Software & Apps > Windows 46 46 people found this article helpful How to Replace the Memory (RAM) in Your Windows Computer Increase your Windows computer's processing power by adding RAM By Tim Fisher Tim Fisher Facebook Twitter Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability Emporia State University Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the SVP and General Manager of Lifewire. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on April 13, 2023 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Windows The Ultimate Laptop Buying Guide What to Know Before replacing, look up system memory limitations and research your motherboard compatibility.Replace RAM: Open computer with screwdriver > add RAM to open slots, or remove old RAM and replace.RAM replacement process may differ between desktop and laptop. This article explains how to replace the Random Access Memory (RAM) in your Windows PC. Before Replacing the RAM The type of RAM you need depends on the make and model of your computer and whether it's a desktop or a laptop. In addition, the computer's motherboard has strict requirements for which generation of RAM it will accept. So, be sure to look up the specifications for your machine. You also need to know which slots on the motherboard and in which combinations you can install the RAM modules. If you're not sure if you need to upgrade, consider freeing up the memory you already have. There might just be unnecessary strain on the memory that you can clear away to essentially "get more RAM" for free. If you are confident that the physical RAM sticks need to be replaced, see our Laptop Memory Buyer's Guide and Desktop Memory Buyer's Guide for information on how much memory is enough, limitations, the RAM types that are available, and more. Finally, to ensure you get the best RAM for your particular setup, make sure the memory is compatible with your motherboard. A great way to see what kind, and how much, RAM is currently installed is to use a free system information tool. How to Replace the RAM in a Computer After you purchase the correct RAM chips for your computer, open the computer and add them to empty slots intended for RAM chips, or you remove the old chips and replace them with new chips. See these Important Computer Repair Safety Tips before you begin work inside a computer. The specific steps necessary to replace the memory in your computer depends on whether you are replacing the RAM in a desktop or laptop computer. Below are links to illustrated guides that walk you through the process of replacing the RAM in your computer: How to Replace Desktop Memory How to Replace Laptop Memory Replacing memory is a simple task that anyone with a screwdriver and a little patience can complete in less than 15 minutes. See our Motherboard RAM Slots piece for more on how to use desktop and laptop RAM slots. How Much RAM Do You Need For Gaming? Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit