"Your system has run out of application memory."

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.

Apple menu (upper left corner) -> About This Mac -> Storage (tab)

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 non-pageable 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 non-pageable 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.pll

248GB of free storage eliminates that it is ‘A’, lack of free storage.

So when you get the error, it is processes that are consuming too much virtual memory.

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

open so you can see what processes are consuming all your memory.

The screenshots you show, where processes are using MB of memory are not the problem. It has to be a background agent or daemon, which you will only see via Activity Monitor, so keep a copy running.

You have 40GB of RAM. The offending process, or processes must be consuming 10’s and 10’s of gigabytes. When you get the you are out of application memory, the Activity Monitor information should be obvious.

Of the 2 screenshots, ONLY the PDFChef 2022 is using any significant memory, and since you have 40GB of RAM, a trivial 2.24GB is nothing.

So either you are filling up that 248GB of free space with swap and page files, or you have background processes that are out of control

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

WHILE, the "Your system has run out of applications memory" is on the display.

The processes listed in the "Your system has run out of applications memory" dialog are innocent apps, and you need to look elsewhere for the guilty.

Edward M. Baum wrote:

One more question for you guys:

From your experience, is there a preferred software program for keeping the Mac in shape, other than First Aid in Disk Utility? Diskwarrior? TechTool? Something else?

Thanks again for all your help!

No.

At most, I use something to find large files when I want to do some spring cleaning. In the past, I've used OmniDiskSweeper http://www.omnigroup.com/more

But constant monitoring programs that claim to clean up, keep your system safe, etc... just consume system resources, slow down your Mac, and some of them do the wrong thing.

And your Applications Memory problem has to do with the software you installed and are running, and you need to find the memory hogs. Well many you are running out of free space, so doing some house cleaning might be a good idea if your Activity Monitor watching does not find the offending process(es).

Suggest the user Open Activity Monitor >> View >> View ALL Processes

Look in CPU Tab for applications or processes using very high CPU.

Do the same in Memory Tab

Users choice to provide a screen shot of each tab and post back using the " Insert Image " icon ( second to last )

Edward M. Baum wrote:

Thanks, Luis and P.

The system drive is a 2 TB internal HD with 248 GB free.

Also, attached is the application memory warning right now.

Sorry, that did not come through...

The numbers seem really high for everyday applications. Not like the Photoshop, Vectorworks, and Sketchup Pro I'm usually working with.

A question: I'm considering replacing the 2 TB internal drive with a 4 TB SSD internal drive. How much of an improvement in speed could I expect? I like everything about the 27" iMac for my work and would like to keep it in top form.

Going with an SSD is a good idea, but to replace the internal drive (if it is possible, as P. Phillips noted) is a delicate operation that requires basically disassembling the whole machine.

Instead, I would go with an external SSD. It may not be as speedy as an internal, but it will still run circles around your existing drive. Instead of a major surgery, which would be costly and where there is always a risk that something breaks, you can just connect a cable and be done with it. Plus, you can still use the internal for additional storage or backup.

You could add an SSD with a USB-C connector and a speed of around 900MBps, vs the internal (probably) around 150MBps tops...

Or, if you feel so inclined (though I don't think it justifies the price), one with Thunderbolt connectivity and some 2500MBps. But beware that there are diminishing returns. In day to day, you'd hardly notice the difference, but price...

A few things that stand out immediately from the report:

You have had some kernel panics. This could a hardware problem, but I suspect software.

You have the hideous "cleanmymac" that most of us here regard as tantamount to malware.

You have several old things that are no longer supported, and have not been for some time - like divx, installed in... 2008, flip4mac.

You have startup items, something that has been deprecated ever since 10.10 Yosemite...

Startup Items:

AdobeVersionCueCS2 Path: /Library/StartupItems/AdobeVersionCueCS2

WkSvMacX Path: /Library/StartupItems/WkSvMacX

And you have two external drives that are completely full.

I see that you have two backup drives, which is nice.

I would start by completely removing cleanmymac.

In addition to what P. Phillips said: how much free space on your system drive?

Typically two conditions can lead to this "out of application memory" occurrence: an application or process that tries to allocate a ginormous amount of memory (possibly due to a "memory leak" bug in it), and the free space on the system drive running so low that the OS cannot allocate space for virtual memory on the drive.

Excellent alternative presented re: Replacement drive options

If and only if the User ( you ) whats to see more of everything happening on the present setup and my Colleague may second this suggestion ➡️

Download the Application Etrecheck directly from the Developer.

This is a Diagnostic Tool that makes no changes to the computer.

It makes a coherent and readable inventory of both the Hardware and Software used on the computer 

The application is free or paid from added features. 

The Report will Not Reveal Any Personal Information. 

Post back the Full Report - copy and paste - >>>> using the Additional Text Icon ( 3rd Icon to last ) <<<<

We can have a look at the report for possible issues and may have possible suggestions to resolve the issues

Very very much agree with @Luis Sequeira1 regarding " BrickMyMac " aka CleanMyMac application.

Certain Applications maybe available on the Apple Apps Store - this only means the Developer is prepared to pay Apple a portion on each sale. What the Application may do to the computer is up to the User to check this out before purchase

Any of the below should be removed as per Developers Instructions 

1 - Disk Cleaner 

This will include CleanMyMac , 

Read some of the posting and arrive at your own conclusions.

Specific to CleanMyMac aka " BrickMyMac "

The steps in #1 below is predicated on the Offending  Application has been Removed as per the Developers Specific Instruction 

# 1 Some Contributors suggest restarting in Recovery Mode and choosing to Reinstall the Operating System over  the existing installation. 

This may or may not replace elements of the Entire Operating System including the Home Folder ( User Account )  and replace any corrupted or removed elements of the Operating System and make thing right.

#2 - Then there are Other Contributors ( like myself ) would suggest  from this link Use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple silicon.

For Intel computer >> Use Disk Utility to erase an Intel-based Mac followed by How to reinstall macOS

Thereafter to start from scratch and install all Required Application directly from the Apple Apps Store or Directly from the Developer.

If going this route - I suggest Not using Startup Assist to migrate things back as this will probably Re-Introduce the existing  issue that existed when the TM Backup was made 

I think it is worth succinctly summarising what the other contributors have advised: your machine needs to be cleaned up and restored to as-new status before copying back your data and reinstalling your essential software

Fusion Drive from I am seeing but stand to be corrected

Which is going to an Issue even if it is possible to Replace the Drive with an ALL SSD Drive

The entire Machine has to dismantled by Experts

Then there is the Downtime and costs