Windows 11 boosts speed by 20% on low-RAM PCs

A 20 percent increase in system responsiveness is now available for Windows 11 users, following the completion of testing phases with Insiders. The update focuses heavily on memory efficiency and management, aiming to keep active data within RAM rather than shifting it to slower storage drives. Navjot Virk, corporate vice president of Windows Experiences, detailed these changes in a recent blog post, noting that the operating system can retain up to 2GB more active data in memory. This adjustment helps maintain performance levels when multiple applications or browser tabs are open simultaneously.

Impact on Low-Memory Devices

Machines equipped with 8GB of memory stand to gain an especially meaningful difference from these optimizations. With the cost of upgrading RAM rising due to high demand from AI data centers, improved software-level memory handling offers a practical mitigation strategy. Microsoft, which is significantly involved in the AI infrastructure sector, has prioritized these efficiency gains to address the broader hardware pricing pressures affecting consumers.

For PCs running with 8GB or less of RAM, the new configuration restricts widget loading until the user explicitly opens them. This specific change frees over 200MB of memory for other tasks, further alleviating pressure on constrained systems.

Connectivity and Login Improvements

Bluetooth reliability enhancements have also been rolled out, specifically targeting faster pairing times for AirPods on Windows PCs. Additionally, Windows Hello logins are reported to be easier, faster, and more reliable under the updated framework.

Insider testers currently have access to a revamped, AI-powered Search feature unveiled last week. This tool allows users to execute thousands of actions directly through the search interface, effectively transforming it into a chatbot-like assistant.

New Photos App Features

The company introduced a redesigned Photos application featuring a gallery that aggregates images from local storage, OneDrive, and iCloud. Performance metrics indicate the built-in editor loads 25 percent faster, while the native viewer sees a 30 percent reduction in load times.