Windows 11 26H2 update may slash RAM usage in early tests

Early testing suggests that Windows 11 version 26H2 may be one of Microsoft's most memory-efficient updates to date. Users and independent testers have reported noticeable reductions in RAM usage after upgrading to 26H2, though results vary depending on hardware and software configurations. For example, a system with 48GB of RAM showed a decrease from 6.9GB to between 4.8GB and 5GB after startup, while another with 32GB saw a drop from 9.1GB to around 7.5GB.

Windows Latest also observed memory usage on a 16GB laptop falling to approximately 7GB post-upgrade, down from over 10GB previously. However, the publication noted that background apps, system caching, and startup processes can influence these figures, making it challenging to attribute the entire reduction solely to 26H2.

These findings align with Microsoft's ongoing efforts to optimize memory efficiency. The company has been working on a more efficient memory allocator, tuning WinUI 3, and improving memory usage in Chromium and WebView2. Microsoft has set memory optimization for PCs with 8GB of RAM or more as a key engineering priority for 2026.

While the early results are promising, they are not definitive. Microsoft has not officially confirmed a specific RAM reduction tied to 26H2, but the reports indicate that the broader push for memory efficiency may be yielding measurable improvements.