One executable. If you skip the installer, just unzip and run MemoryCleaner.exe.
Free memory in one click, or let it clean on its own.
Takes back the cache Windows is holding on to and the memory running programs aren't using right now. It cleans on its own when usage gets high, at a fixed interval, or when cache piles up and free memory runs low — and it leaves full-screen games and videos alone.
MemoryCleaner.exe100 KBexecutable
~1 MBwaiting in tray
What happens in memory when you clean?
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01
Programs left running for hours
Running programs rarely let go of memory once they take it, and part of it is memory they aren't using right now.
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02
Files you read stay as cache
Windows keeps files it has read as cache (the standby list) in case they're needed again. As it builds up, free memory keeps shrinking.
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03
One click on Clean memory
It takes back memory programs aren't using right now, the file cache, and cache that's unlikely to be used again, so free memory grows. While it works, the button changes to Cleaning.
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04
Only the cache, before games stutter
When the cache goes over its threshold while free memory drops below its threshold, it purges just the cache ahead of time and leaves programs alone. It acts only when both conditions are met.
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05
Stronger — the * items
Turning on Standby list * and Modified page list * also frees the entire cache and memory waiting to be written. That frees the most, but games and videos may stutter for a moment, so they start off.
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06
Close the window, it goes to the tray
Closing the window doesn't quit it — it keeps cleaning automatically from the tray. It also lets go of the memory the window used, so while waiting MemoryCleaner itself uses only about 1 MB.
Sizes and values in the picture are examples to help explain.
A memory cleaner shouldn't be heavy itself
Memory MemoryCleaner itself uses while it waits in the tray with the window closed.
No runtime or framework to install. It runs right away on Windows (64-bit).
Rewritten in pure C in 3.0.0: the executable is about 98% smaller and memory use while waiting in the tray dropped by up to 95% or more compared with earlier versions.
Choose what to clean
On by default
File cache
Cache Windows builds up while reading and writing files
On by default
working set
Memory running programs aren't using right now
On by default
Standby list (low priority)
The part of the cache least likely to be used again
On by default
Registry cache
Cache built up while reading the registry
On by default
Combine memory
Merges identical memory contents into one to free space
Off by default
Standby list *
The entire cache
Off by default
Modified page list *
Memory waiting to be written to disk
Items marked * can cause brief stutters during games or video playback, so they start off. Both the Clean memory button and automatic cleaning follow these items.
Set the conditions, and it cleans on its own
When usage passes a threshold
Set separate thresholds (30 – 90%) for physical memory, virtual memory and working set usage. If cleaning doesn't bring usage down, it waits before trying again instead of cleaning over and over.
At a fixed interval
Pick 5 · 10 · 20 · 30 · 40 · 50 · 60 minutes and it cleans at that interval regardless of usage. Good for PCs that stay on for long periods.
Skips full screen
While a game, video or presentation runs full screen, automatic cleaning is skipped. On from the start.
With a click on the tray icon
Turn on Clean when you click on the task icon to clean with one click on the icon, without opening the window. A notification appears when it's done.
Anti-stutter for games — try it yourself
Sometimes a game stutters more and more the longer it runs, until only restarting it helps. When cache builds up and free memory runs out, Windows has to reclaim that cache in a hurry, which makes the game stutter for a moment. The cache is purged only when both conditions are met.
| Installed memory | Purge when free memory (MB) is lower than |
|---|---|
| 8 GB | 4096 (default) |
| 16 GB | 8192 |
| 32 GB | 16384 |
No need to turn it on only while gaming. It acts only when the conditions are met, so just leave it on.
Waiting — conditions not met yet
Program preview
MemoryCleaner
MemoryCleaner
Physical4,659 MB / 32,612 MB (Usage: 14.29%) Virtual5,573 MB (17.09%) working set2,188 MB (6.71%) Cached9,210 MB (28.24%)
Purge when cached (MB) is higher than Purge when free memory (MB) is lower than
* May stutter during games/video
ver: 3.0.1
MemoryCleanerOptimized memory.
The numbers are examples.
When you want to…
Clean memory right now
Click Clean memory on Home. Click it once when your PC feels sluggish after running many programs for a long time, or right before launching a big game or editing program.
Clean from the tray icon without opening the window
Turn on Config → Clean when you click on the task icon, and a single click on the tray icon cleans memory. While this is on, open the window with a right-click on the tray icon → MemoryCleaner.
Check memory status without the window
Hover over the tray icon to see physical memory · virtual memory · working set usage — enough to judge whether cleaning is needed without opening the window.
What does "Cached" mean?
Cached on Home is memory Windows keeps in case it's needed again — the same value as "Cached" in Task Manager. A large value isn't bad in itself, but if games stutter, try cache purging.
Start automatically with Windows
Turn on Config → Run on system start, and MemoryCleaner starts quietly in the tray shortly after you sign in to Windows — without an administrator permission prompt. It's on from the start in the installed version.
Does it keep running after I close the window?
Yes. Clicking the window's X doesn't quit it; it goes to the tray and keeps cleaning automatically. To quit completely, right-click the tray icon → Quit and confirm.
What if I quit while it's cleaning?
The button changes to Exit after cleaning, and the program ends once cleaning is finished. Cleaning is never cut off halfway.
Reset all settings
Click Defaults at the bottom of Config and confirm to return all auto clean and clean target settings to their defaults. Run on system start is left as it is.
I ran it again while it was already running
Only one MemoryCleaner runs at a time. Running it again while it's in the tray doesn't start a new copy; it opens the window of the one already running.
Free. Anywhere, no strings attached.
Installer Recommended
- Launches as soon as setup finishes
- Run on system start is turned on
- Starts in the tray when you sign in to Windows
Portable (ZIP)
- Unzip and run
MemoryCleaner.exe - One executable in the 100 KB range
- Same features as the installer
- Windows 64-bit
- Administrator rights click Yes in the prompt when it starts
- Internet only for new-version notices
- Freeware at work, at home, in government offices or at school
Recent changes
Version 3.0.1
- Fixed display issues caused by DPI settings on affected systems
Version 3.0.0
- Rewrote MemoryCleaner from Delphi in pure C for faster and more stable performance
- Reduced background memory usage by more than 95 percent for lighter long term operation
- Reduced the application size by approximately 98 percent for faster startup and a smaller footprint
- Added the option to choose exactly which memory areas to clean
- Added a new automatic cleanup feature that clears cached memory when available memory runs low
- Added cached memory size and usage information directly to the main screen
- Improved default cleanup settings to help reduce interruptions while gaming or watching videos
- Fixed an issue where cleanup could appear to fail on some PCs when a specific item was unavailable
- Enhanced error detection to help identify and resolve unexpected shutdowns faster
- Added a button to restore all settings to their defaults
- Fixed an issue where update checks might not complete correctly on some PCs
- Removed unnecessary permission requests and improved overall reliability
Version 2.0.3
- Improved fullscreen detection for uninterrupted gaming and video playback
- Enhanced stability by preventing errors that could occur during shutdown on some systems
- Fixed incorrect completion notifications when memory cleanup fails
- Optimized automatic cleanup to prevent excessive repeated cleaning on certain systems
- Prevented configuration errors caused by corrupted or outdated settings
It does not update itself. When a new version is out, it tells you at startup.
Frequently asked questions
Is it really free?
Yes. MemoryCleaner is freeware. Use it for free without restriction anywhere — at work, at home, in government offices or at school — and redistribute it freely.
Why does it ask for administrator rights?
Cleaning other programs' memory and the Windows cache requires administrator rights. Click Yes in the prompt that appears when it starts. No prompt appears when it starts through Run on system start.
Won't cleaning make things slower?
The clean targets that start on are the ones that don't get in the way of games or videos. The * items that can cause brief stutters start off, automatic cleaning is skipped in full screen, and if cleaning doesn't bring usage down it doesn't clean again right away.
What's the difference between the installer and the portable version?
The features are the same. The installer launches it as soon as setup finishes and turns on Run on system start. For the portable version, unzip it and run MemoryCleaner.exe.
Does it update automatically?
No. It checks for a new version at startup and lets you know; clicking [Yes] opens the download page and closes the program. The internet connection is used only for this notice.
How is the display language chosen?
It follows the Windows region setting and falls back to English if the language isn't supported.