Microsoft Plans Windows 11 Update to Reduce RAM Usage

Microsoft is preparing a major improvement to Windows 11’s memory management, aiming to reduce the amount of RAM consumed by native Windows apps and improve performance, particularly on lower-end PCs.

According to reports, the company is optimizing its WinUI 3 framework ahead of broader interface updates, including the next-generation Start menu.

WinUI 3 Optimization Comes First

Microsoft’s efforts center on WinUI 3, the modern user interface framework that powers an increasing number of Windows applications.

During its Build 2026 developer conference, Microsoft announced that it was working to reduce the framework’s memory footprint before expanding its use throughout Windows 11.

These optimizations are considered a necessary step before more system components, including the Start menu, are rebuilt using WinUI 3.

Focus on Performance and Reliability

Chris Anderson, a developer on Microsoft’s Windows UI team, said the company is investing heavily in improvements across three key areas:

• Performance
• Core platform functionality
• Overall quality and reliability

According to Anderson, Microsoft has significantly improved memory usage while also transitioning WinUI to a system compositor, a change expected to deliver additional performance gains.

He noted that much of this work has already been published in Microsoft’s public Git repository for developers.

A Faster Windows 11 Experience

Microsoft is currently testing internal changes designed to improve:

• RAM efficiency
• Overall performance
• System reliability

These updates are expected to accompany the rollout of the redesigned Start menu built on WinUI 3.

Although the visual appearance of the new Start menu may not change dramatically, users—particularly those with entry-level or older hardware—should notice smoother performance and reduced memory consumption during everyday use.

No Official Memory Savings Yet

While Microsoft has confirmed that reducing RAM usage is a priority, the company has not disclosed any specific figures regarding how much memory Windows 11 or WinUI applications will save after the update.

As testing continues, more concrete performance data is expected closer to the feature’s public release.

Part of a Broader Windows Modernization Effort

The WinUI 3 improvements are part of Microsoft’s ongoing effort to modernize Windows 11 by replacing aging interface components that date back to earlier versions of the operating system.

The company has previously stated its intention to retire legacy Windows UI elements—some originating in the Windows 95 era—and replace them with modern, more efficient components based on WinUI 3.

If these optimizations deliver the expected improvements, future versions of Windows 11 could offer a more responsive experience while using less system memory, especially on PCs with limited RAM.