Windows 11 Gets Faster on 8 GB PCs: Microsoft’s Memory Improvements
Microsoft is continuing to optimise Windows 11’s memory usage, with improvements that should particularly benefit owners of PCs with 8 GB of RAM. According to Microsoft’s own measurements, system responsiveness on these configurations improved by up to 20%, while a complex multitasking test completed up to 40% faster compared with the January 2026 software versions. These are Microsoft’s lab results; the improvement on an individual PC will depend on its hardware, apps and workload.
The goal is to use the available memory more efficiently and rely less often on slower storage. A high RAM usage figure alone does not necessarily mean that Windows is running poorly.
Smarter memory compression
One key part of the update is improved memory compression. Windows stores less active data in a compressed form in system memory, so it does not need to be moved to storage as often or reloaded when you return to a previously used app. Microsoft says the optimisation allows up to 2 GB more active data to stay in memory.
The system also prioritises user actions such as opening the Start menu, searching, launching Settings or using File Explorer over background tasks, helping the desktop respond faster even under load.
Less memory used by everyday apps
Apps are also using less memory. Optimisations to Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook can together save up to 360 MB. Across Windows, Edge and Microsoft 365, the combined improvements reduced the growth in committed memory by up to 900 MB in some multitasking tests.
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Fewer background demands
On PCs with 8 GB of memory or less, Widgets now loads only when opened, saving roughly 200 MB while it is closed. Edge puts unused tabs to sleep after 15 minutes of inactivity, while Teams can use Efficiency Mode on low-memory machines to reduce its resource demands.
What this means for everyday PCs
Microsoft stresses that these improvements do not mean 8 GB is enough for every task. More demanding programs still need the resources they require. The changes mainly help everyday use by making the system respond more smoothly; they do not remove the need for sufficient RAM when running demanding workloads.
In the coming months, Microsoft plans further improvements to memory compression and intends to share common components across multiple Windows apps. It is also working with hardware manufacturers to reduce the amount of memory reserved for hardware, leaving more available for Windows and the apps you use.
How to get the improvements
Microsoft says the current improvements are available in Windows 11 version 26H2, build 26300.9818 or later, alongside up-to-date versions of Microsoft Edge, Microsoft 365 and Teams. Keep Windows and those apps updated to receive the relevant improvements.
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