Microsoft details Windows 11 performance updates, claims 20% responsiveness gain
Microsoft says months of fixes to Windows 11 have made the OS up to 20 percent more responsive, with improvements to Start, File Explorer, Search, Edge and memory management. The company says PCs with 8GB of RAM or less can now keep up to 2GB more active data in memory, and Widgets now load on demand to free over 200MB of memory. Microsoft also cited less disruptive Windows Update behavior, faster Windows Hello sign-in, quicker Bluetooth/AirPods pairing, and a new taskbar repositioning option.
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The focus on 8GB RAM devices suggests Microsoft is trying to keep lower-spec PCs viable as Windows 11's hardware requirements have drawn criticism, especially with Windows 10 support ending. These efficiency gains could matter most for budget hardware and markets slower to upgrade, though real-world impact may vary by device and workload.
- Microsoft claims Windows 11 is up to 20% more responsive after months of targeted fixes.
- PCs with 8GB RAM or less can retain up to 2GB more active data in memory, improving performance on lower-spec machines.
- A faster, more capable Windows Search experience is in testing with Insiders and expected to roll out more broadly later this year.
Crucial 8GB DDR4 RAM Upgrade Kit — If you're running Windows 11 on a lean 8GB system, a RAM upgrade can complement Microsoft's new memory optimizations and give your PC extra breathing room for multitasking. Crucial modules are a popular, straightforward way to boost memory in many laptops and desktops. Pairing more RAM with these software improvements could make your Windows experience noticeably smoother.
See Crucial 8GB DDR4 RAM Upgrade Kit on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: theverge.com — Tom Warren, 2026-10-15
Published there as: “Microsoft says Windows 11 is now ‘more responsive’ and runs better on 8GB of RAM”
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