High Inactive Memory

It's actually for programs that are still open but not active (No windows displaying). So try shutting down the programs you no long are using.

Spac3Monkey wrote:

I do seem to get a high Inactive Memory volume.

Could this be faultly memory?

No. Inactive memory is memory allocated which hasn't been requested recently; it may become active, or it may be paged out. Explanation here

Using Activity Monitor

<http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1342>

For the average user, Page Outs would be the most relevant figure -- it shows if excessive swapping occurs. You have no such problem. So, unless you are experiencing specific problems, stop worrying about this stuff and start enjoying your Mac and being productive -- that's what you got it for, right?

Shootist007 wrote:

It's actually for programs that are still open but not active (No windows displaying).

I'm afraid that's incorrect (see HT1342).

It is not totally incorrect. Open a bunch of programs, then close their windows leave the programs running. Shut each one down one at a time and watch Activity monitor. Inactive memory stays the same while the programs are open and no windows displayed, the same as when the windows were open. As you close the the programs inactive memory drops.

Thanks

Shootist007 wrote:

As you close the the programs inactive memory drops.

Sometimes, yes. But I just quit that well-known memory hog, iTunes, and inactive memory went slightly up, from 584MB to 585.6MB; so, sometimes, no.

I think you are misled by your Windows experience; although the two OSs are similar, there are some fundamental differences, and memory allocation to apps and windows is among such differences. Read HT1342; if it's not detailed enough, follow the link to "Memory Usage Performance Guidelines" (a fundamental doc for understanding Mac OS X VM) and read About the Virtual Memory System > Page Lists in the Kernel.

There are evident problems in memory management in os x ...

please, take a look at my post: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3899357

also, i recorded a screen video, where the system starts to hang when all the free memory is gone, and inactive memory is 4-5 GB !http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5wZwZh61_4&feature=player_embedded

Yes i have this problem too I upgraded 4gb to 8gb to 16gb ram and it says inactive memory 6gb any ideas how i get more space without using any memory cleaners app?

So I just had this problem. I have just upgraded to Mountain Lion AND upgraded to 8GB. I've been watching Activity Monitor a lot lately as I use a lot of music programs. So far it's been great with the system rarely going beyond 5gb and no page outs. Until just before...

I had Chrome, iTunes and Evernote running. I was copying a link from Chrome to Evernote while iTunes was playing music in the background. When I tried to Command+V, Evernote locked up with the spinning beach ball for 20seconds. iTunes continued to play fine throughout. I went back to Chrome to get more stuff to copy... back to Evernote and the same thing happened again. I look at Activity Monitor and notice I have 5.8gb inactive, 3.8mb Page Outs and 8.1mb Swap used. The only other thing i've had on in this session is Spotify for an hour or so.

I've since closed everything... an hour has passed and there is still 5.8 gb inactive. I'm going to reset now but this seems pretty abnormal.

Just so you know, you can free most of your inactive memory using these steps:

- Quit all open applications

- Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal)

- Run this command: purge

If you view activity monitor, most of your inactive memory has been freed!

You can also use a third-party software called Free Memory or Memory Clean which can be found in appstore.