Checking RAM on your Android smartphone: A simple guide

Ever wondered what that “RAM” you see in phone specifications actually means? In a nutshell, RAM, or Random Access Memory, works like your phone’s short-term memory, holding data from the apps you’re currently using. This lets you switch between them quickly and pick up right where you left off. 

The more RAM you have, the more apps your smartphone can juggle at once, thus keeping things speedy and responsive. This is especially important for multitasking, running demanding games, or using feature-rich apps, as ample RAM ensures a frustration-free experience. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the simple steps to check the amount of RAM on your Android smartphone.

Why do smartphones need RAM?

Before we explain how you can check how much RAM your smartphone has, let’s understand why it’s important and why your phone needs it in the first place. Essentially, we need RAM in our phones for smooth multitasking and app performance. Just like a computer or laptop, your phone uses RAM to store information from actively used apps.

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This includes the operating system, open apps, and any data they’re working on. RAM is super fast, allowing the phone to quickly access and switch between tasks without lags. Without enough RAM, your phone would struggle to keep up, forcing it to close apps in the background and making everything slower.

How to check RAM on an Android smartphone

Checking the amount of RAM on your Android smartphone is a simple process. Knowing your RAM capacity helps you understand your phone’s multitasking capabilities and overall performance. There are two methods to get information about your RAM depending on your Android version and phone manufacturer. Here’s how you can check the RAM on your Android smartphone:

Method 1: Using Settings

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.

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2. Navigate to Battery and Device Care. If you own a Samsung smartphone, you’ll see the Device Care option just below the “Digital Wellbeing and parental controls” option.

3. Look for a section labelled Memory. This will display information about your RAM usage, including the total amount available and how much is currently in use.

Method 2: Using Developer Options 

Note: You might need to enable Developer Options first.

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.

2. Scroll down and tap on About phone.

3. Find the option labelled Build number and tap it rapidly seven times. You might see a message like “You are now a developer” after a few taps.

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4. Go back to the main Settings menu. You should now see a new option called Developer Options.

5. Tap on Developer options.

6. Look for a section labelled Memory. This will display information about your total RAM capacity.

And that’s how you can check how much actual RAM is present on your Android phone. Knowing how much RAM your device has helps you use it efficiently for multitasking, gaming, and running apps smoothly.