Video summary

5 Hidden Windows Settings Eating Your RAM Right Now (Disable Them Immediately)

Main summary

Key takeaways

Technology

Overview

The video is a “guide” style walkthrough that claims Windows has several built-in background features that steadily consume RAM. It instructs viewers to use Task Manager to check memory usage, then disable specific Windows services/settings to recover RAM—while noting trade-offs.

The host further claims these changes do not improve real performance, but instead primarily reserve RAM and/or waste resources.

Key settings/features to disable (with claimed RAM/bandwidth impact)

1. SysMain (formerly Superfetch)

  • What it does: Watches frequently used apps and preloads them into RAM to reduce launch time (originally designed for older HDDs).
  • Claimed issue: On SSDs, preloading is unnecessary and effectively reserves 1–2 GB of RAM.
  • How to disable:
    1. Open services.msc
    2. Find SysMain → Stop
    3. Properties → set Startup type = Disabled → Apply

2. Connected User Experiences and Telemetry

  • What it does: Collects usage/settings data and sends it to Microsoft.
  • Claimed issue: Uses about 400–800 MB of RAM constantly.
  • How to disable:
    1. In services.msc, stop Connected User Experiences and Telemetry
    2. Properties → Startup type = Disabled
    3. Go to Windows Settings → Privacy & Security → Diagnostics and feedback
    4. Turn off “Send optional diagnostic data”
  • Reasoning in the video: Leaving it on may cause Windows to restart the service.

3. Delivery Optimization

  • What it does: Makes your PC a peer/distribution node for Windows updates by downloading chunks and uploading to other PCs.
  • Claimed cost: Uses up to ~500 MB RAM and also consumes bandwidth (which the host says users didn’t agree to).
  • How to disable:
    • Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options → Delivery Optimization
    • Toggle off allow downloads from other PCs
    • (The video also notes that Windows 10 has the toggle in the sidebar under Delivery Optimization.)

4. Windows Search (Indexing)

  • What it does: Maintains a search index/database so results appear quickly in the search bar.
  • Claimed issue: The indexer runs constantly; it re-indexes after saves/moves and can hold ~300–600 MB RAM while indexing.
  • How to disable:
    1. In services.msc, Windows Search → Stop
    2. Properties → set Startup type = Disabled
  • Trade-off mentioned: File searches may take a couple seconds longer. App/settings search is described as the primary use-case where disabling may still be acceptable.

5. Diagnostic Policy Service + a hidden feature: Memory Compression

5a. Diagnostic Policy Service

  • What it does: Runs background diagnostics/troubleshooting checks.
  • Claimed RAM impact: ~200–400 MB reserved while waiting.
  • How to disable:
    1. In services.msc, Diagnostic Policy Service → Stop
    2. Properties → set Startup type = Disabled

5b. Hidden setting: Memory Compression (not in services)

  • What the host claims it does: Windows uses compression for inactive RAM pages instead of freeing them.
  • Claimed problem: On 4–8 GB RAM systems, it can keep RAM “artificially full” and waste CPU on compression.
  • How to check/disable (PowerShell admin):
    • Check: run get-mmagent (with the capitalization as shown)
    • If memory compression = true, disable with:
      • disable-mmagent memorycompression
    • Reboot required
  • Advice: The host says to disable it especially for low-RAM systems.

Overall claims / framing

  • The host claims these are “hidden” RAM-eating Windows behaviors and that disabling them can recover significant RAM amounts.
  • It encourages viewers to comment results (“before and after”) and implies some people may see larger gains.
  • It mentions that on 16 GB RAM, memory compression may be “fine,” but on 4–8 GB, it may cause noticeable sluggishness.

Main speakers or sources

  • Main speaker: The video host/author (speaking directly on-screen)
  • Primary technical references/tools:
    • Microsoft Windows built-in components (services.msc, Windows Settings, PowerShell)
    • Windows features (SysMain/Superfetch, Delivery Optimization, Connected User Experiences and Telemetry, Windows Search indexing, Diagnostic Policy Service, Memory Compression)

Original video