MICROSOFT SAYS WINDOWS 11 UPDATE IMPROVES SPEED ON 8GB PCS

Microsoft has announced changes to Windows 11 that it says make the operating system up to 20% more responsive, with particular benefits for PCs with 8GB of RAM or less. Navjot Virk, Microsoft's corporate vice president of Windows experiences, said the improvements stem largely from smarter memory management across the system. According to Virk, Windows 11 can now keep up to 2GB more of a user's active data in memory rather than moving it to slower storage, helping PCs remain responsive when more apps or browser tabs are open. On lower-memory devices, Widgets will now load only when opened, which Microsoft says frees more than 200MB of memory for other tasks. The company says the update also makes Windows Hello sign-in faster and more reliable, and improves Bluetooth pairing, including an AirPods connection process that Microsoft says is up to 15 seconds quicker.

Microsoft said the changes follow a broader plan, set out earlier this year, to improve the performance and reliability of Windows 11 across areas including Start, File Explorer, Search and Edge. The company has already tested the updates with members of its Windows Insider programme before wider rollout. Separately, Microsoft has made Windows Update less disruptive, reorganised the Widgets section, and now allows the taskbar to be repositioned to the sides or top of the screen. Insider testers also have access to a revamped Photos app, which Microsoft says loads its built-in editor 25% faster and its native viewer 30% faster.

Microsoft is also previewing a new AI-powered Search feature for Windows Insiders, which it says can carry out thousands of actions directly from the search bar. The company has described the tool as functioning in a similar way to a chatbot. Microsoft has not given a confirmed date for when the new Search experience or the updated Photos app will reach all Windows 11 users, saying only that they follow the same testing process as the other features already rolled out. The company continues to position the changes as part of its ongoing effort to address performance concerns on Windows 11 devices with limited memory.