Microsoft says PCs with 8 GB of memory are up to 20 per cent more responsive on Windows 11 version 26H2, in a post published on 3 November on the Windows Experience Blog by Pavan Davuluri, executive vice-president for Windows and Devices.
The figure covers six interactions: Search, Start, right-click, Settings, Snipping Tool and File Explorer. Microsoft says it comes from telemetry measurements of response times on PCs with 8 GB of memory, using Windows 11 OS build 26300.9550 compared with OS build 26200.7628. The company says actual performance varies by device, configuration, usage and other factors, and that rollout timing and availability may vary by device and region.
Davuluri wrote that Microsoft introduced memory optimisation as an area of focus in its Windows quality work in July, and that the post is an update on that work. He set out the approach in three parts: making better use of the memory in every Windows 11 PC, protecting the interactions that need to feel instant under load, and getting Windows and its apps to require less memory.
What Microsoft changed in how Windows handles memory
Windows compresses less-active data so it can stay in memory rather than being moved to the drive, a technique Microsoft says it has used for years. For 8 GB PCs, the company says it has tuned how much to compress, when to move data to storage and when to fetch it back. Microsoft says the result is that Windows can keep up to 2 GB more active data in memory instead of moving it to slower storage, so an app or tab left open is less likely to reload when the user returns. It attributes that change to build 26300.9550.
The post also addresses what Task Manager shows on an 8 GB machine, where most of the memory may already appear to be in use. Microsoft says that does not necessarily mean the PC is under pressure, because Windows puts spare capacity to work keeping useful apps and data ready, then reclaims or reprioritises it as needs change. The test is whether the PC stays responsive, not how much memory remains unused, according to the post. Davuluri compared memory to a desk: when more is open than the desk can hold, Windows moves something to a drawer, which is the drive, and fetches it back when it is needed again.
Microsoft says Windows delivers the response-time improvements by briefly prioritising the work the user asks for and backing off background tasks such as search indexing while the user is active. Davuluri wrote that the first few minutes after a restart from an update are a good test of this, because Windows has setup work to finish and should get on with it without making the user wait to open a browser.
Where the apps give memory back
Microsoft says inactive tabs in Microsoft Edge now go to sleep after 15 minutes by default, down from two hours, reducing the memory used by tabs that are not in active use.
On PCs with 8 GB of memory or less, Widgets now loads only when it is opened, which Microsoft says reduces memory commitment by roughly 200 MB while it is closed.
Microsoft Teams can turn on Efficiency Mode by default on 8 GB PCs, which Microsoft says reduces the system resources it uses while it runs. During meetings, Teams can adjust camera resolution to preserve processor capacity for audio, so a call stays clear when the PC is working hard, according to the post.
Microsoft says reports, screen recordings and upvotes submitted through Feedback Hub help it understand which experiences people share, and that diagnostic data then measures how widespread issues are and which PCs see them most. It says fixes are tested across more than 20,000 PCs in its labs, including current 8 GB models, using automated workloads based on browsing, working in Microsoft 365 apps, joining video calls and downloading files in the background, and using high-speed cameras to measure the time from an action to the result appearing on screen. The company says it returns to real-world data after an update ships to confirm the improvements hold up on 8 GB PCs.
How to get build 26300.9818
Microsoft says the improvements require Windows 11, version 26H2, build 26300.9818 or later, and sets out these steps:
- Open Settings > Windows Update.
- Turn on “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available”.
- Select Check for updates.
The company says users should also keep Microsoft Edge, Microsoft 365 and Teams updated, since some improvements arrive through app updates or through the Microsoft Store.
Further work is planned over the next few months, according to the post. Microsoft says it will make memory compression smarter and more efficient, and that Windows features and apps will share common parts rather than each carrying its own: Search and Widgets will share one web engine, as will OneDrive and Photos. Apps built on WinUI 3, including File Explorer, Notepad, Paint and the new Windows search, are being designed to open faster and use less memory. Microsoft says it is also working with PC makers and silicon partners on how much memory a PC reserves for its hardware, and with third-party developers on app memory use.
The post says “the workload still matters, and a PC with 16 GB or 32 GB can take on more”. Microsoft says demanding workloads such as 3D modelling, advanced video editing and large-scale data processing benefit from 16 GB of memory or more.
Image: Gaming PC-Setup – Astaroth- The Completed System by Brian Wong, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. The photograph is a stand-in showing a generic gaming PC setup, not an 8 GB Windows 11 machine. Derivatives remain under the same licence.