VMMEM High Memory Usage: Fix the Problem & Boost Performance

Vmmem, or Virtual Machine Memory Manager, is a crucial Windows operating system component that manages memory usage in virtual machines. However, it is not uncommon for users to encounter high memory usage issues with Vmmem, which can cause system slowdowns and affect overall performance. This article will discuss effective ways to fix the Vmmem high memory usage problem and improve your system’s performance.

What Causes the Issue With Vmmem?

There can be several reasons for this issue, including:

• Outdated or incompatible virtualization software: When outdated, it may not be optimized to work with the latest version of Windows, which can cause memory management issues. Incompatibility with your computer hardware can also cause Vmmem to consume high amounts of memory.
• Incorrect virtual machine configuration: When virtual machines are configured with more memory than they need, it can cause the Vmmem process to consume excessive amounts of memory.
• Malware infection: Malware can run background processes that consume large amounts of memory, which can cause Vmmem to use up even more memory. It is recommended to update antivirus software to ensure maximum protection against malware regularly.

Is It Possible to End the Vmmem Process?

It is possible to end the Vmmem process, but it is not recommended. VMMEM is a critical system process that manages the memory usage of virtual machines in the Windows OS. If you terminate this process, it can cause virtual machines to malfunction or crash, and it can also cause instability in Windows itself.

So instead of trying to end the Vmmem process, check out the solutions we have enlisted here to help you resolve this issue.

Solutions to Vmmem High Memory and CPU Usage for Windows

There are several solutions to address this issue. Check them out below:

End All the Resource-Intensive Processes

If you are using resource-intensive applications or running software builds, it is not uncommon for a process called Vmmem to consume many resources. However, you can terminate these processes to free up resources for your device.

It is important to note that the steps to end these processes may vary depending on the host operating system. This article will outline the steps to end Vmmem processes on the Windows operating system.

1. Open the virtual machine.

2. Right-click the Windows icon and select “Task Manager” to open it.

3. Navigate to the Processes tab in the Task Manager.

4. Identify any processes consuming more than 70% of the CPU usage.

5. Right-click on the identified process and select “End task” to terminate it.

Adjust the Memory Allocation of Your Virtual Machine

To address the issue of high CPU or too much memory usage caused by Vmmem in Windows, you may need to adjust your virtual machine settings to prevent it from using excessive RAM. Allowing a virtual machine to use too much RAM can directly cause Vmmem to consume high amounts of memory and CPU resources. Adjusting the virtual machine settings can help prevent this issue and ensure system resources are used more efficiently.

Restart WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

You can try the following steps to address the high memory usage caused by VMMEM in Windows 10.

1. Open Command Prompt by typing “cmd” in the search bar and selecting “Run as administrator” by right-clicking.

2. In Command Prompt, enter the following command and press Enter to run the process: “wsl –shutdown.”

3. If the above command does not work, navigate to the wslconfig file in File Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E.

4. Open the wslconfig file and add the code “[wsl2] guiApplications=false”.

5. Save the changes and restart your computer to terminate VMMEM altogether.

Removing the added code may be necessary to get Windows users to use Linux GUI apps. Windows 10’s Vmmem-WSL connection works by running Vmmem as a sub-process of the Windows Subsystem for Linux, which allows Linux executables to be run natively on Windows.

Disable the Running Virtual Machine

If the previous solutions do not resolve the issue of high memory usage by Vmmem in Windows 10, terminating the running virtual machine may be a viable option.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Windows PowerShell as an administrator by searching for “Windows PowerShell” in the search bar and selecting “Run as administrator.”

2. Type the command “wsl -l -v” in the PowerShell command line to view a list of all running virtual machines on Windows 10.

3. Terminate the desired virtual machine using the command “wsl -t <name-of-virtual-machine>.” Be sure to replace “<name-of-virtual-machine>” with the actual name of the running process on your PC. Please note that the “t” stands for “terminate.”

Increase the Allotted Resources

One reason for VMMEM’s high CPU and memory usage is that the virtual machine may not have enough host resources allocated to it, especially when running demanding tasks or software builds. For Hyper-V users, adjusting the virtual machine’s settings can help resolve the issue:

1. Open Hyper-V Manager.

2. Right-click the virtual machine from the list and select “Settings.”

3. On the Settings page, you can adjust the memory and processor settings.

4. If the virtual machine is running, you need to restart it for the changes to take effect

Limit Resources Manually for WSL

If your computer’s resources are strained due to excessive demands by WSL, you can limit its usage to avoid this. Please note that this method only works with WSL 2 on Windows Builds higher than 19041. If you haven’t installed WSL 2 yet, check out our article on how to do so before following these steps:

1. Launch Windows Command Prompt as an administrator.

2. Enter “wsl –shutdown” and press Enter.

3. Close the Command Prompt window.

4. Open the WSL.

5. Replace “YourUsername” with your actual username and enter the following command: editor “$(wslpath “C:\Users\YourUsername.wslconfig”)”

6. Press Enter.

7. In the editor, add the following configuration: [wsl2] memory=5GB (the limit can be adjusted according to your RAM size).

8. Press CTRL + X.

9. Type “Y” and press Enter when prompted to save the changes.

10. Press Enter again to confirm the location.

11. Repeat steps 1-3.

12. After restarting WSL, run the following command to confirm that the resources have been successfully allocated: free -h –giga

By following these steps, you can limit WSL’s own resource consumption and usage and prevent it from overburdening your computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion: Master VMMEM Memory Usage and Enhance Your PC’s Efficiency

The constant lag and slow performance can hinder the completion of tasks and cause stress. It is important to take the necessary steps to address this issue to ensure the smooth operation of your system.