Windows 11 memory optimisations rolling out now promise up to 40 percent faster multitasking on PCs with just 8GB of RAM, according to Microsoft. The changes arrive in Windows 11 version 26H2, build 26300.9818 or later, and target the millions of machines that never got a RAM upgrade before prices spiked.
Key takeaways
- ✓Windows 11 build 26300.9818 delivers up to 40% faster multitasking on 8GB RAM PCs
- ✓Microsoft tested roughly 20,000 machines to develop the low-RAM improvements
- ✓Windows now keeps up to 2GB more active app data in memory instead of swapping to disk
- ✓Microsoft Edge and 365 apps see committed-memory growth cut by up to 900MB
- ✓Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook use up to 360MB less memory under the update
For a system that spends its day juggling a browser, an email client and a spreadsheet, that 8GB ceiling has long been the weak point. Microsoft says it spent considerable effort studying exactly where that ceiling bites, and the fix is less about squeezing new silicon into old laptops and more about teaching Windows to manage the memory it already has far more intelligently.
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What Microsoft actually changed
According to Microsoft, its engineering teams tested around 20,000 PCs to pin down where low-RAM systems were losing performance. The headline finding: keeping more active data in physical memory, rather than constantly shuffling it out to a slower SSD or hard drive, makes a disproportionate difference on machines with only 8GB to work with.
As a result, Windows 11 will now hold onto up to 2GB more of a user’s active application data in RAM before it resorts to paging that data out to storage. That sounds like a small technical tweak, but it is the difference between switching instantly back to a paused app and watching Windows reload it from disk. Microsoft frames the result as up to 20 percent more responsive day-to-day use and up to 40 percent faster multitasking on affected hardware.
The improvements are not limited to the operating system shell. Microsoft says committed-memory growth in Microsoft Edge and the Microsoft 365 suite has been reduced by as much as 900MB, while Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook collectively use up to 360MB less memory than before. Those are not trivial savings on a system where every gigabyte is already spoken for.
Third-party apps are already on board
Microsoft has also opened up the underlying memory management improvements to third-party developers, meaning the benefits are not confined to its own software. WhatsApp is cited as an early adopter, already taking advantage of the new APIs to trim its own memory footprint on Windows 11. That matters because background chat and communication apps are exactly the kind of software that quietly eats RAM on a low-spec PC without the user noticing until things slow down.
It is a sensible move by Microsoft to open the toolkit rather than keep the gains exclusive to first-party apps. Given how much of the average person’s daily computing now happens inside a handful of heavily used applications, the real-world benefit of this update depends on how quickly other developers follow WhatsApp’s lead.
Why this matters right now
Timing is everything here. RAM prices have climbed sharply over the past year as memory manufacturers redirect production capacity toward AI data centre demand, making a simple RAM upgrade a much less attractive option for budget buyers than it used to be. Software-level optimisation is one of the few levers Microsoft can pull that doesn’t require anyone to open their wallet.
It also addresses a long-running criticism of Windows 11: that its baseline hardware requirements and background overhead leave little breathing room for the entry-level and ageing laptops many households still rely on. This isn’t the first time Microsoft has had to address friction for everyday Windows 11 users either; Windows 11 bloatware still frustrates laptop buyers on new machines, and recent months have also seen a separate Windows 11 bug tied to RGB lighting software and another recent Windows 11 update glitch cause headaches for users. Against that backdrop, a genuinely useful performance fix for the most constrained hardware is a welcome change of pace.
The update also complements other reliability work Microsoft has been doing under the hood, including Windows 11’s cloud rebuild feature, which lets troubled PCs reinstall core system files without a full wipe. Together, these changes suggest Microsoft is paying closer attention to the practical experience of running Windows 11 on hardware that isn’t brand new, rather than only chasing features for high-end systems.
For anyone running an 8GB laptop or desktop that feels sluggish when more than a couple of apps are open, checking for build 26300.9818 or later is worth doing. The update should install through the normal Windows Update channel, and no special configuration is needed to benefit from the memory changes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get the Windows 11 memory optimisations?
They arrive automatically through Windows Update once a device is running Windows 11 version 26H2, build 26300.9818 or later. There is no separate download or setting to enable.
Will this help PCs with more than 8GB of RAM?
Microsoft’s figures specifically relate to systems with 8GB of RAM, where memory pressure is highest. Machines with 16GB or more may see some benefit from the broader memory management changes, but the stated 20 to 40 percent improvements apply to the 8GB tier.
Does this replace the need for a RAM upgrade?
Not entirely. A physical RAM upgrade still offers more headroom for heavy multitasking or demanding software. The update is designed to make better use of existing memory, which is especially valuable while RAM prices remain elevated.
Do I need to reinstall Windows to get these improvements?
No. The optimisations are delivered as part of a standard Windows 11 update rather than requiring a clean installation or system reset.
