Microsoft says 8GB of RAM should be enough for anyone running Windows 11

Microsoft has outlined a plan to address Windows 11 performance issues, with a focus on improving memory efficiency for systems with 8GB and above of RAM. The company's executive vice president for Windows and Devices, Pavan Davuluri, emphasized the ongoing efforts to reduce Windows' memory footprint, improve driver quality, and simplify the Windows Insider program.

Davuluri also acknowledged that memory efficiency improvements have yet to be fully realized in production versions of Windows. The company's system requirements for Windows 11 state that a minimum of 4GB of memory is required, although 16GB of DDR5/LPDDR5 is needed for Copilot+ PCs capable of handling AI workloads. Microsoft's new priorities for Windows improvements include delivering a faster and more efficient out-of-box experience, providing a faster set-up process with easier access to parental controls, and making voice interactions more natural across apps.

The timing of these changes has been influenced by a declining PC market and a persistent memory shortage, which has led to rising prices and difficulty for manufacturers in maintaining full product portfolios.