Microsoft plans Windows 11 optimization for 8‑GB PCs by 2026

Microsoft announced a series of lightweight utilities and memory‑management updates aimed at improving Windows 11 performance on devices equipped with 8 GB of RAM. The changes, led by Executive Vice President Pavan Davuluri, target a rollout before the end of 2026, with Marcus Ash stating that multi‑layer performance upgrades will be delivered across the operating system.

In parallel, the company is modernising legacy user‑interface elements. The 25‑year‑old Autoplay dialog, which appears when a removable drive is connected, will be rebuilt using the WinUI 3 framework, gaining native dark‑mode support, lower memory usage and smoother animations. Additional UI work includes a new right‑click context menu and an updated File Explorer dialog. The Windows 11 26H2 update, expected in October 2026, will be a compact 174 KB package that also adds backup and point‑in‑time restore features.