Cybersecurity experts at Kaspersky have warned that smartphone features such as “RAM Plus” or memory expansion may reduce battery life and impact the lifespan of internal storage. According to experts, smartphones already equipped with 6GB or 8GB RAM generally do not require additional virtual RAM support. Disabling this feature through device settings can reportedly reduce lag issues and improve overall phone performance within minutes. Many Android smartphone makers provide virtual RAM features by default, but experts claim switching them off can help improve processing speed, reduce battery drain, and make the device operate more smoothly during daily tasks and gaming sessions.
What Is Virtual RAM and Why Can It Slow Down Your Phone?
Many Android smartphone brands, including Samsung, Xiaomi, and Realme, allow users to expand RAM virtually by 3GB, 4GB, or even 8GB. Once enabled, the phone starts using a portion of its internal storage as temporary RAM. However, physical RAM is significantly faster than internal storage memory. Due to this speed difference, background data transfers become slower and place additional pressure on the processor. As a result, apps may open slowly, games may lag or freeze, and the battery may drain faster. Experts say users with phones already carrying 6GB or 8GB RAM usually do not need this feature at all.
How To Disable ‘RAM Plus’ or ‘RAM Extension’ on Android Phones
Open the “Settings” application on your Android smartphone.
Scroll down and tap on “Device Care” or “About Phone,” depending on your device model.
Look for the “Memory” or “RAM” option and tap on it.
Inside the memory section, locate the feature named “RAM Plus,” “RAM Extension,” or “Virtual RAM.”
Since the feature is usually enabled by default, switch the toggle off immediately.
After disabling the setting, restart your smartphone so the new changes can be applied properly.
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Important Tips To Keep Your Smartphone Running Smoothly
Clear App Cache Regularly
According to official Android support guidelines, social media applications such as Instagram and Facebook store large amounts of temporary cache data over time. Users should regularly clear cache files through Settings > Apps > Storage > Clear Cache to maintain smooth device performance and free up unnecessary space.
Keep At Least 15% Internal Storage Free
Experts recommend keeping at least 15 to 20 percent of internal storage empty at all times. When a phone’s storage becomes completely full, its performance can drop significantly, leading to slower app loading, lagging, and reduced responsiveness.
Limit Background Processes
Users can also improve performance by visiting Developer Options and setting the “Background Process Limit” to “At most 4 processes.” This helps prevent unnecessary RAM consumption and reduces excessive background activity, resulting in better overall speed and smoother phone operation.