Windows 11 Saves Storage Space And Improve Performance

With the introduction of Windows 11, Microsoft will significantly reduce the storage space required for in-house operating system apps such as Sticky Notes, and To-Do. A new type of compression and reloading of program files should help.

As Microsoft employees confirm to the Windows Latest blog, among other things, so-called “Inbox apps”, which include various system programs, are optimized ex-works with regard to storage space requirements. The default state of this is to be seen as a kind of placeholder that changes when the apps are started for the first time. For example, if the Sticky Notes, the new Photos app, and Microsoft To-Do. are loaded for the first time, the operating system automatically calls up the required binary files for the programs from the Microsoft Store and downloads them.

Unused programs are only fully downloaded on request

“This will reduce the amount of space on your hard drive and you will also experience fewer background updates and download traffic,” said Microsoft. Full-fledged applications, such as the Microsoft Store itself or programs from the Office suite, should not be affected by this memory-saving reload option. A complete overview of the programs does not seem to be available yet, so the potential of the actual storage space savings cannot be fully assessed for the time being. It also remains open how the programs behave when they are run for the first time in offline mode.

In addition, Microsoft saves space on hard drives and solid-state drives (SSD) under Windows 11 by reducing the overall size of the operating system and important apps such as the Edge browser. The Redmond-based company also points out that many functions are only offered on-demand and thus offer further potential for saving storage space. Among other things, Ethernet and WLAN drivers are considered “Features on Demand” (FOD), which can be removed by users when not in use. Management should be done via the Settings app.