2024 iMac M4 "system has run out of application memory"

Question

Level 1

8 points

2024 iMac M4 "system has run out of application memory"

I purchased a 2024 24 inch iMac M4 with 24GB of Ram and 2T of storage. I received a system message saying my "system has run out of application memory" and it opened Force Quit. Since this happened, it is slower to respond and hangs up while opening applications. I have never had that happen before. I replaced my 2015 28inch iMac which was a workhorse for 7 years and only began to slow down a year ago. This obviously concerns me. Is this model a lemon? Should I return it and get one with even more RAM? I work my Mac's pretty hard, mostly because they have always been able to effortlessly handle it.

Please advise.

iMac (M4, 2024)

Posted on Dec 1, 2025 9:16 PM

Reply

Answer 1

den.thed

Level 10

90,700 points

Dec 2, 2025 7:57 AM in response to smw.nyc

First thing to do, is to find out if the iMac is low on RAM or Storage Space.

To do that without having to respond to different instructions from several users.

Download and run the free version of EtreCheckPro, from > https://etrecheck.com/en/index.html

Then post back here with your Report, as per > How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community

Reply

Answer 2

kaz-k

Level 9

51,084 points

Dec 2, 2025 4:14 AM in response to smw.nyc

Hi,

Only way to avoid "System has run out of application memory" error is close the applications which you don't need to run or close Safari or other browsers tabs.

Reply

Answer 3

XDevNima

Level 1

23 points

Dec 2, 2025 4:07 AM in response to smw.nyc

Check the applications you’ve installed. Specially those open at login items and allowed in the background. There may be app(s) using huge amount of your RAM.

Also they may be some services running and making your system out of RAM that you can find in activity monitor.

If couldn’t find anything, try resetting and reinstalling your apps.

Your 24GB RAM is enough for most of the things except you do specific things with your Mac.

Reply

Answer 4

Dec 2, 2025 5:04 AM in response to smw.nyc

Are you nearly out of free storage on the SSD? If so, free up some, and test again.

Reply