Microsoft Says Windows 11 Is Up to 40% Faster at Multitasking on 8GB PCs

Windows 11 users have long complained about performance issues on computers with limited memory, particularly systems equipped with just 8GB of RAM. Everyday activities such as switching between applications, keeping multiple browser tabs open, and working with productivity software can sometimes make these computers feel slower than expected. Microsoft now says it is addressing this challenge with a series of improvements designed to make Windows 11 more responsive without requiring users to upgrade their hardware.

Pavan Davuluri, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President of Windows and Devices, has outlined the company’s latest efforts to improve system responsiveness and memory efficiency. According to Davuluri, Windows 11 is now up to 20% more responsive on 8GB systems, while multitasking performance can improve by as much as 40% in Microsoft’s internal laboratory tests.

The improvements focus on three major areas: using available memory more intelligently, reducing the memory requirements of applications, and protecting important user interactions from performance slowdowns when a computer is under heavy workloads.

One of the most significant changes involves Windows 11’s memory compression technology. Rather than immediately moving less frequently used data to slower storage, Windows compresses certain information so that more of it can remain available in RAM. Microsoft says its latest adjustments allow systems with 8GB of memory to keep up to 2GB more active data in memory instead of relying on storage as frequently.

This could make a noticeable difference for people who regularly switch between applications or return to browser tabs they opened earlier. Keeping more information readily available can reduce unnecessary reloads and help maintain a smoother experience.

Microsoft is also reducing memory consumption across its own software and services. Widgets, for example, will now load only when users open them on computers with 8GB of RAM or less. The change reportedly reduces memory commitment by approximately 200MB while the feature remains closed.

Microsoft Edge is receiving a similar adjustment. Inactive browser tabs will now enter sleep mode after 15 minutes by default, compared with the previous two-hour setting. This should help reduce unnecessary memory usage, particularly for people who tend to keep dozens of tabs open throughout the day.

The company’s productivity software has also received attention. Microsoft says its Microsoft 365 applications have reduced their memory commitment by approximately 900MB, potentially leaving more resources available for other tasks.

To evaluate these changes, Microsoft reports testing its improvements across more than 20,000 PCs in its internal laboratory, including systems equipped with 8GB of RAM. The company acknowledges that computers with 16GB or 32GB of memory will still offer greater flexibility for demanding workloads, but believes these optimizations can make entry-level configurations considerably more comfortable to use.

Users interested in these improvements should look for Windows version 26H2, build 26300.9818 or later, as identified in Microsoft’s announcement.

There are still limitations worth considering. Performance improvements will depend on individual workloads, applications, and hardware configurations, and Microsoft’s laboratory figures should not be treated as guaranteed results for every computer. More demanding tasks will continue to benefit from additional RAM.

Nevertheless, Microsoft’s renewed focus on memory efficiency is encouraging news for people who cannot immediately afford a hardware upgrade. Making existing computers more responsive is a practical way to improve the Windows experience, and if these changes deliver consistently outside laboratory testing, millions of 8GB PC users could enjoy a smoother and more productive everyday experience.