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

Microsoft has announced that Windows 11 is now 20% more responsive and 40% faster at multitasking on 8GB PCs. However, these figures are based on best-case scenarios and may not reflect actual user experiences. The company has focused on optimizing Windows 11 for devices with less RAM due to the rising cost of memory. Microsoft's executive vice president of Windows and Devices, Pavan Davuluri, revealed that the company is employing a three-pronged strategy to improve performance on 8GB machines.

This includes better utilization of memory, protecting interactive experiences, and minimizing memory usage by key apps and Windows. According to Microsoft's lab tests, Windows 11 can retain up to 2GB more active data in RAM, reducing the need for data to be stored in slower storage. The company also claims to have reduced committed-memory growth by up to 900MB during multitasking tests, providing more room for other applications.

Microsoft is urging users to install Windows 11 26H2 build 26300.9818 or later and ensure that Edge, Microsoft 365, and Teams are updated. These improvements may be particularly relevant for Microsoft's own hardware, as recent reviews have shown that 8GB Surface Laptops struggle when running multiple apps and tabs.