By Jon Fingas
Publication Date: 2026-10-15 15:18:00
Microsoft is delivering on its promise to fix more of Windows 11’s longstanding problems. The company is starting a large-scale rollout for a series of updates that both improve performance and rework key apps, including a new Photos app.
For many, performance will be the centerpiece of the upgrades. Microsoft claims Windows 11 is now “up to” 20% more responsive across core features, including the Edge web browser. The brand is also making better use of memory for the Dell XPS 13, Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe, and other PCs with 8GB of RAM. The OS can store as much as 2GB of actively-used data in memory (instead of shunting it to storage), and free up 200MB of memory by loading widgets only when you need them.
Reliability should also be improved, including faster and more consistent connections for Bluetooth headphones as well as a team-up with hardware makers to refine driver quality.
The Photos app, meanwhile, is subject to a major redesign. The new software pools photos from…
