IgorMundstein/WinMemoryCleaner

Windows Memory Cleaner

WMC is a free RAM cleaner that effectively optimizes memory areas by utilizing the native Windows API. This can help improve performance when programs do not properly release allocated memory. Featuring a user-friendly interface and intelligent functionality, this portable application requires no installation; however, it does need administrator privileges to run.

💾 Download

🍫 Chocolatey

choco install winmemorycleaner

🍦 Scoop

scoop bucket add extras

scoop install extras/winmemorycleaner

📦 WinGet

winget install IgorMundstein.WinMemoryCleaner

🚀 Features

↕️ Compact Mode

The Compact Mode feature allows you to collapse the main window into a minimal view for at-a-glance monitoring. By clicking the arrow next to the minimize button, the UI shrinks to show only the most essential memory statistics and controls. This mode is ideal for users who want to keep an eye on their system’s memory usage without occupying much screen space. Toggle Compact Mode on or off at any time to suit your workflow.

🔔 System Tray (Notification Area)

The application provides quick access and information directly from the system tray.

• Menu: A right-click menu offers quick access to trigger an optimization or exit the application.

  • Optimize
  • Exit

• Notification: After an optimization, a notification appears showing the reason and the approximate amount of memory that was freed.

  

• Tray Icon Customization: The tray icon can be configured to:

  • Customize background, danger, optimizing, text, and warning colors
  • Display real-time physical memory usage instead of the app logo
  • Enable middle mouse click to trigger optimization
  • Set danger and warning level thresholds that automatically change icon colors
  • Use transparent background when showing memory usage
  • Visual rotation effect during optimization

🧬 Technical Deep Dive: How It Works

WinMemoryCleaner provides a user-friendly interface for powerful, documented Windows API functions. There are no tricks or secrets—just direct access to the tools needed to manage your system's memory effectively. Each cleaning function targets a specific memory area, and its availability depends on your Windows version.

Here’s a breakdown of what each function does and the minimum supported Windows version required to use it:

🔴 The Problem: Inefficient Memory Management

Modern operating systems are good at managing memory, but they aren't perfect. Over time, RAM can become cluttered with cached data from closed applications (Standby List) or held unnecessarily by running processes (Working Set). This leads to system slowdowns, stuttering in applications, and reduced responsiveness, especially on systems with limited RAM.

The market for PC utilities is plagued by "RAM boosters" that use deceptive tricks and offer no real, verifiable benefits, creating deep-seated skepticism among users.

✅ The Solution: A Transparent, Evidence-Based Tool

WinMemoryCleaner is the antidote to "snake oil" utilities. It does not use undocumented hacks or harmful tricks. Instead, it provides a clean, user-friendly interface to powerful, native Windows API functions that give you direct control over your system's memory. It is a tool built on transparency, proof, and respect for the user.

🔎 Proof of Concept: See It Work Yourself

Don't take our word for it. You can verify the effects of this tool using Windows' own Resource Monitor.

1. Open Resource Monitor (search resmon.exe in the Start Menu).
2. Go to the Memory tab. Observe the blue "Standby" portion of the bar. This is RAM used for caching files from closed programs.
3. Now, open and close a few large applications (a game, a browser, Photoshop). Watch the blue "Standby" section grow.
4. In WinMemoryCleaner, select only the Standby List and click Optimize.
5. Watch the Resource Monitor again. The blue "Standby" memory will instantly drop, and the light green "Free" memory will increase by the same amount.

This is a direct, verifiable demonstration that the application converts cached memory into truly free memory, ready for your next task.

🔒 Trust & Integrity

We understand that users are rightfully skeptical of system utilities. This project is built on a foundation of verifiable trust and transparency.

🔑 Automated & Secure Builds (CI/CD)

Every official release of WinMemoryCleaner is built, signed, and published automatically by a CI/CD pipeline using GitHub Actions. The entire process is defined in the public release.yml workflow file in this repository. This ensures that the distributed executables are compiled directly from the source code hosted on GitHub, eliminating the potential for manual error or intervention.

🔑 Verifiable Code Signing

Since version 3.0.0, we have been digitally signing our files through SignPath.io using a free certificate provided under the SignPath Terms of Use. The project received the certificate in recognition of its popularity and public value in the open-source community. This process ensures that we distribute authentic files that have not been tampered with.

A digital signature proves two things:

• Authenticity: The publisher of the file is who they say they are.
• Integrity: The file has not been altered or tampered with since it was signed.

You can verify the signature by right-clicking the .exe -> Properties -> Digital Signatures

🔑 Microsoft Defender SmartScreen

Even with a valid digital signature, Microsoft Defender SmartScreen may initially flag a new release with a "Windows protected your PC" warning.

This happens because the application is new and has not yet built a strong reputation with Microsoft. This is a standard, reputation-based security measure. By running the app, you help it build a positive reputation, which will cause this warning to disappear more quickly for other users. We appreciate your trust and understanding.

🔑 Independent Security Scans

Each new version is automatically submitted for analysis to leading security platforms, including VirusTotal and Hybrid Analysis, to ensure it is free from threats.

💻 Automation & Deployment

You must run these headless operations with administrator privileges.

🔳 Console Mode

Run optimizations silently for scripting and automation. Use any combination of the following arguments:

• /CombinedPageList
• /ModifiedFileCache
• /ModifiedPageList
• /RegistryCache
• /StandbyList or /StandbyListLowPriority
• /SystemFileCache
• /WorkingSet

> Command-line example:

{path}\WinMemoryCleaner.exe /ModifiedFileCache /StandbyList /WorkingSet

⚙️ Windows Service Mode

For continuous, hands-off optimization, install the application as a background service. The installation will close some processes to install or uninstall the service without requiring a system restart, and log files will be generated along with the .exe file. Some application settings will be modified based on recommendations. You can still open the application (GUI) and configure it as desired. The service will utilize these settings.

✅ Install Service:

{path}\WinMemoryCleaner.exe /Install

❌ Uninstall Service:

{path}\WinMemoryCleaner.exe /Uninstall

🔧 Troubleshooting

⚠️ Application flagged as Malware/Virus:

One of the reasons for this false alarm is that the application adds entries to the registry and creates a scheduled task to run at startup. Windows doesn't suggest letting applications with administrator privileges run at startup. I understand that, but this is the required method for this functionality. I apologize, but the application cannot perform a deep memory clean without administrator privileges.

This is a common issue that persists with every new app version. I constantly submit the executable to Microsoft. Usually, it takes up to 72 hours for Microsoft to remove the detection.

Solutions:

• Recommended: Use a Package Manager — If you frequently encounter false positive detections, auto-update issues, or SmartScreen warnings, we strongly recommend installing via Chocolatey, Scoop, or WinGet. These package managers provide:

  • Automated update mechanisms that bypass Windows security warnings
  • Community-verified distribution channels
  • No manual download/verification steps required
  • Reduced exposure to false positive antivirus flags
  • Simplified version management with single-command updates

  Example update commands:

  choco upgrade winmemorycleaner
  

  scoop update winmemorycleaner
  

  winget upgrade IgorMundstein.WinMemoryCleaner
  

• If auto-update fails or you need a verified build, download the latest release from the Download section above or the Releases page and manually replace your existing WinMemoryCleaner.exe. Run the new file as administrator.

• Long-term solution: please submit the app to Microsoft for malware analysis to reduce false positives: submit for analysis

• Quick workaround: add an exclusion to your antivirus app allowlist or to Windows Security

Verify & replace executable (safe replacement)

If you suspect the binary is corrupted, tampered, or the auto-update fails, follow these safe-replacement steps.

• Simple (non-technical):

  1. Download the latest release from the Download section above or the Releases page on GitHub.
  2. Right-click the downloaded file → Properties → Digital Signatures and verify the signer and timestamp.
  3. Rename your current WinMemoryCleaner.exe to WinMemoryCleaner.exe.bak (backup).
  4. Move the new WinMemoryCleaner.exe into place and run it as administrator.
  5. If the new version works, delete the .bak. To roll back, restore the .bak file.

• Advanced (recommended best practices):

  1. Export current settings (registry): reg export "HKLM\Software\WinMemoryCleaner" WinMemoryCleaner-reg-backup.reg

  2. Download the official release and obtain the published SHA256 from the release notes (if provided).

  3. Verify the file hash:

     Get-FileHash .\WinMemoryCleaner.exe -Algorithm SHA256
     

• 4. Verify the Authenticode signature:

  Get-AuthenticodeSignature .\WinMemoryCleaner.exe
  

  Confirm Status is Valid and signer is expected.

5. Stop running instances (and scheduled task if present) before replacing:

   Stop-Process -Name WinMemoryCleaner -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
   

6. Backup and replace safely:

   Move-Item .\WinMemoryCleaner.exe WinMemoryCleaner.exe.bak
   Copy-Item C:\path\to\downloaded\WinMemoryCleaner.exe .\
   Start-Process .\WinMemoryCleaner.exe -Verb RunAs
   

7. Check Event Viewer (eventvwr → Windows Logs → Application) for errors. Roll back by restoring the .bak and re-enabling tasks if needed.

🔄 Reset to Factory Defaults

⚠️ Use this to restore factory defaults - If the app keeps crashing, won't open, or is stuck in a loop, this will terminate frozen windows, disable auto-update, and restore the application to its factory default state.

What happens when you reset to factory defaults:

• All your custom settings are reverted to the application's factory defaults (your language choice is preserved)
• Any frozen or stuck app windows will be closed
• Auto-update is turned off and must be re-enabled manually in the application settings
• The app returns to its original state

Command to run (one-line)

{path}\WinMemoryCleaner.exe /Reset

Step-by-step (guided)

1. Click Start, type cmd.

2. Right-click Command Prompt → Run as administrator.

3. Type (or drag-and-drop) the full path to WinMemoryCleaner.exe, then type a space and add /Reset.

   Example:

   "C:\Downloads\WinMemoryCleaner.exe" /Reset
   

   💡 TIP: Drag and drop WinMemoryCleaner.exe into the Command Prompt — it inserts the full path. If the path contains spaces, enclose it in double quotes before adding /Reset.

4. Press Enter.

5. The app will reset and close. Open it normally to use it again.

📋 View Application Logs

All optimization activities and essential operations are logged to the Windows Event Viewer for a transparent audit trail.

Steps to view logs:

1. Press Win + R, type eventvwr, and press Enter
2. Navigate to Windows Logs > Application
3. Look for events with the source name Windows Memory Cleaner

🛠️ Complementary Tools

While Windows Memory Cleaner excels at efficiently managing and freeing up memory, the following tools can provide even deeper insights into your system's memory usage and help with advanced troubleshooting:

🔧 Process Explorer

An advanced task manager from Microsoft Sysinternals that goes beyond what's available in Windows Task Manager. It provides comprehensive information about processes, including their memory usage, handles, and DLLs. Useful for identifying specific applications or services that might be consuming excessive memory.

🔧 RAMMap

A powerful physical memory usage analysis utility from Microsoft Sysinternals. RAMMap provides detailed, real-time information about how Windows is allocating physical memory, including how much is in use by processes, drivers, the kernel, and various cached data. It also contains some cleaning features that address certain memory areas similar to Windows Memory Cleaner. It's an excellent tool to use alongside WinMemoryCleaner to understand precisely where memory is being used before and after an optimization.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

💭 Is this app still useful on modern PCs, and how is it not 'snake oil'?

This is an excellent question that gets to the core of this project's philosophy.

The short answer: Yes, it's still useful for a massive number of users, and it's the opposite of snake oil because it's built on transparency and verifiable proof.

The longer answer: We've all been burnt. The PC utility market has a dark history of deceptive "boosters" that preyed on users' frustrations. They were the T-Virus of the software world, promising performance but often making things worse with shady, undocumented tricks. That history creates a lot of justified prejudice.

WinMemoryCleaner is the antivirus serum. It's not a magical cure-all, but a targeted, clean, and honest tool. Here's why it's different and still relevant:

• It's for the Majority, Not Just the Elite: While a brand-new PC with 64GB of RAM might not see a dramatic difference, that's not the reality for the average user. To understand what typical PCs look like, we can look at the Steam Hardware & Software Survey, which collects data from millions of gamers worldwide. According to this survey, the most common amount of RAM is just 16GB. This tool is built for that majority: the student with an 8GB laptop, the gamer on a budget with 16GB, and the developer running multiple virtual machines who needs to reclaim every last megabyte to keep their system running smoothly.
• It Gives You Control: Modern Windows is good at memory management, but it's automated. It doesn't know you're about to launch a massive game and need all available RAM right now. This tool lets you make that decision yourself by clearing cached memory (the Standby List) on demand.
• It's Verifiable: As shown in the "Proof of Concept" section, you don't have to trust us blindly. You can use Windows' own tools to see the app working in real-time. We're not hiding anything.
• It's Built on Honesty: The code is open-source, and every function it performs is a documented, native Windows API call. We are simply providing a safe and easy-to-use interface for powerful system maintenance tasks that already exist.

This project exists to serve the users who were left behind by the march of technology, and to restore faith that a utility can be both effective and honest.

💭 What are the project requirements?

• Logging to Windows Event Viewer
• Minimalistic user interface using Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and single-page application (SPA) architecture
• Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) design pattern
• No third-party dependencies
• Portable (Single executable file)
• Right-to-left language support and bidirectional text
• Use of S.O.L.I.D. principles in object-oriented programming (limited due to the legacy .NET 4.0 framework)
• Use of Windows API methods for memory management
• Windows retro-compatibility (Windows XP, Server 2003, and later)

💭 Where does the app save the settings?

They are saved in the Windows registry path Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\WinMemoryCleaner

💭 Why has the app been flagged as Malware/Virus and blocked by Windows Defender, SmartScreen, or Antivirus?

One of the reasons for this false alarm is that the application adds entries to the registry and creates a scheduled task to run at startup. Windows doesn't suggest letting applications with administrator privileges run at startup. I understand that, but this is the required method for this functionality. I apologize, but the application cannot perform a deep memory clean without administrator privileges.

That's a common issue that persists with every new app version. I constantly submit the executable to Microsoft. Usually, it takes up to 72 hours for Microsoft to remove the detection. It helps if more users submit the app for malware analysis

Meanwhile, as a workaround, you can add an exclusion to Windows Security

🌐 Translation

If you're a native speaker of a language other than English, you can contribute by translating the English.json file.

Please note: Translated texts should be provided in lowercase. The application will automatically handle capitalization as needed for the user interface.

🔬 How to Test Your Translation

You can test any translation by creating a file alongside the executable:

1. Visit https://ss64.com/locale.html to get the locale description for your language.
2. Save your translation as {locale-description}.json using UTF-8 character encoding.
3. Launch the application. If successful, the new language and your changes will be visible.
4. Once tested, please either submit a pull request or submit the file via the Translation Request issue template.

👨‍💻 For Developers

If you are a software developer, you can integrate the new file directly into the project:

1. Add the new file to the Resources\Localization folder.
2. Change the file's Build Action property to Embedded Resource.
3. Rebuild and run the WinMemoryCleaner project.

When new versions require translation updates, we may use AI tools to provide a baseline. We always value and encourage contributions from native speakers to refine and perfect these translations.

❤️ Contribute to the Project

In the past, I faced challenges with the proper hardware and software needed to fully enjoy technology and gaming. It was a constant battle to squeeze every last drop of performance out of a limited machine.

Although I may not rely on this tool as much as I once did, I continue to maintain it in my free time for a simple reason: to assist others who still encounter similar challenges. This project is a contribution to the field of technology and a tribute to the wonderful open-source community that supports us all.

If you find this app helpful, please consider tipping. Your contribution helps keep the project alive, optimized, and free for everyone.