Have you been asking, where is RAM in Device Manager? Well, you won’t find it there. That's because, regardless of your Windows version, RAM is simply not listed in Device manager as it doesn't need drivers to work. However, there are other ways to check RAM specifications like using Windows Settings or an app like CPU-Z.
Some years ago, I was trying to find out how much RAM a used laptop I bought had. I checked Device Manager and couldn't find anything about my installed memory. After some research, I discovered that you can't find your RAM capacity there. However, I was able to find other ways to do this.
So, if you're wondering, where is RAM in Device Manager, this article will answer that question. Let's get right into everything you need to know.
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Device Manager is a Windows utility that allows you to manage pretty much every piece of hardware that's vital to your computer's functioning. However, you might notice that your memory isn't anywhere to be seen.
Where is RAM in Device Manager? Well, it's nowhere. RAM doesn't show up here, no matter which computer or Windows OS you're on.
You can find other vital components of your computer in Device Manager, such as your CPU, hard drive, and even the battery in a laptop. However, you won't find RAM.
This is simply because a RAM stick doesn't need to have drivers installed for it to work properly. It's also volatile memory, which means that it never really stores any data permanently, so it doesn't need a solid link to Device Manager.
It will be needed from the first second your computer boots up. Your motherboard is made to communicate with it directly.
It's also better for your RAM to be inaccessible from Device Manager, as this might open it up to security compromises.
The fact that you can't see RAM in Device Manager doesn't mean that you can't see it at all on your computer.
There are quite a few places to check if you want to look at your device specs, including your RAM specs.
Below are 6 of the methods you can use to check right away.
A certain section in the Settings app, called "System", can give you a lot of information on the hardware specs for your computer.
The best part is that you can access this menu in less than ten seconds to view your total physical memory.
Here's how:
You can also check the amount of RAM available for use after the operating system takes its cut.
Using this section, you can check other specs besides your PC's RAM. These include your processor type, operating system information, and computer name.
This might seem similar to the above method, but System Information is a completely different utility in the operating system that lets you check your PC's hardware and software specs.
There are two quick ways to access this tool.
The first is by using the Windows search box:
The other way to open this tool is by using the Run utility:
The Memory tab in Task Manager is another great way to see your RAM size.
However, it comes with another advantage that the other methods don't provide. The Task Manager will let you see real-time memory usage. This way, you can see the apps that are currently using the most RAM.
The first thing you need to do is open Task Manager. There are three major ways you can do this.
Once you have opened Task Manager, open the "Performance" tab. On Windows 11, this is the second icon from the top.
From the Performance tab, click the "Memory" tab from the left sidebar. This page will show you more about the RAM stick or RAM sticks in your computer.
For instance, you can see your RAM size in the top-right corner. However, if you look at the bottom of this window, there will be basic information like how much memory is currently in use, as well as how much is available.
Perhaps the handiest thing this window presents you with is the ability to check your RAM speed, how many slots on your motherboard are being occupied by RAM sticks, and what RAM form factor you're currently using.
It's so cool to have the ability to see these specs. It means that you don't need to pop your computer open to check your free RAM slots or see your RAM form factor.
While the goal is to find out more about the memory in your PC, if you don't mind getting a glimpse into more hardware information, a third-party app is the best choice.
CPU-Z is easily the most reliable choice. The installation file is less than 2 MB and has a lot of great information.
To use it to check your RAM information:
CPU-Z is a pretty cool option to go with because apart from the memory section, you can take a look at CPU, motherboard, and graphics device information.
If your PC hasn't booted up yet, you still have one way to take a look at RAM info. That's by using the BIOS. This can also come in handy if you can't boot into Windows for some reason.
You can only access BIOS when your computer is starting up. Once it passes the point with the manufacturer logo on the screen, you won't be able to, unless you restart the PC.
How to access the BIOS depends on your manufacturer, but there are a few keys that you can use. As soon as you turn on your PC, press any of the following keys multiple times, or simply search online for the button your manufacturer opts for:
Once you've got into the BIOS, you need to look for a section called "RAM" or "Memory" settings. This depends again on the manufacturer. Laptop and desktop computers come with a variety of different BIOS layouts. You might also find what you want under an "About" or "System Info" menu.
Once you find the Memory settings, you'll be able to see how much RAM your PC has in total, and typically not more than that.
Windows PowerShell can pull data on your RAM and the RAM type you have.
It is somewhat similar to command prompt, at least on the surface. So, if you normally use command prompt, this should be easy.
There are three simple ways that I check my RAM speed, and thankfully, they're part of the methods I've shown you above.
You can use CPU-Z by going to the memory section and looking for the "DRAM frequency". Multiply it by 2, since your RAM is DDR (double data rate), and you'll get the actual speed.
You can also use the Performance section in Task Manager, which you'll find in the bottom-right corner of the Memory panel.
Finally, you can use the PowerShell command and look under the "Speed" column to see how fast each of your RAM sticks are.
We've been talking about Windows all this time, so here are the simple steps to follow to check your RAM capacity if you have a Mac:
You can click "System Report" and then "Memory" for more details on the RAM in your device.
If you want to know where RAM is in Device Manager, it doesn't appear in this Windows utility. It doesn't require drivers to work, so it doesn't show up as a device in your PC.
However, you can find out more about your RAM in Windows by going to the System section in the Settings app, using CPU-Z, opening the BIOS, using Task Manager, and more. Some even show you additional info like RAM form factor, speed, and memory type.
