Microsoft Slashes Windows 11 RAM Usage Amid Rising Memory Costs

Microsoft is actively working to reduce Windows 11’s RAM usage, driven by the rising cost of memory. Pavan Davuluri, Microsoft’s Windows chief, acknowledged that memory expenses are pushing the company to optimize Windows 11 for better RAM efficiency. Microsoft has listed ‘memory optimization for 8GB and above’ as a key focus area for the rest of 2026, with efforts spanning the memory manager, memory compression, WinUI 3, and WebView2.

Davuluri emphasized that the goal is not just to create a RAM cleaner app but to improve memory utilization across the entire system. He explained that optional features, such as AI services, should only consume RAM when actively used, while the base system becomes more efficient overall. Marcus Ash, CVP of Design and Research, noted that teams like Widgets and File Explorer are adopting a scenario-based approach to enhance memory efficiency.

The shift comes as RAM prices have surged, partly due to increased demand from AI datacenters. TrendForce’s memory industry report indicates that conventional DRAM contract prices climbed throughout 2026, with prices rising another 10% to 15% quarter-over-quarter in Q4. This has led OEMs to reintroduce 8GB laptops, prompting Microsoft to ensure Windows 11 runs smoothly on such devices.

Microsoft’s own practices have contributed to the issue. For years, the company encouraged users to buy more RAM as a solution to slow performance. However, with the rise of AI and web-based UI elements in Windows 11, the OS has become more memory-intensive. The company is now modernizing Windows with WinUI 3 and tuning WebView2 to reduce memory overhead in apps built on these frameworks.