A method for managing memory for applications in a computing system includes receiving a selection of a preferred application. During user-controlled operation over the application, the transitions of selected application between foreground and background are monitored. A retention of the application in memory is triggered upon a transition of the application to background during the user operation. Retention of the application includes compressing memory portions of the application. Accordingly, the application is retained within the memory based on said compressed memory portions. A requirement to restore the retained application is sensed based on either a user selection or an automatically generated prediction and the application is restored from the retained state back to the foreground.