Microsoft says Windows 11 is now up to 20 percent more responsive than before, citing updates released this year. In a recent post on its Windows blog, the company said the Start menu, File Explorer, Search and the Edge browser have all been improved.
One major change is more efficient use of computer memory, which Microsoft says helps systems with 8GB of RAM. Windows can now keep up to 2GB more active data in RAM instead of moving it to slower storage. The company says the benefit is most noticeable when several apps or browser tabs are open at once.
Lower memory use and faster updates on Windows 11
Microsoft also said it has cut memory use by background features. On computers with 8GB of RAM or less, the Widgets panel now loads only when a user opens it, which can free more than 200MB of RAM.
Windows Update now needs only one system restart per month and installs updates faster. Logging in with Windows Hello and connecting Bluetooth devices should also be quicker and more reliable, the company said.
Gradual rollout and limits of the speed claim
The updates have been released gradually, and more changes are on the way, Microsoft said. The 20 percent speed figure is based on the company’s own tests, so not every PC will necessarily see the same improvement.
