: macOS uses a combination of physical RAM and disk swap space. When both are exhausted, this alert appears. Compressed memory is shown in Activity Monitor > Memory > Memory Pressure. Memory pressure graph turns red when the system is critically low. Can cause applications to be forcefully terminated by the OS. Understanding these fundamentals will help you diagnose and resolve this issue more effectively.

The most common reasons this occurs include: Too many applications or browser tabs open simultaneously. Memory leak in an application consuming increasing RAM over time. Insufficient RAM for the workload (common on 8 GB machines). Swap space exhausted due to low disk space. Browser extensions consuming excessive memory. Identifying the root cause is the first step toward finding the right solution.

To resolve this, follow these recommended steps: Open Activity Monitor > Memory tab and sort by Memory column to find the biggest consumers. Close unnecessary applications and browser tabs. Force quit memory-hogging apps via Apple menu > Force Quit. Restart the Mac to clear all memory and swap. If recurring, consider upgrading RAM (if possible) or using fewer concurrent applications. If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider consulting additional resources or a qualified professional.

This article is part of our Mac Error Codes collection on Error Codes Wiki. We provide comprehensive, up-to-date information to help you find solutions quickly.