Windows 11 version 26H2 has officially rolled out, bringing with it a mix of significant and subtle changes to Microsoft’s desktop operating system. While the release notes may not have set the tech world ablaze, a notable shift has captured the attention of users across various online forums. Many are reporting a decrease in RAM usage after the update, leading to discussions about a potentially more streamlined and efficient operating system.
Windows 11 26H2 is reducing RAM usage across many PCs
The newly updated OS is finally judicious with system memory
One of the more intriguing outcomes of the 26H2 update is its impact on memory utilization, a topic that has sparked considerable debate among users. A Reddit user with 48GB of RAM noted a drop in their idle memory usage from 6.9GB to approximately 4.8GB post-update. This prompted a flurry of similar reports from others who experienced reductions ranging from 1GB to 3GB. Windows Latest conducted their own tests on a 16GB laptop, observing a decline in idle memory usage from over 10GB to about 7GB.
While the specifics of what drives these improvements remain somewhat ambiguous—especially since Microsoft has not officially claimed responsibility for these optimizations—the company has been vocal about its commitment to reducing the operating system’s memory footprint throughout 2026. Pavan Davuluri, a key figure at Microsoft, acknowledged this focus during a recent episode of the Inside Windows podcast, emphasizing efforts to enhance memory utilization and overall system efficiency.
The 8GB machines are still waiting their turn
Every reported drop has come from a 16GB machine or bigger
Despite the positive feedback from users with larger memory capacities, those operating with 8GB machines seem to be left out of the conversation. Reports indicate that users with 8GB of RAM are either experiencing no changes or getting lost in the broader discussions surrounding the update. Most of the documented improvements have come from systems equipped with 16GB or more, leaving those with 8GB feeling somewhat neglected.
While anecdotal evidence suggests that the optimizations are indeed real, they appear to bypass the 8GB tier, which Microsoft had previously identified as a priority for enhancement. This discrepancy raises questions about the company’s commitment to addressing the needs of all users, particularly those who would benefit most from memory optimizations.
I tested 26H2 on my own laptop from 2022
Is it really that judicious with memory?
In a personal test of the 26H2 update on a Lenovo Legion 5 Pro, I recorded baseline memory usage prior to the installation. Initially, the idle memory usage stood at 8.5GB out of a total of 31.9GB. Post-update, this figure dropped to 6.7GB, confirming the trend reported by others with similar systems. The cached memory also decreased correspondingly, suggesting that Windows is indeed managing memory more efficiently by holding less in standby.
A gift for the abundant, but nothing for the rest?
This situation presents an ironic twist. Microsoft has openly acknowledged the ongoing memory crisis and has even launched devices with 8GB of RAM, yet the 26H2 update—which shows promise in optimizing memory—appears to overlook this critical segment. While there may be further enhancements in the pipeline for users with lower RAM configurations, the current state leaves many feeling overlooked in their quest for improved performance amidst the ongoing DRAM challenges.
