Microsoft has announced a series of Windows 11 performance improvements designed to make computers with 8GB of RAM faster and more responsive. The company says the latest optimisations can make Windows 11 up to 20% more responsive and improve multitasking performance by as much as 40% in its internal laboratory tests.
Announced on November 3, 2026, the improvements focus on memory management, background processes and resource consumption across Windows, Microsoft Edge and Microsoft 365 applications. The changes are particularly important for users running entry-level laptops with limited memory, where opening multiple browser tabs and applications can cause noticeable slowdowns.
Windows 11 Gets Major Performance Improvements for 8GB RAM PCs
Microsoft is focusing on improving the experience of computers with 8GB of RAM, a configuration commonly found in budget and entry-level laptops.
The company says its latest optimisations address three major areas: memory utilisation, system responsiveness and application resource consumption.
According to Microsoft’s Windows and Devices chief Pavan Davuluri, the improvements allow Windows 11 to make better use of existing hardware rather than requiring users to upgrade their computers.
The reported performance improvements include:
| Performance Metric | Reported Improvement |
|---|---|
| Windows responsiveness | Up to 20% faster |
| Multitasking performance | Up to 40% faster |
| Additional active data retained in RAM | Up to 2GB |
| Reduced committed-memory growth | Up to 900MB |
| Microsoft Edge launch speed | Up to 33% faster |
| Microsoft Teams launch speed | Up to 20% faster |
| Widgets memory savings | Approximately 200MB |
These figures are based on Microsoft’s internal tests and measurements. Actual improvements will vary depending on hardware, software versions and workloads.
Importantly, the 40% multitasking improvement compares specific Windows builds from January 2026 with newer builds. It does not mean every Windows 11 computer will become 40% faster immediately after installing one update.
How Microsoft Is Making Windows 11 Faster
One of the biggest challenges for computers with limited RAM is managing multiple applications simultaneously.
When users open several browser tabs, spreadsheets, documents and communication applications, available memory can become limited.
Windows may then move less-active information from RAM to storage through a process called paging.
Because SSDs and other storage devices are generally slower than RAM, retrieving information from storage can make applications take longer to respond.
Microsoft is addressing this problem through several memory-management improvements.
1. Improved Memory Compression
Windows already uses memory compression to reduce the amount of physical RAM required by applications.
Microsoft has now improved how the operating system determines which information should be compressed, moved to storage or brought back into active memory.
The company says Windows can now retain up to 2GB more active data in memory instead of moving it to slower storage.
This means applications and browser tabs that users previously opened are less likely to reload when they return to them.
For example, someone working with multiple browser tabs and Microsoft Office documents may be able to switch between applications more smoothly.
The improvement is particularly relevant for 8GB computers because they have less memory available for handling demanding workloads.
2. Windows Prioritises Active Tasks
Microsoft is also changing how Windows manages background activities.
Previously, background operations such as search indexing could compete with tasks that users were actively performing.
The latest optimisations allow Windows to temporarily prioritise activities that require immediate responses.
These include:
- Opening the Start menu.
- Searching for files and applications.
- Right-clicking on files.
- Opening Windows Settings.
- Launching Snipping Tool.
- Opening File Explorer.
Microsoft says these interactions now respond up to 20% faster compared with the January 2026 Windows builds.
The operating system can temporarily reduce the priority of background activities while users are actively interacting with their computers.
This helps maintain responsiveness even when several processes are running simultaneously.
3. Microsoft Edge Can Launch Up to 33% Faster
Microsoft has also optimised how Windows launches applications.
For example, when users click a link or open Microsoft Edge through the Start menu, Windows can connect to an Edge process that is already running in the background rather than locating and launching the application from scratch.
According to Microsoft, this approach can make Edge open up to 33% faster.
The improvement is particularly useful for people who frequently switch between browser-based applications and other desktop software.
Microsoft Tests 20 Browser Tabs and Multiple Applications
The most significant improvement highlighted by Microsoft involves a demanding multitasking test.
The company used an 8GB HP OmniBook 3 laptop powered by a Snapdragon X Plus eight-core processor.
During the experiment, Microsoft opened several applications and kept them running simultaneously.
The test included:
- 20 Microsoft Edge browser tabs.
- A 4K video.
- Large Microsoft Word documents.
- Large PowerPoint presentations.
- Large Excel spreadsheets.
- Outlook.
- File Explorer.
Microsoft measured how long the computer took to complete the workflow, using automated checks to confirm each step before proceeding to the next.
The latest Windows build completed the scenario up to 40% faster than the January 2026 build on the same device.
However, Microsoft clarified that this was an internal laboratory test involving a specific hardware configuration and workload, not a universal performance benchmark.
The result demonstrates the potential benefits of the optimisation, but users with different processors, applications and workloads may experience different results.
Microsoft Reduces Memory Consumption Across Windows and Office
Another important part of the update involves reducing the amount of memory consumed by applications.
Microsoft has worked across Windows, Edge and Microsoft 365 to reduce unnecessary memory usage.
The company says these changes reduced committed-memory growth by up to 900MB during its multitasking tests.
Microsoft Office applications account for a significant portion of these savings.
| Application or Feature | Reported Memory Savings |
|---|---|
| Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook combined | 360MB |
| Windows Widgets | Approximately 200MB |
| Combined Windows, Edge and Microsoft 365 improvements | Up to 900MB |
Microsoft has also improved how applications allocate and organise memory to reduce the overhead associated with managing their resources.
The company says WhatsApp’s Windows application is also benefiting from memory-efficiency improvements, with double-digit reductions reported.
These changes could help third-party applications operate more efficiently without requiring additional physical memory.
Windows Widgets Will No Longer Load Automatically
Microsoft is changing how Windows handles Widgets on computers with 8GB of RAM or less.
Previously, certain Widgets components could consume memory even when users were not actively viewing the Widgets panel.
With the new optimisation, Widgets will load only when users open the feature.
Microsoft estimates this can reduce memory commitment by approximately 200MB while Widgets remains closed.
The company is also changing how Microsoft Edge manages inactive browser tabs.
Edge Tabs Will Sleep After 15 Minutes
Microsoft Edge will now put inactive tabs to sleep after 15 minutes by default, compared with the previous two-hour setting.
Sleeping tabs consume fewer system resources because the browser reduces activity associated with tabs that users are not currently viewing.
This is particularly useful for people who regularly keep dozens of browser tabs open.
The shorter timeout helps Windows preserve memory for applications that users are actively working with.
Microsoft Teams Gets Faster on Low-Memory Computers
Microsoft Teams is also receiving performance improvements as part of the broader Windows optimisation effort.
On computers with 8GB of RAM, Teams can enable Efficiency Mode by default.
This helps reduce resource consumption while improving application responsiveness.
Microsoft says Teams can launch up to 20% faster under the updated configuration.
The application can also adjust camera resolution during meetings to preserve processor capacity for audio processing.
This is intended to help maintain clear audio during video calls when the computer is handling several demanding tasks simultaneously.
Microsoft Plans More Windows 11 Performance Improvements
Microsoft says the latest changes are part of a broader effort to improve Windows quality.
The company plans to continue reducing memory consumption across the operating system and its applications.
Some of the upcoming improvements include:
Smarter memory compression: Microsoft plans to improve how Windows compresses and retrieves information to make better use of available RAM.
Shared application components: Windows Search and Widgets are expected to share a common web engine, while OneDrive and Photos will also share components to reduce duplicated resource usage.
Faster native applications: Applications such as File Explorer, Notepad, Paint and Windows Search are being developed with improvements based on WinUI 3.
Better hardware memory allocation: Microsoft is working with PC manufacturers and chipmakers to reduce unnecessary hardware memory reservations, leaving more RAM available to applications.
Third-party application optimisation: The company is also collaborating with software developers to encourage more efficient memory management across Windows applications.
These initiatives suggest that Microsoft wants to improve the overall Windows experience rather than relying exclusively on faster processors or larger memory configurations.
How to Get the Latest Windows 11 Performance Improvements
Microsoft says users need Windows 11 version 26H2, build 26300.9818 or later, to receive the latest operating system performance and memory improvements.
Users can check for the update through Windows Update.
The process involves the following steps:
- Open Windows Settings.
- Select Windows Update.
- Enable the option “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available.”
- Click “Check for updates.”
- Download and install available updates.
- Keep Microsoft Edge, Microsoft 365 and Teams updated through their respective update channels.
Some improvements are delivered through separate application updates rather than Windows updates alone.
Microsoft also notes that availability may vary depending on the device and update rollout.
Does This Mean 8GB RAM Is Enough for Windows 11?
Microsoft’s latest optimisations could make 8GB Windows computers more practical for everyday activities.
Tasks such as browsing, document editing, online meetings, email and light multitasking could benefit from improved memory management.
However, Microsoft is not suggesting that 8GB of RAM is sufficient for every type of workload.
The company continues to recommend 16GB or more for demanding activities such as:
- 3D modelling.
- Professional video editing.
- Large-scale data processing.
- Complex engineering applications.
- Heavy multitasking with resource-intensive software.
Memory optimisation can improve efficiency, but it cannot completely replace the benefits of additional physical RAM.
For users planning to purchase a new laptop, choosing 16GB of RAM remains a sensible option when the budget allows.
The Bigger Picture
Microsoft’s Windows 11 improvements highlight an important shift in PC development. Instead of focusing exclusively on increasing processor performance and adding more hardware resources, operating system developers are increasingly concentrating on making existing hardware more efficient.
The reported 40% multitasking improvement could make a meaningful difference for users with budget computers, particularly as modern applications and browsers continue consuming more memory. The changes also demonstrate how improvements across an entire software ecosystem can produce benefits beyond those achieved by optimising the operating system alone.
However, the reported gains come from controlled tests and specific hardware configurations. The real-world experience will vary, and demanding professional workloads will continue to benefit from computers with more memory.
Looking Ahead
Microsoft plans to continue improving Windows 11 through better memory compression, shared application components and closer collaboration with hardware manufacturers and third-party developers. These changes could gradually make Windows computers more responsive without requiring users to purchase new hardware as frequently.
The success of these optimisations will depend on whether the performance gains translate into consistent improvements across different processors, laptop manufacturers and everyday workloads. As competition in the PC market increases, software efficiency could become an increasingly important factor in determining the overall value of Windows laptops, particularly in the budget and entry-level segments.
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