Error: Your system has run out of application memory.

BelledeMatias wrote:

I have an iMac, M1, 2021, 8GB, and 256g Memory.

I keep getting the message: Your system has run out of application memory.

I've done everything I can think of to "clean up my mac", but the error continues to be a nuisance. I used Etresoft and received the following diagnosis:

   Failing hard drive - This computer has a hard drive that appears to be failing.

    Low disk space - This computer is running critically low on free hard drive space.

As for the "Low disk space" will purchasing an external hardrive to store my documents & photos help resolve the solution?

<My EtreCheck Report.log>

8GB is RAM (memory)

256GB is SSD (storage)

Both of these are about as tiniest you can get these days and I would conisider the bare minium— I would not have high expectations without quitting an app and relaunching if the app that is using all your RAM...

and rebooting the Machine more frequently.

If your drive is failing take it in— <Failing hard drive - This computer has a hard drive that appears to be failing.>

Check your coverage

My Support - Official Apple Support

Make an appointment for a "hardware issue"

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Outside the USA

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

Learn how to get your Mac fixed and how much it will cost. Mac Repair Service Mac Repair & Service - Apple Support

Get your Mac ready for service - Apple Support Get your Mac ready for service - Apple Support

You have also installed third party Anti-virus...<McAfee>

third party Anti-Virus does nothing but add issues and compete directly with Apple’s® own built in Security:

Uninstall all third party apps that are Cleaners/Optimizers/Anti-Virus/VPN

macOS - Security - Apple macOS - Security - Apple

Apple Platform Security - Apple Apple Platform Security - Apple Support

There are 2 reasons for the "Your system has run out of application memory" dialog box.

A) Your boot disk has very low free storage, and macOS cannot create page/swap files to offload virtual memory contents to disk. This is generally not the case, but I mention because if you do have very low free storage, it might apply. Depending on how much virtual memory is being called for, anything under 50-100GB of free storage may trigger the message.

B) A process (or set of processes) have asked macOS for excessive amounts of virtual memory address space. Virtual memory address space requires macOS to create Virtual Memory Page Tables in the kernel address space to keep track of the application virtual addresses given out. Generally, if there is a memory leak (process asks for a virtual address range, uses the addresses, forgets to give them back, asks for another virtual address range, uses the addresses, forgets again, wash, rinse, repeat), eventually there are so many virtual memory page table entries trying to keep track of the virtual addresses, that macOS no longer has memory available for applications, and you get the "Your system has run out of application memory"

If you look at

Applications -> Utilties -> Activity Monitor -> View (menu) -> All Processes -> Memory (tab)

you can see what processes are using lots of memory. Many of these processes will NOT be applications. Just background agents and daemons used to provide many of the macOS services, as well as 3rd party background processes doing whatever that 3rd party app thinks it should be doing.

Also keep in mind that each web browser tab will be a separate process running its own Javascript. If you have lots of browser tabs open, or if one of the browser tabs running Javascript with a bug in it, it is possible these browser tabs will add up to a lot of virtual memory demands, but no individual tab will look all that big.