5 Effective Methods to Lower Dell SupportAssist High Memory Usage

Dell SupportAssist is notorious for its excessive memory usage, often consuming more than 90% of RAM, which can lead to Windows PC crashes. This issue is particularly prevalent in versions v3.13 and v3.14, mainly due to memory leaks associated with the IoT connection using the Microsoft Azure SDK.

However, that’s not the sole cause. The combination of frequent scans and limited system resources can also result in elevated memory usage by the Dell SupportAssist Agent!

Before diving into the solutions, it’s advisable to restart the computer, end the SupportAssistAgent.exe process via Task Manager, and ensure that the latest Windows updates are installed.

How to Address High Memory Consumption by Dell SupportAssist

1. Upgrade to Dell SupportAssist v4.0.3

Dell has recognized the memory leak issue in the SupportAssist Agent and issued a patch in version 4.0.3 released in May 2024. Users have reported a significant reduction in high CPU or memory usage after updating the software.

When you open Dell SupportAssist, a notification may appear, indicating that a newer version is available. Simply follow the prompts to install Dell SupportAssist v4.0.3 and you’re all set!

2. Turn Off Automatic System Scans

1. Launch Dell SupportAssist, navigate to the Settings tab, and select Scans and optimizations.
   

   

2. Uncheck the options for Check for software updates, Scan hardware for issues, and Test system performance.
   

   

3. Restart your computer and monitor for improvements.

In some instances, Dell SupportAssist’s significant RAM usage was linked to continuous hardware scanning and background checks for software updates. Therefore, disabling all three can help reduce memory consumption!

3. Disable the Dell SupportAssist Service

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
2. Scroll down, right-click on the Dell SupportAssist service, and select Properties.
   

   

3. From the Startup type dropdown menu, select Disabled, and click on Stop under Service status.
   

   

4. Click Apply, then OK to save your changes.
5. Finally, restart your computer and check for improvements.

4. Eliminate Dell SupportAssist from Startup Applications

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, then navigate to the Startup apps tab.
2. If the Status column next to Dell SupportAssist shows Enabled, select it, and click Disable.
   

   

3. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

If the elevated memory usage by Dell SupportAssist occurs right after turning on your PC, it’s likely set to launch at startup. Therefore, you will need to adjust the startup applications and remove Dell SupportAssist from the list.

5. Uninstall Dell SupportAssist

1. Press Windows + R to launch Run, type appwiz.cpl, and hit Enter.
2. Locate Dell SupportAssist in the list, select it, and click on Uninstall.
   

   

3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process.
4. Also, remove any related applications associated with Dell SupportAssist and restart your computer.

If you are unable to resolve the high memory usage despite trying everything, removing Dell SupportAssist might be your final resort. If a standard uninstallation doesn’t clear the problem, consider using a reliable third-party uninstaller to eliminate any remaining files and registry entries, effectively removing all traces of the program!

Keep in mind that Dell SupportAssist does not offer any unique functionalities. Features like malware scanning, driver updating, performance optimization, and network boosting are already integrated into Windows. Thus, uninstalling the software won’t mean losing out on essential features.

If you have questions or want to share which method worked for you, feel free to leave a comment below.

Author: Egor Kostenko

My goal is to make complex technical topics simple and accessible. On this site, I gather unique and useful content that not only solves users’ problems but also helps them better understand the capabilities of Windows.