Microsoft promises in the Windows Experience Blog up to 20 percent snappier performance for Windows 11 on PCs with 8 GB of RAM. The company measured search, Start, right-click, Settings, Snipping Tool, and Explorer, with the January 2026 update as the baseline.
The lever is memory: Windows keeps up to 2 GB more active data in RAM instead of on the disk, so apps and tabs reload less often. When multitasking, Windows uses up to 900 MB less committed memory, that is, memory that the system firmly reserves.
What changes for Edge, Teams, and Office?
Microsoft names four adjustments. Microsoft 365 (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook) saves around 360 MB. Closed widgets save around 200 MB, because Windows now only loads widgets when they are opened. Edge puts inactive tabs to sleep after 15 minutes; previously this happened after two hours. In addition, the browser starts up to 33 percent faster, provided it is already running in the background. Teams runs in efficiency mode by default on 8 GB PCs and starts up to 20 percent faster.
Windows 11 on 8 GB in numbers
Lab values according to Microsoft, baseline is the January 2026 update
- 20 %shorter wait time for search, Start, right-click, and Explorer
- 2 GBmore active data stays in RAM
- 900 MBless committed memory when multitasking
- 15 minuntil inactive Edge tabs go to sleep, previously two hours
Internal lab tests and telemetry from Microsoft; values depend on device and load
Source: Windows Experience Blog
What are the requirements for the update?
You need Windows 11 version 26H2 with build 26300.9818 or newer, and for the faster Edge startup additionally Edge 150. Until the update arrives on its own, you can help it along: under Settings > Windows Update, turn on "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" and click "Check for updates". Microsoft does not give a German name for the toggle in the blog.
Some improvements do not come via Windows Update, but via app updates and the Microsoft Store. Therefore, keep Edge, Microsoft 365, and Teams up to date. Microsoft does not say when the update will arrive in Germany; the rollout varies by device and region.
How reliable are the numbers?
All percentage values come from Microsoft's lab tests and telemetry. The multitasking scenario with 20 Edge tabs, 4K video, large Office files, Outlook, and Explorer ran on an HP OmniBook 3 with Snapdragon X Plus, where the process was up to 40 percent faster. The comparison of a 2026 Dell XPS 13 with a 2021 model (up to 94 percent more multi-core performance) comes from a commissioned test and measures new against old hardware, not the update. For 3D modeling, advanced video editing, or large amounts of data, Microsoft continues to recommend 16 GB or more.
What this means for you
First check whether your computer is affected: under Settings > System > About you will find the installed RAM. If you have 8 GB and work with Office, Teams, and many browser tabs, it is worth taking a look at Windows Update. The toggle for the latest updates brings new features to the computer earlier; on a work device with client appointments, you are better off waiting for the regular rollout.
Also compare beforehand: note how long Edge takes to load with your usual tabs. Measure again after the update. Only then will you see whether the 20 percent reaches your work. If you are planning new devices for image editing or video editing anyway, 16 GB remains the recommendation that Microsoft itself names.
Microsoft presented the improvements on November 3, 2026.
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