Microsoft has outlined a series of Windows 11 changes aimed at improving performance on PCs with 8GB of RAM. The company says the operating system is now more memory-efficient and faster on lower-memory devices than it was a year ago, with results varying by workload and configuration.
Microsoft CVP Pavan Davaluri said that, in the company’s lab tests, Windows was up to 20% more responsive on 8GB PCs, while multitasking was up to 40% faster. He described the work as focusing on using memory more effectively, keeping key interactions responsive under load, and reducing the memory requirements of Windows and its apps.
One change affects how Windows prepares background services and apps. On devices with 8GB of RAM or less, the operating system no longer preloads some items, including the Widgets Board, leaving more memory available for other tasks.
Microsoft also worked with teams across Windows, Office and Edge to reduce app memory use. The company says these efforts can return up to 900MB of RAM to the system, including up to 350MB saved through Office apps. Other changes consolidate web-powered interfaces so they can share an engine, while some web experiences are being rebuilt as native WinUI interfaces.
The company is also applying memory budgets to OEM hardware with limited RAM, intended to limit unnecessary preinstalled software and reserve device memory for more important services. Microsoft says it is working with PC makers, silicon partners and third-party app developers on further memory-use improvements.
The changes are rolling out through recent Windows 11 updates. Microsoft says they also apply to devices with 4GB of RAM, despite focusing its performance figures on 8GB PCs. It also lists further work on memory compression and on making features and apps, including File Explorer, Notepad, Paint, Search, Widgets, OneDrive and Photos, share components or use less memory.
Sources: Windows Central.