What causes "Slack Using Too Much Memory"?

Electron framework bundles a full browser engine Several workspaces signed in at once Long sessions without restarting Large cache and many open huddles/canvases GPU rendering issues on some machines

How do I fix "Slack Using Too Much Memory"?

1. Sign out of workspaces you rarely use: Click the workspace icon > Sign out of the workspace Open occasional workspaces in a browser tab instead 2. Clear the cache: Help > Troubleshooting > Clear Cache and Restart 3. Restart Slack regularly: Fully quit Slack (Cmd+Q / File > Quit) at the end of the day instead of minimizing it Reopen it the next morning 4. Turn off hardware acceleration if Slack overheats your machine: Open Preferences > Advanced Disable hardware acceleration and restart Slack (users report this helps with heat/CPU on some Macs) 5. Use the web app: Open app.slack.com in a browser you already have running Close the desktop app

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Slack Using Too Much Memory

Ongoing Mac, Windows, Linux Updated October 21, 2026

Quick answer

Slack's desktop app runs on Electron, so it uses a lot of RAM, and usage grows with every signed-in workspace and long session. Sign out of unused workspaces, clear the cache, restart Slack regularly, or use Slack in the browser.

Most likely fix: Sign out of workspaces you rarely use.

Symptoms

Slack Helper processes use gigabytes of RAM, the computer slows down or fans spin up while Slack is open, or Slack lags when switching channels.

Why it happens

Electron framework bundles a full browser engine
Several workspaces signed in at once
Long sessions without restarting
Large cache and many open huddles/canvases
GPU rendering issues on some machines

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

1. Sign out of workspaces you rarely use
1. Click the workspace icon > Sign out of the workspace
2. Open occasional workspaces in a browser tab instead
2. Clear the cache
1. Help > Troubleshooting > Clear Cache and Restart
3. Restart Slack regularly
1. Fully quit Slack (Cmd+Q / File > Quit) at the end of the day instead of minimizing it
2. Reopen it the next morning
4. Turn off hardware acceleration if Slack overheats your machine
1. Open Preferences > Advanced
2. Disable hardware acceleration and restart Slack (users report this helps with heat/CPU on some Macs)
5. Use the web app
1. Open app.slack.com in a browser you already have running
2. Close the desktop app

This guide also covers

slack using too much memory
slack high memory usage
slack ram usage
why is slack so slow
slack helper high cpu

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