Chrome Reveals Memory Usage Per Tab for Better Performance

Unlocking Chrome’s New Memory Usage Reporting Feature

Google is rolling out an innovative capability in its Chrome web browser that enables users to monitor the memory consumption of each tab. Currently available in Chrome Canary, this feature is set to debut in stable versions by 2024. Curious to get a head-start? You can activate it now. Additionally, this feature is supported in other Chromium-based browsers such as Brave and Vivaldi.

This feature revolutionizes tab management, turning a simple hover action over an open tab into a valuable diagnostic tool. Not only will Chrome reveal individual tab memory usage, but it will also indicate when the Memory Saver function has temporarily suspended a tab to enhance system performance. Moreover, audio playback on tabs will be highlighted, enabling easy identification of active media.

How the New Memory Reporting Works

Powered by the recently introduced hover cards, this feature allows users to quickly pinpoint problematic websites. If you experience general sluggishness while browsing, hovering over your tabs can elucidate which one is the likely culprit. By right-clicking on the tab, you will have immediate access to options such as reloading or closing the troublesome tab.

For deeper insights on this feature, Google’s head of Chrome Developer Experience, Addy Osmani, has shared detailed information on Medium regarding how memory consumption reflects both the active page and its associated background processes.

Enabling the Memory Usage Feature

To see memory usage for tabs in Chrome, you may need to activate this feature first. Follow the steps below:

Enter chrome://flags/#memory-saver-memory-usage-in-hovercards in the browser’s address bar.
Switch the setting to Enabled.
Restart Google Chrome to apply changes.

With this configured, not only will you see the memory utilization of opened tabs, but you will also gain visibility into memory use of internal pages within Chrome.

Memory Saver: A Game-Changer for Performance

The Memory Saver feature is part of a broader suite of performance enhancement tools offered by Google. Alongside this, the Energy Saver function helps to extend battery life for laptop users.

Memory Saver actively recovers memory by putting inactive tabs into sleep mode. When you switch back to a dormant tab, it immediately restores functionality. This is particularly advantageous for users managing numerous tabs, as Chrome reports that it can potentially reduce memory use by up to 40%, freeing up to 10GB of memory—a significant benefit for intensive browsing sessions.

Conclusion

The newly implemented memory usage reporting tool presents an invaluable resource for both regular Chrome users and developers, enabling the identification of resource-heavy tabs. This functionality paves the way for optimized web experiences and more efficient development practices.

Now You: Would you take advantage of a memory reporter tool if available in your browser?

Additional Insights

1. How does the Memory Saver feature affect my browsing experience?

Memory Saver enhances your browsing experience by reducing the amount of RAM consumed by inactive tabs, which can lead to smoother performance, particularly when you have many tabs open.

2. Can I manage which tabs are preserved when Memory Saver is active?

Absolutely! You can specify which sites you want to remain active by navigating to chrome://settings/performance and adding them to the exceptions list for Memory Saver.

3. Is this feature available on all devices running Chrome?

While the memory reporting feature is being rolled out in stable versions of Chrome, it is available now in Chrome Canary. Ensure your Chrome is up-to-date to utilize these enhanced features.

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