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The RAM is always full on Macbook Pro 2020, M1 chip

I've had my MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020) for 6 months. I constantly get warnings from CleanMyMac that the RAM is full, even when only basic apps are being used like Brave browser, Notes, and Todoist.


I've tried deep scans and cleans but nothing helps. And I'm not the only one experiencing this. See this twitter thread. Someone commented that they read an article about known memory issues. Is this true?


So what is Apple going to do about it? For $1,759, they better do something! I can't have memory issues on a brand new laptop.

MacBook Pro (2020 and later)

Posted on Dec 2, 2021 8:02 AM

Reply
6 replies

Dec 2, 2021 8:34 AM in response to cathxrine

You need to get rid of all AV, cleaner and fixer apps. They often cause more problems than they might ever fix.


The pic you attached is of your disk space usage, not RAM.


There are ways to deal with RAM issues; at this point removing CMM is an excellent first step.


What Apple had better do is Apple's business. We're just users like you and have no access to Apple corporation's business decisions, practices or R&D programs.


You can provide feedback to Apple Corporation here: https://www.apple.com/feedback/


You had 14 days to return it no questions asked.

Dec 2, 2021 8:54 AM in response to cathxrine

cathxrine wrote:

I've had my MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020) for 6 months. I constantly get warnings from CleanMyMac that the RAM is full, even when only basic apps are being used like Brave browser, Notes, and Todoist.

I've tried deep scans and cleans but nothing helps. And I'm not the only one experiencing this. See this twitter thread. Someone commented that they read an article about known memory issues. Is this true?

So what is Apple going to do about it? For $1,759, they better do something! I can't have memory issues on a brand new laptop.

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/e881eda9-cc7a-4572-9da9-dca55f6c4699



RAM = memory

SSD = storage


Do some house cleaning—


Empty your Trash — Delete files and folders on Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/delete-files-and-folders-on-mac-mchlp1093/mac


How to free up storage space on your Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206996


See used and available storage space on your Mac

https://support.apple.com/guide/system-information/see-available-storage-space-syspf9b375b9/10.14/mac/10.15


User tip: "Other and What Can I Do About It ?"

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-5142


Try something like OmniDiskSweeper for a GUI to get a good look at itemized file size and location:

OmniDiskSweeper http://www.omnigroup.com/more


Dec 2, 2021 9:07 AM in response to leroydouglas

You're going to have to talk to Apple. But don't expect any custom work on your computer outside their corporate policies, procedures and protocols.


If you feel your Mac in malfunctioning, and that's an Apple quality and workmanship problem, take it to a Genius Bar to be evaluated. It's still in warranty and it may need warranty repairs. Repairs as specified in the warranty terms and conditions.


You can rant here all you want, we've all been frustrated too. But this community of users cannot address your quality concerns you believe to be inherent in the product. Your have to deal with Apple on that.


People will certainly offer suggestions, that's what happens here. But those are fixes, not changes to basic design you seem to be complaining about.


And if you look at your pic, you'll clearly see the word "Storage" highlighted, not RAM.


Let's see what others have to say, we are after all a community of many people.

Dec 2, 2021 9:53 AM in response to cathxrine

The whole point of RAM is to be completely used.


RAM exists because storage is slower.


Computer designs have long been a hierarchy of higher cost parts and and higher performance, and blending lower performance and lower costs. Processor memory cache is Really Expensive memory, but is Really Fast memory. Main memory (RAM) is expensive, and fast. SSD is less expensive, and is slower. Hard disks are cheap and capacious and really slow. Tape storage (rare with Mac, but more common in some other computing environments), yet slower, but cheaper.


If you have free RAM, you either have too much RAM for your load, or you’re not using what you have for best effect.


Efforts of add-on apps to try to “free”RAM are trying to release RAM that macOS thinks it can use for apps and data caching.


Free RAM is wasted RAM.


As for other Macs with other issues? With the millions being sold per quarter per press reports, you will be able to find some Macs showing pretty much any misbehavior you want to find. With millions in use, you’re going to get matches.


As for M1, how that is designed is somewhat different than how previous Macs were organized, as the memory is (performance-wise) located closer to the processor, and is faster, and the main SSD storage itself is running at what were commodity RAM speeds from not that long ago.


Here? Remove the cleaning app, and remove the anti-malware.


The RAM is always full on Macbook Pro 2020, M1 chip

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