Microsoft has committed to reducing Windows 11’s memory usage as the global memory shortage pushes laptop manufacturers back toward 8GB RAM configurations.
While 16GB of RAM remains the minimum for a comfortable Windows 11 experience, Microsoft now plans to make its operating system faster and more responsive on computers with 8GB of memory or more.
The move comes as growing demand from the artificial intelligence industry consumes a significant share of global memory supplies, making higher-capacity laptops more expensive.
Microsoft Targets Windows 11’s Memory Usage
Pavan Davuluri, Microsoft’s President of Windows and Devices, confirmed the company’s plans in an update published on Microsoft’s website.
Microsoft said it will focus on “memory optimization for 8GB and above” by reducing the Windows memory footprint across the computers customers use every day.
Users familiar with Windows 11 can reduce memory usage by disabling startup applications and stopping unnecessary background services. However, Microsoft must address the operating system’s underlying memory consumption, including the amount of RAM it uses before the user opens any applications.
The report described Apple’s MacBook Neo as the best current option for buyers choosing an 8GB laptop and said Microsoft wants Windows devices to become more competitive in this segment.
WinUI 3, Chromium and WebView2 Improvements
Microsoft said it has already introduced several changes to improve Windows memory efficiency.
These include using a more efficient memory allocator to reduce overhead across applications and system components. Microsoft is also continuing to tune WinUI 3 so that applications built with it consume less memory.
The company also plans to improve the efficiency of Chromium and WebView2 components when Windows uses them. These changes should make systems with 8GB of RAM more comfortable to use.
Windows 11 Still Uses Significant RAM
Wccftech reported that a laptop with 32GB of memory reached 40 percent RAM usage with only a few Chrome tabs open. The report acknowledged that some of the memory was cached but said the figure still showed the scale of Windows 11’s memory consumption.
The publication previously tested Dell’s new 8GB XPS 13, which it described as one of the closest Windows competitors to the MacBook Neo.
According to the report, the laptop was using 70 percent of its memory without any Windows or programs open, showing how much work Microsoft still has to do.
Memory Shortage Could Continue Until 2028
The ongoing memory shortage has forced manufacturers and consumers to accept lower RAM configurations within affordable price ranges.
Wccftech said the shortage could continue until 2028. Until supply and demand stabilise, laptops with 8GB of RAM may increasingly replace 16GB configurations as the standard option in lower price categories.
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