Share this article

Improve this guide

How to Fix GPU Memory Leak Issues for Windows Games

GPU memory leaks are connected to the graphics card VRAM memory

6 min. read

Updated onMarch 19, 2024

updated onMarch 19, 2024

Share this article

Improve this guide

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

Key notes

Memory leak issues are not entirely uncommon on Windows PCs. When there’s a memory leak, software packages utilize excessive memory. Different types ofmemory leakscan arise for standard system RAM and graphics cards’ VRAM. Such leaks can have a notable impact on PC performance.

What’s VRAM?

VRAM (Video Random Access Memory) is a specific type of graphical RAM for temporarily storing graphics data. Dedicated graphics cards have their own VRAM for handling advanced graphics. Some NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards (GPUs) boast up to 16 GB VRAM.

What are GPU memory leaks?

A GPU memory leak is one that more specifically pertains to graphics cards’ VRAM. Such leaks typically arise because games and other graphics-intensive software don’t correctly release memory. Consequently,VRAM utilizationcan reach up to, and even eclipse, 100 percent for affected programs.

Such GPU memory leaks most commonly arise for Windows games, which are the most graphics-intensive software. When games utilize almost all available VRAM, notableframe rate dropscan occur. Such frame rate drops result in stuttering and slow gameplay.

In the worst cases, GPU memory leaks can crash games. For example, theOut of video memory erroris a widely reported one for games. When that issue arises, games crash when starting; and the error message shown directly below pops up.

Such issues will more commonly arise on PCs equipped with lower-specification graphics cards. The less VRAM a graphics card has, the more likely games will outstrip available VRAM when GPU leaks occur. Therefore, lowering graphical settings can often reduce the impact of GPU memory leaks.

If you ever need to fix a GPU memory leak for a game, various potential solutions might help reduce the excessive VRAM utilization. These are some of the more proven resolutions for fixing VRAM memory issues.

How can I fix GPU memory leaks in Windows?

1. Reduce in-game graphical settings

This resolution is primarily for fixing GPU memory leaks that don’t crash games. When a game doesn’t start up because of a VRAM issue, try adjusting graphical settings outside it as outlined in the next resolution.

2. Reduce your graphics card’s graphical settings

3. Run Steam games on DirectX 12

You can also adjust in-game DirectX settings for many games. If you don’t need to fix GPU memory leaks for Steam games, try selecting DirectX 12 via in-game graphical options.

4. Increase virtual memory allocation

5. Update your graphics card’s driver

However, the Update Driver utility isn’t always entirely reliable for updating drivers. So, it might also be worth running a scan with a third-party driver updater utility.

This driver updater software will better identify if your graphics card has an outdated driver and enable you to update it. Plus, due to its automatic scanning feature, it will notify you when your drivers go out of date.

⇒Get PC HelpSoft Driver Updater

6. Clean-boot Windows

If your graphics card has only a small amount of VRAM, it might be a good idea to get a newgraphics card. GPU memory leaks aren’t necessarily hardware issues, but a graphics card will less likely run out of VRAM for games when it has more of it. However, give the resolutions above a try first.

The potential resolutions above might make games’ GPU memory leaks arise for somewhat more playable. To resolve standard system RAM leaks for software, check out ourMemory leaks in Windows 10guide.

How to Fix GPU Memory Leak Issues for Windows Games#

What’s VRAM?#

What are GPU memory leaks?#

How can I fix GPU memory leaks in Windows?#

1. Reduce in-game graphical settings#

2. Reduce your graphics card’s graphical settings#

3. Run Steam games on DirectX 12#

4. Increase virtual memory allocation#

5. Update your graphics card’s driver#

6. Clean-boot Windows#