Microsoft has introduced performance improvements to Windows 11, targeting computers with 8GB of RAM. The updates aim to make everyday tasks smoother, improve multitasking and reduce memory usage.

The changes come as memory shortages and rising component prices put pressure on PC manufacturers. Some makers have responded by offering computers with less RAM.

According to Microsoft, Windows 11 can now keep up to 2GB more active data in memory through improved memory management and compression. This reduces the need to move data to slower storage and helps apps and browser tabs reload less frequently.

Windows 11 Apps Become More Responsive

Microsoft says Windows 11 is now up to 20% more responsive on PCs with 8GB of RAM.

The improvements cover everyday features, including the Start menu, Search, Settings, Snipping Tool and File Explorer.

Windows also prioritises resources for active applications. At the same time, it reduces background activity, such as search indexing, when users are working.

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Microsoft’s internal testing also found that multitasking could be up to 40% faster in a specific test involving multiple browser tabs, video playback and Microsoft 365 files.

Edge and Teams Receive Performance Improvements

Microsoft Edge and Teams have also received optimisations.

When Edge is already running in the background, Windows can connect to it directly. Microsoft says this can make opening a new Edge window up to 33% faster.

Teams can enable Efficiency Mode by default on computers with 8GB of RAM. Microsoft says this can improve launch times by up to 20% while reducing resource usage.

The browser also puts inactive tabs to sleep after 15 minutes by default. This helps reduce memory consumption during longer sessions.

Microsoft 365 Uses Less Memory

Microsoft has also improved memory efficiency across Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

The company says these changes save a combined 360MB of memory across the Microsoft 365 apps.

In multitasking tests involving Windows, Edge and Microsoft 365, the improvements reduced committed-memory growth by up to 900MB.

Windows Widgets also load only when users open them on PCs with 8GB of RAM or less. This saves approximately 200MB of memory while the feature remains closed.

How to Get the Windows 11 Improvements

Microsoft says the latest performance improvements are available through Windows 11 updates. Users should install Windows 11 version 26H2, build 26300.9818 or later, and keep Edge, Teams and Microsoft 365 updated.

Users can check for updates through Settings, Windows Update, and Check for updates. They can also enable the option to receive the latest updates as soon as they become available.

Microsoft says 8GB of RAM can support many everyday activities. However, demanding tasks such as advanced video editing, 3D modelling and large-scale data processing still benefit from 16GB or more.

The latest changes are part of Microsoft’s broader effort to improve Windows performance and make lower-memory computers more responsive.