Overview
- Microsoft formally pledged on July 31 to deliver “memory optimisation for 8GB and above,” promising a smaller Windows 11 memory footprint to speed up low‑RAM machines.
- Engineers are testing specific changes in Insider builds including a new memory allocator, WinUI tuning to make native UI code lighter, and reductions in Chromium/WebView2 memory use.
- The shift follows Microsoft shipping new Surface models with 8GB base RAM and the company removing earlier Windows Learning Center pages that recommended 32GB for premium use.
- Industry analysts link the move to a sharp DRAM squeeze driven by AI data‑centre demand that has pushed up memory prices, prompted OEMs to ship more 8GB systems, and weighed on PC shipments.
- Microsoft targets rollouts by the end of 2026 but observers warn software fixes can only partially offset physical RAM limits and that developers must cut reliance on web‑wrapper apps to see big gains.