How to Enable Memory Saver on Chromebook

Key takeaways:

• Find Memory Saver in Chrome settings on your Chromebook
• Choose between moderate, balanced, or maximum for tab management
• You can also turn on Energy Saver for longer battery life

So, your Chromebook’s running slow, Chrome tabs are eating all your RAM, and you just want your device to chill out for a bit. I’ve been there. The good news? Google Chrome has a Memory Saver feature built right in, and it’s actually pretty easy to turn on. This post is going to show you exactly how to enable it, what each setting does, and how to get even more battery life with Energy Saver. No more laggy Chrome, no more random tab crashes. Let’s get into it.

Where to Find Memory Saver and Why You Need It

If you use a Chromebook, you already know Chrome can be a memory hog. Open too many tabs, and suddenly your device is crawling. Memory Saver is designed to pause tabs you aren’t using, freeing up RAM for what you’re actually working on. Less lag, fewer crashes, and a smoother experience overall.

Step-by-Step: How to Turn On Memory Saver on Chromebook

Here’s how I do it:

1. Open Google Chrome on your Chromebook.
2. Click the three-dot menu in the top right corner.
3. Hit Settings.
4. Scroll down and find the Performance section.
5. Click on Memory Saver.

Now you’ll see three options:

• Moderate: Chrome will pause tabs only if your device is running low on memory.
• Balanced: Chrome will pause tabs you haven’t used in a while, but tries to keep your most-used tabs active.
• Maximum: Chrome aggressively pauses tabs, even if you just left them for a second.

I usually stick with Balanced. If your Chromebook is really struggling, try Maximum, but just know Chrome might pause tabs you still need.

Want more ways to speed things up? Check out tips for speeding up Chromebook.

What Happens When Memory Saver is On

Once it’s enabled, Chrome will start pausing tabs you’re not using. You’ll see a little icon on the tab that’s been paused. Click it, and it’ll reload. This is super helpful if you’re the kind of person who keeps 20+ tabs open (guilty).

If you want to make Chrome use even less memory, there are more tricks here: make Chrome consume less memory.

Choosing the Right Memory Saver Setting for You

Let’s break down the options:

Setting	What it does	Who it’s for
Moderate	Only pauses tabs when RAM is low	Light users, casual browsing
Balanced	Pauses unused tabs, keeps main ones active	Most people, daily use
Maximum	Pauses tabs quickly, even if just left	Heavy users, low RAM devices

If you’re not sure, just go with Balanced. You can always switch it up later.

How to Exclude Tabs from Being Paused

Some tabs you just don’t want Chrome to pause, like music or chat apps. You can add exceptions:

1. In the Memory Saver settings, look for “Always keep these sites active.”
2. Add the URLs you want to exclude.

Now Chrome won’t pause those tabs, even if you’re not using them.

Bonus: Turn On Energy Saver for Better Battery Life

If you’re working unplugged, Energy Saver is your friend. Here’s how to turn it on:

1. In the same Performance section, find Energy Saver (sometimes called Battery Saver).
2. Turn it on.

This will lower screen brightness and limit background activity, so your Chromebook lasts longer on a single charge. It’s great for travel or all-day work sessions.

For more ways to keep your Chromebook running longer, see tips to save battery on Chromebook.

What to Watch Out For

If you use Maximum mode, Chrome might pause tabs you still need. If you’re working with lots of tabs and switching between them, you could lose your place. Stick with Balanced unless you’re desperate for more memory.

Also, Energy Saver will dim your screen and might pause some background stuff, so only use it if you really need to stretch your battery.

Quick Troubleshooting If Things Get Weird

• Tabs keep reloading too often? Switch from Maximum to Balanced.
• Sites not working right? Add them to the “Always keep active” list.
• Still laggy? Try force quitting apps on Chromebook or check your Chromebook’s hardware specs.

Why This Matters for Chromebook Users

Chromebooks aren’t exactly known for massive RAM. If you’re running a bunch of tabs, or you’re using web apps for school or work, Memory Saver can make your device feel brand new. Less crashing, more getting stuff done.

And if you’re a serial tab-opener like me, you’ll notice the difference right away. Just don’t forget to whitelist your favorite music or chat tabs.

More Chromebook Tips for Everyday Use

Want to get even more out of your Chromebook? Here are a few guides worth checking out:

• How to check Chromebook storage
• How to clear cache on Chromebook
• How to delete apps on Chromebook
• How to update Google Chrome browser on Chromebook

FAQs

How do I know if Memory Saver is working?

You’ll see a little icon on tabs that have been paused. Click the tab and it’ll reload. Chrome will also run smoother with less lag.

Can I turn off Memory Saver later?

Yep, just head back to Chrome’s Performance settings and toggle it off.

Does Memory Saver delete my tabs or data?

Nope, it just pauses the tab. Your info stays put, but the page might reload when you come back.

What if a site doesn’t work right with Memory Saver?

Add it to the “Always keep these sites active” list in the Memory Saver settings.

Is there a way to make Chrome use even less memory?

Yes! Try closing unused tabs, using extensions wisely, and check out this guide on making Chrome consume less memory.

Citations:
[1] https://ppl-ai-file-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/web/direct-files/797345/2c65cbc8-fd8b-4097-b6fc-d6b679407186/Ultimate-ChatGPT-Banned-Words.txt
[2] https://ppl-ai-file-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/web/direct-files/797345/604b2c3a-9491-4933-9e6f-b194012cb05e/AG-URL-18-04-2025.CSV
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTA7HblNEO0
[4] https://www.reddit.com/r/chrome/comments/11mqiwh/chrome_memory_saver_what_do_you_think/
[5] https://www.reddit.com/r/chrome/comments/198svos/what_is_going_on_with_chromes_memory_saver/
[6] https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/118d2td/gpo_to_disable_chromes_memory_saver_feature/
[7] https://www.reddit.com/r/chrome/comments/xmsjz4/chromes_new_performance_page_already_has_memory/
[8] https://www.reddit.com/r/chrome/comments/11bx1w4/about_this_new_memory_saver_function/
[9] https://blog.motilitysoftware.com/customer-tip-how-to-set-up-google-chrome-memory-saver-setting
[10] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQTNChFO7dk
[11] https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/how-to-enable-memory-saver-google-chrome
[12] https://blog.google/products/chrome/new-chrome-features-to-save-battery-and-make-browsing-smoother/
[13] https://www.howtogeek.com/875320/chrome-memory-saver-mode/
[14] https://www.reddit.com/r/chrome/comments/1efujr5/how_do_i_turn_off_memory_saver_there_is_no/
[15] https://www.reddit.com/r/techtalktutorials/comments/1h2fjwm/how_to_change_the_memory_saver_mode_in_the_google/
[16] https://www.reddit.com/r/techtalktutorials/comments/1go7xll/how_to_enable_or_disable_memory_saver_on_the/
[17] https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/12929150
[18] https://support.google.com/chromebook/thread/227984236/can-t-disable-memory-saver
[19] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEaoWkfkDBc
[20] https://www.ninjaone.com/blog/chrome-high-ram-usage/
[21] https://www.reddit.com/r/chrome/comments/1denb6q/can_memory_saver_slow_down_chrome_and_the_entire/
[22] https://www.reddit.com/r/browsers/comments/1am1skb/chrome_memory_saver_affecting_cpu_usage/
[23] https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/memory-saver/dhnagkedjknpmhmdoaggchdefbmbeabk

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Answer from Perplexity: pplx.ai/share