Compare Task Manager’s In use and Available memory readings before and after the update, with the PC restarted and the same apps and workload in place. A lower reading after installation is evidence of less RAM in use at that moment—not proof that the update caused the change.
Take a comparable reading before and after the update
Use the same PC, Windows account, workload and Task Manager memory view for both readings. Restart before measuring, then wait for startup activity to settle. Record when you took each reading and how long the PC has been running since restart; a different set of open apps or background tasks can change the result.
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- Before installing the update: restart the PC. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, then select Performance > Memory.
- Record the date and time, Windows version and build, update KB if known, total installed RAM, In use and Available. Note the apps, browser tabs and workload running. A screenshot can help you reproduce the same view later.
- Install the update and restart. Wait for startup activity to settle for a similar amount of time, without changing startup apps or your usual workload.
- Return to Task Manager > Performance > Memory and record the same details. If practical, repeat the reading under comparable conditions to see whether the difference persists.
Task Manager’s Memory view is a practical system-level snapshot, not a controlled experiment. Windows may still be doing different background work after each restart, so keep the conditions as alike as you can.
Read the memory figures correctly
In use and Available
In use indicates physical memory currently being used by Windows, apps and other processes. Available is the memory Windows can make available to applications. Microsoft defines it as “the part of this RAM that is available for the user’s applications after the required system and boot applications have been loaded into memory” in its Memory Footprint assessment results.
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Standby memory is not automatically wasted
Available memory includes free and standby memory. Standby memory holds cached data and files that are not actively in use and can be made available when applications need it. A large cached or standby amount does not, by itself, mean that RAM is unusable or that Windows has a problem.
Compare like with like
A lower In use figure alongside higher Available memory after the update is consistent with less physical memory occupied at the time of measurement. It does not establish that the update produced the change. A higher figure can likewise reflect a different workload or temporary post-restart activity; check what is using memory before calling it an update regression. There is no universal amount of RAM that a Windows 11 update should save.
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Use deeper diagnostics if Task Manager does not explain the result
Task Manager’s overall Memory figure and the sum of process readings are different views of memory use. If the system-wide change is unclear, inspect process working sets or Performance Monitor memory counters. Microsoft’s Windows performance troubleshooting guidance discusses counters such as MemoryAvailable MBytes and process working-set counters; it is aimed at deeper diagnosis and is not required for a basic before-and-after check. See Troubleshoot performance problems in Windows.
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Check the release notes for your exact update
Record the KB number and Windows version or build shown for your installation, then find that update in Microsoft’s Windows 11 update history. Select the relevant update to review its release notes and known issues. Microsoft says feature updates roll out in phases, and changes listed on a release page apply to the specific release described there—not necessarily to every Windows 11 PC or update.
For example, Microsoft’s notes for KB5120998, dated August 27, 2026, and KB5124010, dated September 22, 2026, are update-specific. They do not establish that Windows 11 updates generally reduce RAM use across PCs. Don’t attribute a change to an update solely because it appeared soon after installation; report your result with the PC, update and measurement conditions attached.
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