Microsoft Optimizes Windows 11 for 8GB PCs

Microsoft is working to reduce Windows 11's memory footprint and improve performance on PCs with 8GB of RAM. The company aims to make PCs with 8GB or more feel faster and more responsive by optimizing Windows 11 for lower-memory devices.

Rising memory costs have led manufacturers and buyers towards lower-capacity configurations, but Microsoft has sold Surface devices with 8GB of RAM, even as many PC builders have treated 16GB as the practical baseline for a smoother Windows 11 experience.

The company's president of Windows and Devices, Pavan Davuluri, outlined four Windows 11 priorities through the end of 2026 in a post on X. Memory optimization for 8GB and above is one of these priorities, with Microsoft planning to reduce Windows 11's memory footprint to deliver a fast and responsive experience across PCs.