Microsoft says Windows 11 on 8 GB PCs is up to 20% more responsive and multitasking 40% faster

Microsoft announced today that the newest Windows 11 update delivers noticeable speed gains on PCs equipped with 8 GB of RAM. The company says the changes make the OS up to 20 percent more responsive and multitasking up to 40 percent faster, while also shaving memory usage across core apps.

• Up to 2 GB more active data stays in RAM thanks to refined compression.
• Start, File Explorer, Settings and search actions are up to 20 percent quicker.
• Memory-intensive workflows—20 Edge tabs, 4K video, large Office files—run up to 40 percent faster.

What the update changes under the hood

Microsoft’s three-pronged approach focuses on better memory utilization, protecting latency-critical interactions, and trimming the RAM footprint of key software. By tightening compression algorithms, the OS can retain an additional 2 GB of active data in memory instead of paging it to disk. This reduces the need for page-file swaps and keeps tabs and apps ready for instant recall.

App-level savings that add up

Office suite components—Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook—now consume roughly 360 MB less RAM per instance. Third-party programs such as WhatsApp also see reduced usage, according to Microsoft. Widgets no longer load until opened, freeing about 200 MB, while Edge’s inactive tabs enter a sleep state after 15 minutes, further curbing memory growth. Across Windows, Edge and Microsoft 365, the cumulative reduction in “committed-memory growth” can reach up to 900 MB.

Real-world performance gains

Lab tests conducted by Microsoft compared the current build (version 26H2, build 26300.9818 or later) with the January 2026 release. Opening the Start menu, launching File Explorer, right-clicking, or searching now completes up to 20 percent faster. Edge launches up to 33 percent quicker, and Teams’ Efficiency Mode is enabled by default on 8 GB systems, shaving about 20 percent off launch times. In a multitasking scenario that involved 20 Edge tabs, a 4K video, and large Office documents, the overall workflow speed improved by as much as 40 percent.

Why the boost matters for budget-oriented PCs

Global shortages of RAM and rising component costs have pushed many manufacturers to ship laptops with 8 GB of memory as a baseline. By extracting more performance from that amount, Microsoft aims to keep entry-level Windows 11 machines competitive for everyday productivity, web browsing and light content creation. Users who cannot afford 16 GB or more should notice smoother switching between apps and fewer pauses when returning to previously opened tabs.

Looking ahead

Microsoft says the current improvements are only the first step. Future updates will make memory compression “smarter and more efficient,” and Windows features such as Widgets and Search will share a common web engine to further lower RAM demands. The company also plans to work with PC OEMs and silicon partners to reduce the amount of memory reserved for hardware, freeing additional space for the OS and user applications.