0

My 2015 Mac Book pro is running low on memory, and so it has switched to using the swap space. Though now the swap space is taking up all the computer's virtual memory. Is there any way to delete the swap space. I usually restart the computer to get back that space, but there has to be a smarter and easier way to get back that space.

enter image description here https://i.sstatic.net/nyiT7.png

Out of disk space: enter image description here https://i.sstatic.net/FWV8J.png

Also is there anyway to find out how that space is being used, like which applications are using the swap space?

Improve this question
3
  • 1
    You need to make Activity Monitor look at all processes not just yours see View->All Processes. To make the memory go down close applications
    – mmmmmm
    Commented Aug 2, 2021 at 17:45
  • @mmmmmm - there's nothing wrong with the memory handling. The drive is critically over-full.
    – Tetsujin
    Commented Aug 2, 2021 at 17:47
  • @Tetsujin yes agreed I just read the text of the questiion and not looked at the actual swap value - That swap size is minimal and reducing it makes no real impact on the HD usage. If it was several GB then that might matter but not in this case
    – mmmmmm
    Commented Aug 2, 2021 at 17:51

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

You are thinking of this from the 'wrong side'.

Swap space is your virtual memory.
Swap space is essentially a high tide marker. if your Mac doesn't need the space, it doesn't need to try to aggressively reclaim it.
Your Activity Monitor screenshot shows "no issues".

Your actual issue is that your tiny boot drive is far too full for safe, normal operation.

Speculation
The issue that arises may be because the part of the OS handling memory is itself unaware of how full the drive is & always assumes if it needs memory, the drive is going to be there to provide it. It it isn't, then problems occur.
This perhaps then masks the actual issue from user perception.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .