Game Out of Memory Error
What is this error?
A game ran out of system RAM or virtual memory. The process couldn't allocate more memory and crashed.
Common causes
- insufficient RAM for the game
- memory leak in game
- virtual memory/pagefile too small
- 32-bit game hitting 4GB limit
- background apps consuming RAM
How to fix it
- Increase virtual memory
- close background apps
- upgrade RAM
- check for 32-bit limitation
Too many steps? Crashless can diagnose this automatically — checks your drivers, temps, VRAM, and 400+ known error patterns.
Get free AI diagnosis Detailed analysis
"Out of memory" or "Failed to allocate memory" errors mean the game tried to use more RAM than available. This can happen even if you have plenty of RAM if the virtual memory (pagefile) is too small.
Common in modded games (Skyrim, Minecraft, Cities: Skylines) and large open-world titles.
How to fix it:
- Increase virtual memory: System Properties > Advanced > Performance Settings > Advanced > Virtual Memory > Change > set custom size to Initial 8192MB, Maximum 24576MB (or larger)
- Close RAM-heavy background apps: Chrome (each tab uses 100-500MB), Discord, Spotify, wallpaper engines
- Check RAM usage in Task Manager during gameplay — if you're near 100%, you need more RAM or fewer background apps
- For 32-bit games (check if the .exe is 32-bit), they have a hard 4GB memory limit. Look for a 64-bit version or a Large Address Aware patch
- If the game is modded, reduce your mod count — mods add memory usage. Memory management mods exist for games like Skyrim (Engine Fixes) and Minecraft (FerriteCore)
- Upgrade to 16GB or 32GB RAM if you currently have 8GB — modern games regularly use 12-16GB
- Make sure RAM is running in dual-channel mode (two sticks in matching slots) for better performance
When to seek help
If this error keeps happening after trying the fixes above, it may point to a deeper hardware or system issue. Consider professional help if:
- The crash occurs across multiple games or applications
- You see the same error after a clean Windows install
- Your PC is less than a year old (could be a warranty issue)
- You smell burning or hear unusual sounds from your PC
Or let Crashless do the deep analysis for you -- our AI checks drivers, temps, event logs, and 400+ known patterns automatically.
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