20%: Microsoft makes Windows 11 faster on 8GB PCs
Update 26H2 uses less memory and speeds up Start, Search and Settings. Some gains arrive through app updates.
Microsoft made Windows use less memory. So smaller PCs run better. Update your PC to feel the difference.
Hype check
Quieter than it deserves. This one matters more than the coverage suggests.
Our editorial opinion, based on the sources below. How we score
Your call: hype or real?
Real = it will matter in daily use. Hype = louder than it is. One vote, and it can’t be changed.
Our view and readers’ views are opinions, not statements of fact about a product.
Why it matters
Many budget PCs ship with 8GB of memory. This update improves them without buying a new machine.
Watch: the numbers come from Microsoft's own tests, yours may differ.
The details
- Microsoft says response is up to 20% faster in Start, Search, Settings and File Explorer, based on usage data.
- In a lab test on one HP device, multitasking is up to 40% faster. The company says it is not a general .
- Committed-memory growth fell by up to 900MB, and Microsoft 365 apps saved 360MB.
- Edge now puts inactive tabs to sleep after 15 minutes instead of two hours, and opens up to 33% faster when running in the background.
- To get it: Windows 11 version 26H2, build 26300.9818 or later, then update Edge, Microsoft 365 and Teams. 8GB PCs start at $429 in Walmart deals.
Receipts
The company or lab said it. Primary source linked. Open the sources and check us.
Written with the help of AI tools and checked against the sources above. How we work
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