Windows 11 can run better on PCs with 8GB now, Microsoft says – here’s why

Microsoft has improved Windows 11 to run better on computers with only 8GB of RAM, according to a new blog post. The latest updates make better use of the existing memory on the PC, protect tasks that need to feel instant, and ensure key apps and Windows require less memory.

Windows 11 now keeps up to 2GB more of active data in memory instead of moving it to the hard drive. This means inactive apps, files, and browser tabs are less likely to reload from storage when you return to them.

For example, opening the Start menu, launching File Explorer, or searching for an item should feel instant. The latest Windows 11 version also speeds up these tasks by up to 20% compared to the January 2026 version.

Microsoft conducted tests on the same PC with 8GB of memory to compare the current version of Windows 11 with the January 2026 version. The current version was up to 40% faster when opening multiple tabs, running a 4K video, and launching large files.

To achieve these improvements, Windows 11 has fine-tuned compression technology to determine how much to compress, when to move data from RAM to the drive, and when to fetch it back. It has also improved how memory is managed and allocated to key apps like Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.

This means that even PCs with 8GB of RAM can keep up with more intensive tasks, while systems with more memory can still handle these activities more efficiently.