Key information
Microsoft announced on October 15 that recent Windows 11 updates have improved overall system responsiveness by up to 20%. This performance gain is largely attributed to optimized memory management, allowing the system to retain up to 2GB of additional active data in RAM. These improvements are particularly noticeable on devices equipped with 8GB of RAM.
The enhancements were delivered via the KB5124010 update for OS Build 26300.9550, released on September 29. Microsoft compared this build against the January OS Build 26200.7628 to measure the 20% speed increase across core components like the Start menu, File Explorer, and Microsoft 365. Additionally, widgets now load only when opened, freeing over 200MB of RAM on systems with 8GB or less.
Windows Latest reported that a three-year-old PC with 16GB of RAM saw memory usage drop by approximately 2GB after installing the 26H2 update. While running multiple applications and 4K YouTube playback, memory utilization reached 87%, whereas the same tasks previously consumed 95% of available RAM.
Beyond general performance, Microsoft introduced Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD) to reduce game loading times for titles like Forza Horizon 6 and Gears of War: E-Day. The update also improves Windows Hello authentication, Bluetooth connectivity, and update installation efficiency. Users can access these features by ensuring their system and graphics drivers are updated.
