How can I free up or clear RAM on my Mac?

Check Memory Pressure, rather than how full the memory looks. macOS uses spare RAM for caching and releases it when needed, so high usage alone does not mean something is wrong.

Try these steps:

1. Open Activity Monitor > Memory and check the Memory Pressure graph at the bottom. Green generally means memory is being managed well; persistent yellow or red suggests your workload needs more memory.
2. Click the Memory column to sort apps by usage. Start with apps you recognize and are not using.
3. Save your work, then quit those apps with Command + Q. Closing the red window button does not necessarily quit an app.
4. Close unnecessary browser tabs. If the browser keeps using unusually large amounts of memory, quit and reopen it.
5. Under System Settings > General > Login Items, turn off unnecessary apps that launch automatically.

Avoid force-quitting unfamiliar system processes such as kernel_task, WindowServer or launchd. Use Force Quit only when a familiar app will not close normally, because unsaved work may be lost.

You do not need a RAM-cleaner app. If Memory Pressure stays green while the Mac feels slow, check the CPU tab and available storage too; RAM may not be the cause.