When the new Windows 11 26H2 update was released last week, Microsoft highlighted a number of features and improvements. These included Windows Search improvements, additional Start menu customization options, a smarter File Explorer, new archive formats, new AI enhancements, and more. There are a lot of little additions and fixes, but nothing too mind-blowing.
However, one of the biggest improvements users are reporting after installing Windows 11 26H2 appears to be one that Microsoft didn’t announce. Multiple Windows users have reported that RAM usage has dropped after the Windows 11 26H2 upgrade, providing a significant performance boost to their computers.
Over at Windows Latest, for example, one writer found that RAM consumption on a three-year-old 16GB laptop was reduced by a whopping 2GB after the update was installed. On Reddit, users are reporting similar experiences, with some even finding a RAM usage reduction of 3GB.
While the biggest differences are seen when idle, systems that have updated to Windows 11 26H2 are seeing increased performance when applications are running due to overall enhanced RAM management.
So, what’s happening? Some responsiveness improvements are being attributed to a Windows feature called Low Latency Profile, though it hasn’t been established as the cause of the reported RAM reductions.
Low Latency Profile on Windows 11 forces a CPU to finish a task, such as opening an app, as fast as possible instead of trying to sustain a consistent processing speed. By doing so, the processor is able to move to an idle state more quickly. In turn, RAM is freed up and a user’s system runs better.
Microsoft stated earlier this year that there would be some memory optimization and performance improvements on the way with Windows 11, and these reports suggest users may be seeing some of those benefits. It is interesting though that the company hasn’t announced a RAM reduction with 26H2, especially based on the positive reaction around the reports. Perhaps even more improvements are on the way?
