Microsoft Is Finally Making Windows 11 Faster in 2026 — Here’s What’s Changing

Speed up Windows 11 in 2026 — Microsoft has officially confirmed it, and you don’t have to wait for the updates to start seeing results. Whether your Windows 11 PC feels sluggish, takes too long to boot, or stutters when multitasking, this guide covers both what Microsoft is doing to fix Windows performance this year and six settings you can change right now to make your PC noticeably faster.

Why Is Windows 11 Slow in 2026?

According to Microsoft’s own admission, Windows 11 has accumulated significant performance debt through 2024 and 2025. Key culprits include:

• High baseline RAM usage — On an 8GB PC, Windows 11 idle RAM usage exceeds 6GB. On 16GB PCs, it can top 10GB at idle.
• AI and Copilot background processes — Constant background indexing for Copilot features consumes CPU and RAM even when you’re not using them.
• WebView2-based apps — Popular apps like WhatsApp and Discord are built on memory-hungry web wrappers.
• Visual transparency effects — Mica and Acrylic blur effects require the GPU to constantly re-render backgrounds.
• Too many startup programs — Apps that launch at boot slow down startup and hog RAM from the first second.

Windows President Pavan Davuluri publicly admitted in January 2026 that “we need to improve Windows in ways that are meaningful for people” and committed to monthly performance improvements throughout 2026. To see all the official changes coming, read our full article on the Windows 11 2026 update.

What Microsoft Is Doing to Speed Up Windows 11 in 2026

Microsoft has confirmed these specific performance improvements coming throughout 2026:

• Lower baseline RAM usage — the OS itself will consume fewer resources at idle
• Reduced interaction latency — moving more components to native WinUI3 instead of web wrappers
• Better responsiveness under heavy load — smoother multitasking even with many apps open
• Faster Windows Search — clearer separation between local and web results
• Faster File Explorer — preloading, reduced UI flicker, and faster search inside Explorer
• Fewer OS crashes — improved driver stability and hardware reliability

These improvements are rolling out gradually via Windows Update through 2026. But while you wait, here are six things you can do right now to speed up your Windows 11 PC.

6 Settings That Speed Up Windows 11 Right Now

1. Disable Startup Apps (Biggest Single Impact)

Startup apps are the #1 cause of slow Windows 11 boot times. To disable them:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
2. Click the Startup apps tab
3. Right-click any app you don’t need at startup and click Disable
4. Prioritize disabling: Spotify, Discord, OneDrive, Teams, and any manufacturer bloatware

2. Turn Off Transparency Effects

Windows 11’s Mica and Acrylic transparency effects look great but constantly use GPU resources. Turning them off gives an immediate speed boost, especially on older PCs:

1. Go to Settings → Personalization → Colors
2. Toggle off Transparency effects

3. Switch to High Performance Power Mode

By default, Windows 11 uses “Balanced” power mode, which throttles your CPU. Switching to Best Performance keeps your CPU at full speed:

1. Go to Settings → System → Power & Battery
2. Under Power mode, select Best performance

Note for laptop users: This drains battery faster. Use it only when plugged in.

4. Adjust Visual Effects for Best Performance

1. Press Windows + R, type sysdm.cpl and press Enter
2. Go to the Advanced tab → click Settings under Performance
3. Select Adjust for best performance (disables all animations)
4. Or choose Custom and uncheck only the animations you don’t need

5. Enable Storage Sense to Auto-Clean Junk Files

1. Go to Settings → System → Storage
2. Toggle on Storage Sense
3. Click Storage Sense to configure it — set it to run every week
4. Also manually click Run Storage Sense now for an immediate cleanup

6. Use Task Manager Efficiency Mode for Background Apps

Windows 11 has a built-in Efficiency Mode that lowers the CPU priority of background apps, freeing resources for the app you’re actively using:

1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc)
2. Go to the Processes tab
3. Right-click a background app using high CPU (like a browser)
4. Select Efficiency mode

This is especially effective on laptops — it can also noticeably improve battery life.

Bonus: Delete Temp Files Right Now

Temp files accumulate quickly and slow down Windows. Here’s the fastest way to clear them:

1. Press Windows + R, type %temp% and press Enter
2. Select all files (Ctrl + A) and delete them
3. Skip any files that say “in use” — those are safe to skip
4. Repeat with temp (without the % signs) in the Run dialog

For more storage tips, see our guide on what to delete when your PC storage is full on Windows 11.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Windows 11 use so much RAM?

Windows 11 uses significant RAM due to background AI/Copilot processes, WebView2-based apps, and its general memory management architecture. On an 8GB PC, idle RAM usage can exceed 6GB. Microsoft has committed to lowering this baseline in 2026 updates.

Will upgrading to Windows 11 25H2 make my PC faster?

In some cases, yes. Windows 11 25H2 includes performance optimizations over 24H2, including faster File Explorer launch times and reduced Copilot background activity. Keeping Windows updated is always recommended for best performance.

Does turning off transparency effects really speed up Windows 11?

Yes — especially on PCs with integrated graphics or older GPUs. The Mica and Acrylic effects require constant GPU re-rendering. On modern high-end GPUs the impact is minimal, but on older or integrated graphics, it can make a visible difference in UI responsiveness.

Should I use Ultimate Performance power plan in Windows 11?

The hidden Ultimate Performance plan (enabled via PowerShell command powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61) keeps your CPU at full speed at all times. It’s great for desktop PCs doing heavy work but not recommended for laptops due to battery drain and heat.

How do I check what’s slowing down my Windows 11 PC?

Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and check the CPU, Memory, and Disk columns in the Processes tab. Sort by each column to find the top resource hog. Also check the Startup apps tab for programs slowing down your boot time. Microsoft’s official support page at support.microsoft.com also has diagnostic tools available.

Key Takeaways

• Microsoft confirmed Windows 11 will use less RAM and run faster throughout 2026 via monthly updates.
• The fastest immediate fix is disabling startup apps in Task Manager.
• Turning off transparency effects gives an instant UI speed boost, especially on older hardware.
• Switching to Best Performance power mode ensures your CPU doesn’t throttle unnecessarily.
• Storage Sense automatically keeps your drive clean for sustained performance.
• Efficiency Mode in Task Manager is an underrated tool for freeing CPU from background apps.

You don’t have to buy new hardware to make Windows 11 faster — these six settings deliver real, measurable improvements on any PC. And with Microsoft’s 2026 performance overhaul rolling out monthly, things are only going to get better. Stay updated with the latest Windows 11 tips on PGUpdate.in.