Google Chrome has introduced an incredibly useful addition that displays the RAM consumption of individual open browser tabs. Rolling out in the latest Chrome 119 for most desktop users, this feature allows you to identify any memory-intensive tabs that could be slowing down your system.
See Memory Usage Alongside Tab Names
The convenient new addition shows precise memory usage statistics when you hover over a tab. This includes the total RAM being utilized by active processes inside that tab, in addition to any background tasks and services that may be running. For inactive tabs paused by Chrome’s Memory Saver feature, this is also clearly flagged.
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Pinpoint Tabs Draining System Resources
With memory utilization visible at a glance for every open tab, users can now easily diagnose which individual sites or pages are hogging RAM and taxing their system resources.
This grants valuable insight to optimize browser speed by identifying culprit tabs to close or troubleshoot. No more digging through menus hunting for overall usage statistics.
Chrome’s Existing Memory and Energy Saving Modes
The granular tab reporting tool is an extension of Chrome’s existing Memory Saver feature, which conserves memory by automatically pausing the background processes of inactive tabs. This frees up RAM that active foreground tabs can then utilize for smoother performance.
There is also an Energy Saver mode to extend laptop battery runtimes by reducing animations and video frames.
Memory Saver Allows Active Tabs to Reclaim RAM Specifically, Memory Saver works by freezing tabs open in the background that have not been used for 5 minutes or more. All inactive tabs will remain visible and reload automatically when you return to them later, but the pausing frees up their memory for other running processes.
Energy Saver Extends Battery Life
Meanwhile, the Energy Saver reduces visual effects like transitions and limits FPS on playing videos when Chrome detects you are low on battery power. Users can configure their battery level threshold before Energy Saver activates, allowing them to balance performance versus battery longevity.
Conclusion
With the ability to easily analyze the individual memory footprints for all open tabs, Chrome now grants users stellar visibility into browser usage. Combined with existing efficiency savings modes, it promises faster, smoother, and less resource-intensive browsing.
