When you've had a smartphone for a while it can start to feel slow, and RAM — random access memory, which is where your phone stores its stuff as it's using it — can be part of the problem.
If your phone doesn't have enough RAM it can struggle, but there are ways to address that.
You can even create extra RAM without cracking the case or reaching for a soldering iron.
what is RAM (Random Access Memory)?
RAM is what your device uses when it's doing something. For example, when you're editing a photo both the photo and the app you're using to edit it are in the device's RAM; when you finish editing the photo is then saved to your device's storage so it can't get lost.
The more RAM you have the more you can do, so for example you can have more browser tabs open, more apps running or more system features doing their stuff.
The problem with RAM is that it isn't always emptied properly, and apps don't always behave.
Some apps and system processes run when you don't need them to, and others don't clean up after themselves when they quit.
After a while those issues can produce noticeable results such as slow performance, lagging and stuttering, and the odd crash.
Like internal storage, RAM is a
physical component of your device so you can't just stick more in.
What you can do, though, is use it more efficiently — or use some clever tricks to create RAM from other kinds of storage.
RAM — shown here in desktop form —
is physically limited in every device. Unlike PCs, you can't just stick more memory into your phone or tablet.
How to increase the RAM of your device
In this section we're going to explain how to increase your RAM with a rooted device.
The trick involves creating a partition on your SD card, which will act as a secondary source of RAM.
To do this, we will be using the ROEHSOFT RAM Expander (SWAP)app. You can download it
here
Here is the Play Store description of it:
- *.Free SD card memory as a RAM use(SWAP RAM / SWAP MEMORY)
- *.Swapfile RAM expansion up to 4.0 GB (file system limit)
- *.No limit on SWAP partition!
- *.The usual performance degradation when paged not occur with SD card from class-8
- *.Widget for PNP swap (swap on / offswap)
- *.Detailed Memory Information & Analysis
- *.Autorun
- *.Swappiness kernel parameter set
- *.Easy foolproof use (1 click optimization and automatic calculation)
- *.Supporting Tung all Android devices (root access and Kernel swap support)
- You will need a class 4 SD card at a minimum, but for best results you should use a higher class.
- Check the compatibility of your device
Before using ROEHSOFT RAM Expander, you will need to check that your device is compatible.
Start the app and give it SuperUser rights.Click 'start ram expander test here' at the bottom of the screen.
Select the SD-card or Ext SD-card. Then press 'Click for result'.
- If 'Congratulations' appears, your device is compatible with the RAM expander app!
- Use the MemoryInfo & Swapfile Check app to see if your device's firmware is compatible.
- If you have a compatible handset, download and start the ROEHSOFT RAM-EXPANDER (SWAP) app and start the application.
- Give it root permissions and select your language (you can choose English, German or French).
- Use the slider to select the amount of space you want to allocate to your SWAP partition.
- Tap 'optimal value' to automatically adjust the settings for the best performance, and 'autorun' should also be enabled.
- The last thing you need to do is tap 'Swap Activ' to complete the process.
- Tap optimal value, and make sure autorun is enabled, before tapping Swap Activ. / © ROEHSOFT
Your system should now have more RAM, and thus better performance, thanks to the support of your SD-card.
(Note that this process will mean that the SD card is no longer accessible from a computer.)
Did these suggestions work for you? Do you know any other good ways to get more RAM?
16:39:00
