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There is no official, universal RAM figure for the Windows Copilot app. Third-party reports have cited idle readings of 791.7 MB and around 560 MB, but those are observations on particular systems—not a fixed amount every PC will use. The often-mentioned 16 GB figure is a minimum for a Copilot+ PC, not the app’s memory consumption.
What the 4 GB and 16 GB figures mean
Windows 11’s minimum system requirement is 4 GB of RAM. That is the operating system’s baseline, not a promise that a PC with 4 GB will feel comfortable while running modern applications.
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A Copilot+ PC is a separate device category for on-device AI features. Microsoft’s requirements include at least 16 GB of DDR5 or LPDDR5 memory, a neural processing unit (NPU) rated at 40 or more TOPS, and at least 256 GB of storage. These are device qualification requirements; they do not mean the Copilot app takes up 16 GB of RAM.
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Microsoft also lists 16 GB RAM and a 40 TOPS NPU among the requirements for Recall on qualifying Copilot+ PCs. Recall snapshots are opt-in and saved locally. Those prerequisites concern that feature, not the memory allocation of the Copilot app.
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For broader guidance, Microsoft recommends 8 GB for keeping a device running long term and says 16 GB or more may suit photo or video editing and other demanding work. Those are general memory guidelines, not Copilot benchmarks. See Microsoft’s RAM guidance, Windows 11 specifications, and Copilot+ PC requirements.
The Copilot app and Copilot+ AI are not the same workload
The Windows Copilot app can provide cloud-based AI experiences. Copilot+ PCs add local AI components that use dedicated hardware, including an NPU. Microsoft’s Phi Silica language model is designed for local Copilot+ experiences, so its resource behavior is different from a cloud-hosted interaction through the app.
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Local inference uses device resources, and memory demand can depend on the model, the conversation context, the hardware, and the implementation. Microsoft explains that language-model inference can use memory for a key-value cache while generating tokens; the NPU offloads much of the transformer computation from the CPU and GPU. Microsoft describes quantization and low idle memory use as design goals, but does not provide a general system-RAM figure for ordinary users.
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What reported app readings show—and what they do not
PC Gamer relayed a Windows Latest idle observation of 791.7 MB for the Copilot app. The PC Gamer writer separately reported seeing around 560 MB with the app open in the background on their own PC. These snapshots show why the app can appear to use a noticeable amount of memory, but they do not establish a universal idle or peak figure.
The reports do not establish one controlled test protocol, a common Windows build and app version, or a fixed maximum. Microsoft’s documentation reviewed here also does not publish a standard idle or active RAM allocation for the app, or a standardized Windows memory comparison with Copilot open versus closed. The honest answer to “exactly how much?” is that it varies; no universal number is established by these sources. See PC Gamer’s report.
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How to check Copilot’s memory use on your PC
Task Manager can help you see what is happening on your own system. Treat the result as a practical snapshot, not a controlled benchmark: readings change with workload, and related child processes may contribute to the total.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager.
- Open Processes and select the Memory column to sort by RAM use. Find Copilot and any clearly associated processes; Task Manager may list related work separately.
- Note the reading while Copilot is open and performing the task you care about. Also note total memory use and whether other demanding apps are running.
- Close Copilot, wait for the process or processes to exit, then check again under otherwise similar conditions. Repeat if needed; a single reading can be affected by background activity.
This comparison can help determine whether Copilot is a noticeable part of your current memory load. It cannot establish a universal app footprint, and open-versus-closed readings may differ for reasons beyond Copilot.
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When more RAM may help
Consider a memory upgrade only if your PC is regularly short on available RAM while running the work you need. More memory can help a computer handle more simultaneous work, but buying RAM will not prove or necessarily reduce Copilot’s own allocation.
Before considering a module, check the manufacturer’s specifications for your exact PC model. Many current laptops have memory that cannot be replaced, and supported memory type or upgrade capacity varies by model. Microsoft’s general guidance on memory needs is available in its RAM explainer.
PC Insights is an opt-in feature, not a general background monitor
Microsoft describes PC Insights as an experimental, opt-in feature in the Copilot app. It asks permission before accessing relevant device or file data and is not a background monitor. That description applies to PC Insights specifically; it should not be generalized to every Copilot process or app version. Availability is gradual. Details are in Microsoft’s Copilot on Windows support page.
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