Microsoft has been working for months on optimizing Windows 11. The company has acknowledged that its operating system consumes too many resources, especially RAM, and has promised improvements. However, the process hasn't been easy: the company has had to revise previous recommendations and is now working on an update that will arrive this fall with significant changes.
The context doesn't help. Rising RAM prices, exacerbated by the demand for artificial intelligence, have put users wanting to upgrade their hardware in a bind. Microsoft has responded by adjusting its guidelines and preparing a lighter version of Windows 11, 26H2, which will be distributed as an enablement package.
The RAM problem in Windows 11
Windows 11 requires a minimum of 4 GB of RAM, but with that amount the system struggles and barely allows for multitasking. Windows 10 ran better with 4 GB, but the new version needs more. Microsoft had even recommended 32 GB as the optimal amount for gaming PCs, a figure that has now disappeared from its website.
The decision was made amidst a memory price crisis. The cost of DDR5 RAM has reached record highs, making it unfeasible to require users to purchase 32 GB. Therefore, Microsoft has removed that support document and is now targeting 16 GB as the new goal after the promised optimizations.
Microsoft backtracks: goodbye to the 32 GB recommendation
The withdrawal of that recommendation was not accidental. The company has acknowledged that Windows 11's RAM consumption is too high, especially due to pre-installed services and applications (the infamous bloatware). Applications like the weather app, which runs by default, can consume more than 1 GB of RAM, something unacceptable on computers with 8 GB.
In contrast, systems like macOS consume significantly less. This has led Microsoft to promise a reduction in memory usage, with particular attention to PCs with 8 GB, which is considered the minimum today. The company assures that it is working on optimizations to ensure these systems run smoothly.
Optimization in progress: concrete improvements
The optimization plan includes improvements to boot times, login times, and the speed of opening applications such as File Explorer, the Snipping Tool, and Search. Work has also been done to reduce the impact of Chromium-based components and WebView2, which are significant memory consumers.
In addition, Microsoft is migrating parts of the system to WinUI 3, a more modern framework, but the process is slow because compatibility with older tools like the Control Panel must be maintained. Design director Marcus Ash explained that legacy features cannot be broken, so the modernization is gradual.
The company has also introduced improvements to the taskbar, which can now be customized and repositioned, and to the search function, which will remove promotional content. These new features will arrive with 26H2, the next major system update.
Windows 11 26H2: the update that arrives as a patch
Version 26H2 is scheduled for late September or early October 2026, following the pattern of recent releases. The major change is that it will be distributed as an enablement package; that is, it won't be a complete clean installation, but rather a small update applied with a simple reboot.
This means the hardware requirements won't change. If your device already meets the requirements for versions 24H2 or 25H2, you'll be able to upgrade without any issues. Version 26H2 will focus on quality and user experience, rather than adding revolutionary features. Greater Copilot integration is expected, along with more customization options.
In short, Microsoft is taking steps to lighten Windows 11 and make it more efficient on computers with limited memory. Removing the 32GB RAM recommendation is just the beginning. With version 26H2 on the horizon and the promise of specific optimizations, users with 8 or 16GB of RAM can expect a noticeable improvement. However, the company will have to prove that its changes are real and not just empty promises.