Microsoft rolls out Windows 11 updates to boost speed and cut RAM use
Microsoft has begun rolling out Windows 11 updates to all users that it says make the operating system up to 20% more responsive, partly through improved memory management.
Windows 11 can now keep up to 2GB more active data in memory rather than moving it to slower storage, Navjot Virk, Microsoft’s corporate vice president of Windows Experiences, wrote in a blog post. This helps PCs stay responsive as users open more apps or browser tabs, she said.
Virk said PCs with 8GB of memory may see “an especially meaningful difference.” RAM upgrades have become more expensive as AI data centers consume large amounts of memory and drive up prices.
On PCs with 8GB or less of RAM, Windows 11 will load widgets only when users open them. Microsoft says this will free more than 200MB of memory for other tasks.
The updates, previously tested with Windows Insiders, also improve Bluetooth headphone reliability. Microsoft says pairing AirPods with PCs should be faster, while Windows Hello logins should be easier, faster and more reliable.
Windows Insider testers can now try the revamped AI-powered Search unveiled last week. Users can perform thousands of actions directly through Search, which Microsoft is turning into a chatbot.
Insiders can also test a new Photos app with a revamped gallery combining images from local storage, OneDrive and iCloud. Microsoft says its built-in editor loads 25% faster and its native photo viewer loads 30% faster.
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