Memory exceeding at launch and crashing system

[zsc722]

I'm having some major memory issues on my 2018 Macbook pro and hoping to find some answers here. Since yesterday (out of the blue) the laptop has been crashing due to memory running out on the machine.

The activity monitor doesn't seem to show anything out of the extraordinary, but the numbers don't seem to make any sense (photo attached). The Swap usage goes up above 50GB and then computer crashes..

I tried restarting, and after I open the Activity monitor, with in 2 minutes the memory grows and everything freezes.

I am unsure how to go about this problem. I've cleaned up my desktop, and the disc is only 60% full. Any leads would be much appreciated.

View attachment 848726

 

[jtara]

Did you view processes sorted by memory use? What's using all that swap?

What new apps have you installed recently? Do you habitually leave applications open, and then allow them to re-open on reboot? Don't.

"Cleaning up your desktop" has NOTHING to do with this. Unless you mean terminating applications that you leave open.

BTW, your attachment is missing. Dunno if this is some MacRumors problem?

 

[NoBoMac]

Lots of browser tabs open? And never clear browser history or cache?

Installed some "free" software that has crypto-currency mining malware along for the ride? Might try running MalwareBytes. And Etrecheck.

 

[zsc722]

Did you view processes sorted by memory use? What's using all that swap?

What new apps have you installed recently? Do you habitually leave applications open, and then allow them to re-open on reboot? Don't.

"Cleaning up your desktop" has NOTHING to do with this. Unless you mean terminating applications that you leave open.

BTW, your attachment is missing. Dunno if this is some MacRumors problem?

Thank you for your response.
I sorted by memory use as well and the highest is WindowServer with 525 MB, then kernel task at 105 MB.
IS there a way to check what is using the swap? Sorry for the ignorance.

Browser history and cache is also cleared.

This was the file I uploaded