Why is Chrome using so much memory on a Mac?

Why does Chrome use so much memory?

Chrome splits its work into separate processes on purpose. According to the Chromium project’s design notes, the main browser process runs the browser’s interface and manages the others; web pages run in renderer processes, generally a new one for each tab or window; and graphics, networking and storage each get processes of their own.

The Chromium notes give two reasons. A page that crashes or hangs stays in its own process, so it doesn’t take the whole browser down with it, and for security, each renderer is limited in what it can reach on the rest of the system. With many tabs open, those processes and their memory add up.

What is Google Chrome Helper (Renderer)?

Google Chrome Helper (Renderer) is a Chrome process that runs web pages, so with several tabs open you’ll usually see several of them. Google Chrome Helper (GPU) runs Chrome’s GPU process, for graphics work, and plain Google Chrome Helper processes run other parts of the browser. To see how much memory they use:

1. Open Activity Monitor. It’s in Applications > Utilities, or search for it with Spotlight.
2. Click Memory, then click the Memory column heading to sort the list, largest first.

3. To see them together, choose View > All Processes, Hierarchically. Activity Monitor then shows each process under the one that started it.
4. Find Google Chrome and click the arrow beside it to show the processes it started.

How do I see which tab is using the most memory?

Chrome’s own Task Manager lists tabs and extensions by name.

1. In Chrome, click More (the three dots) at the top right, then choose More tools > Task manager.
2. Click the memory column heading to sort by memory use.
3. Look for items you don’t need, including ones labeled “Background page”.
4. Select one, then click End process. Any unsaved work in it is lost.

To see a tab’s memory without opening the Task Manager, go to Chrome’s Settings > Appearance and turn on “Show memory usage on tab hover preview card”. Hovering over a tab then shows how much memory it’s using.

How do I make Chrome use less memory?

• Close tabs you’re done with. Click a tab’s close button or press Command-W. If you close one by mistake, Command-Shift-T opens it again.
• Turn off extensions you don’t use. Click More > Extensions > Manage Extensions, then turn off or remove the extension.
• Turn on Memory Saver. Click More > Settings > Performance, turn on Memory Saver, and choose Moderate, Balanced or Maximum. Chrome then makes tabs you aren’t using inactive to free memory, and reloads each one when you go back to it.
• Keep Chrome up to date. Google lists updating Chrome first among its steps to speed it up.

Should I worry about Chrome’s memory use?

Only if memory pressure isn’t green. In Activity Monitor’s Memory tab, check the Memory Pressure graph at the bottom. Green means your Mac is using its memory efficiently, even with gigabytes held by Chrome. Yellow or red means your Mac is short of memory for what’s open, and Chrome’s tabs are a good place to start closing. Mac memory pressure: why high RAM use is often fine explains the graph.

Questions people also ask

Is it safe to quit Google Chrome Helper in Activity Monitor?

It’s easier to use Chrome’s Task Manager instead. It names the tab or extension behind each process, so you know what you’re closing. Ending a task loses any unsaved work in it either way.

Does Memory Saver close my tabs?

No. Memory Saver makes tabs you aren’t using inactive to free memory, and an inactive tab reloads automatically when you open it.

Why does Chrome show so many processes on a Mac?

Chrome runs web pages, graphics, networking and storage in separate processes, so one failing page doesn’t bring down the rest. Each open tab can add another renderer.