Some Windows 11 26H2 users are reporting noticeably lower RAM consumption immediately after startup, with individual results ranging from roughly 1GB to 3GB less memory in use. The change could be particularly meaningful for PCs equipped with 8GB of RAM, although it has not appeared universally after the update.
One Reddit report recorded startup memory use falling from 6.9GB to about 4.8GB–5GB. Other users have described reductions of 1GB to 3GB, while an example shared on X showed usage dropping from 9.1GB to 7.5GB.
The reports remain anecdotal, and some users say they have seen no difference after installing 26H2. System configuration, startup software and the specific build installed may affect the result, so the available examples do not yet establish a consistent reduction across Windows 11 devices.
The early feedback aligns with Microsoft’s stated work on Windows 11 efficiency, including lower memory use and faster startup behavior. The company is also working to improve WinUI, the framework behind parts of the Windows interface and certain apps. Separate reports have pointed to a more responsive File Explorer following the update.
Whether the memory savings are a gradual rollout of Microsoft’s optimizations or a benefit limited to particular configurations remains unclear. Broader testing after 26H2 reaches more systems should show whether the lower idle RAM footprint becomes a dependable change.
