Microsoft says Windows 11 updates improve responsiveness and memory use

Windows 11 performance updates begin reaching users

Microsoft says its Windows 11 performance improvements make the operating system up to 20 percent more responsive. The updates are beginning to reach users after testing through the Windows Insider program, according to Engadget.

The company says PCs with 8GB of memory may particularly benefit. The “up to” figure describes Microsoft's claimed gain, rather than a promised improvement for every PC.

Keeping more active data in memory

Memory, also called RAM, holds data that apps are actively using. Microsoft says improved memory management lets Windows 11 keep up to 2GB more active data there instead of moving it to slower storage.

That change is intended to help Windows stay responsive as users open more apps or browser tabs. For people juggling several tasks, the practical benefit would be less slowdown as demands on memory grow, according to Microsoft's explanation.

On PCs with 8GB or less of RAM, Windows 11 will also wait to load widgets until users open them. Microsoft says this frees more than 200MB of memory for other tasks.

Search and Photos remain separate tester updates

Engadget separately reports that Windows Insider testers can try a revamped Search powered by artificial intelligence and an updated Photos app. Those features have tester access, distinct from the performance updates beginning their broader rollout.