How do I extend the working memory on my smartphone, so that my smartphone works better?

Quinten Jochems

More and more smartphones have a smart function on board that promises to make your device faster and smoother. This is possible because a (small) part of your storage memory (ROM) is used for the working memory (RAM). This all sounds a bit technical and the idea that storage memory can expand your memory seems a bit strange at first sight. In this article we explain step by step what RAM is, how it works with your storage and what such a RAM extension does.

What is RAM?
Ram stands for Random Access Memory And is the memory of your smartphone. This includes data from apps that you are using at that time, such as switching between WhatsApp and your photo gallery. As long as both are active, your phone will keep the information temporarily in the RAM so that everything appears quickly on your screen. This memory is many times faster than your storage memory (such as your internal storage or micro-SD card. But RAM is also limited: if it gets full, your phone must choose which apps get space and that can make your device slower or lead to apps have to recharge.

What exactly does a RAM-outer do?
A RAM extension helps your smartphone to continue to work smoothly by smartly managing memory, especially when you use many apps at the same time or get full the memory. Instead of making your device slow or that your apps are forced to be closed, the RAM extension comes into action. It does this in two ways: by cleaning up unused apps in the background and by temporarily using part of the storage memory as an extra memory. Below we explain how this works

RAM expand: Storage memory as an extra memory
Your smartphone has different ways to efficiently manage the working memory. One of the techniques is Memory Guardian: This automatically gets apps that you have not used for a long time from the RAM and moves them temporarily to the storage space. This ensures that more workspace remains for the apps that you actively use, without your device becoming noticeably slower. But what if your RAM is already full and you need several apps at the same time? Then the RAM extension comes into action. Part of your storage memory (for example 2, 4 or 8 GB) is temporarily used as an extra memory. This works as follows: your smartphone reserves a piece of the storage if the ‘real’ RAM is full and then the device temporarily moves to that reserve spot. This extra memory is slightly slower than the real RAM, but prevents your phone from closing off apps or having to load again. You can compare this with a side table next to your work table: it is not ideal, but useful if it is busy.

What is the name of the RAM expanding with various brands?
How much extra ram you can add differs per brand and device. Some phones let you add 2 GB, others up to 8 or even 12 GB. In many cases you can set this yourself via the settings.
Here are a few examples of what it is called at various brands:
• Samsung calls it ram plus
• Xiaomi calls the memory extension
• Oppo calls the RAM Expansion
• Google also calls it RAM Expansion
• Nothing calls the ram booster
Although the name differs, the idea is the same everywhere, making extra temporary memory with the help of your storage space.

How do you turn on the RAM extension?
Unfortunately, not all smartphones have such a RAM extension. Follow a number of steps below to check if your smartphone has this. Incidentally, many smartphones are already on the RAM broader, but sometimes not on the maximum available memory. So for this you follow the steps below. In our example we use a Samsung telephone (Galaxy S24 Ultra), because in the Netherlands and Belgium, Samsung is by far the market leader in Android smartphones.

Step 1: Open your settings
First open your settings on your smartphone and enter settings in the Settings search window. Or wipe down from the top of your screen and press the gear at the top right. Then scroll down until you Device maintenance Then see and then press it.

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Step 2: Go to working memory and open ram plus
In the screen Device maintenance See you 4 options: Choose the third option Memory And press that.

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Scroll all the way down and until you are at the very bottom Ram Plus sees. Press to open Ram Plus.

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Step 3: Adjust extra memory as desired
Now you are at the screen Ram Plus And you can adjust whether you want to increase (or reduce) extra memory. If you want more working memory, this will cost some storage memory. But in principle you have more than enough storage memory, so we advise you to use extra memory.