virtual memory

What specifically do you want to know? As a user the only really important information is found in the Activity Monitor application in a green graph. The higher the green mountain is, the more VM is being used. If the mountain turns yellow memory pressure is getting high and you may experience some beachballing. Avoid yellow when possible. If it the graph turns red quit some apps or close browser windows.

Post a report from this please...

EtreCheck is a simple little app to display the important details of your system configuration and allow you to copy that information to the Clipboard. It is meant to be used with Apple Support Communities to help people help you with your Mac.

http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck

Can you show us a screenshot of Activity Monitor>Memory tab when this happens?

You can use the tiny mountain icon to insert a pic in a reply.

Thanks, yeah, your Mac really needs more RAM, but we'd need the Model number and/or year to see if it can have any added.

With so much of the physical EAM being used the OS is trying to use free Disk Spacw as VM, Virtual Memory, nut apparently your Disk or SSD needs more space.

Hi,

The following document could help your question.

https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Performance/Conceptual/ManagingMemory/Articles/AboutMemory.html

It sits on your hard drive (SSD)

as long you have space on it it is never full.

However, if it is very large (over 5GB)

you might want to consider adding RAM.

VM does slightly slowdown your Mac if you SSD, worse with HDD.

Standard RAM:8 GB*Maximum RAM:16 GB*

Details:*8 GB of RAM is onboard by default, but it can be upgraded to 16 GB at the time of purchase for US$200. RAM cannot be upgraded later. The processor die itself also has 128 MB of eDRAM (embedded 

Standard Storage:256, 512 GB SSD*Std. Storage Speed:N/A

Details:*By default, this model ships with either a 256 GB or 512 GB SSD, but it can be upgraded at the time of purchase to 1 TB or 2 TB at additional cost.

So, you're pretty well stick for upgrades, external Storage your only option...

https://eshop.macsales.com/upgrades/macbook-pro-13-inch-2018-four-thunderbolt-3-ports-2.3-ghz/external-storage

In the interim you need to clear off 20 to 30 GB of space on your SSD drive.

Sorry to say it, but I feel like I'm talking to somebody that had no idea that the Luxury Car they just bought couldn't have the oil changed & was relegated to the slag heap if it gets a flat tire! :(

Ouch, at the Apple logo at top left>About this Mac, what does it say there except we don't need the Serial#

I'm suspecting you have some unneeded software running, like anti-virus or cleaning apps. Eight GB RAM should be adequate for most purposes other than Pro apps. The fact that your usage is so high is symptomatic of the junkware people are coerced into installing on a Mac. The Mac needs none of that stuff.

My MBP has 8GB RAM and has never had a memory pressure chart that looks like yours, even with MS Office, Photoshop Elements, Mail and Messages running.

If you are using the Chrome browser, be aware it is a known resource hog. I saw a post earlier today where Chrome and its minions were using 38 percent of the user's RAM.

Your Visual Aid, dwb:

Yeah, that is a great example. Thanks 🤗