Microsoft is continuing to work on improving Windows 11 following a March 2026 statement promising 'smoother navigation and more reliable performance for everyday tasks.' Pavan Davuluri, President of Windows + Devices, provided an update on this initiative in a post on X, outlining progress made and priorities going forward.
According to Davuluri, Microsoft has made 'substantial improvements in memory efficiency and latency' to help modernize Windows 11. He said the company has reduced memory overhead across apps and components by using a more efficient memory allocator, has tuned the WinUI 3 framework so that apps built on it use less memory by design, and has driven efficiencies across Chromium and Webview2 components within the operating system.
Looking ahead, Davuluri said Microsoft will focus on several areas through the end of 2026, including a faster onboarding and setup experience, improvements for families such as faster setup and easier access to parental controls, more natural voice interaction, and specifically 'memory optimization for 8GB and above' PCs, aimed at delivering a fast and responsive experience across the PCs customers use every day.
PCWorld notes that this focus on 8GB memory optimization comes as Microsoft faces competition from Apple's MacBook Neo, an 8GB RAM Mac that has drawn attention for its price and configuration and for showcasing tight integration between Apple's operating system and its own silicon. PCWorld also points out that Windows 11's official hardware requirements call for just 4GB of RAM, though it notes that even 8GB systems can strain under real-world use, and that Microsoft has not publicly specified performance metrics for what counts as acceptable responsiveness on low-end PCs.
Davuluri also referenced earlier changes made since March, including updates to the Windows Insider program, a redesigned Taskbar and Start menu, quieted widgets, and changes to File Explorer. He said Microsoft would keep 'listening and closing the loop' on feedback, stating that the message from users has been to 'keep going.'
Despite these efforts, a TechPowerUp reader poll of 24,100 participants found limited signs that users have noticed improvement. Only 6% said Windows felt 'noticeably improved,' while 12% reported 'minor improvements.' Nearly half, 46%, said Windows 'feels the same,' and 36% said Windows 11 was 'actually getting worse' since Microsoft's improvement plan was announced.