Yet another performance boost for Windows 11
(Watch the video summary or read the full article below.)
Are you tired of that slight pause when you open something on your PC and it takes just a fraction longer than expected?
It’s not enough to stop you working, but it’s enough to irritate you.
That’s the sort of thing Microsoft is working to fix in Windows 11.
In recent months, the focus has shifted towards improving the overall feel and responsiveness of Windows, rather than simply adding more features. And honestly, I think it’s the right priority.
A lot of the latest work is happening behind the scenes, making core parts of Windows faster and smoother to use.
So, what is WinUI?
A big part of this centres around something called WinUI. You can forget the name after reading this, but it helps to understand roughly what it does.
WinUI is the framework Microsoft uses to build the visual side of Windows and its apps. It controls how things look and behave on screen, including File Explorer, menus, settings and many built-in apps.
Microsoft has been gradually modernising Windows 11 using WinUI. Now, it’s also working to make the framework itself run more efficiently.
The idea is simple: make the foundations faster and everything built on them benefits too.
Microsoft has been using tools such as File Explorer and Notepad to test these improvements. File Explorer, for example, is something most of us use throughout the day to browse files and folders.
According to Microsoft’s engineers, they’ve significantly reduced the amount of background work Windows needs to do when launching these apps.
That means less unnecessary processing and, ultimately, faster and more responsive everyday tasks.
You probably won’t see dramatic “twice as fast” improvements overnight. Instead, Microsoft is aiming to remove small delays from everyday actions such as opening folders, switching windows and launching apps.
Across an entire workday, those small delays can quickly add up.
A more joined-up approach
There’s another interesting part to this.
Microsoft’s different Windows teams appear to be working more closely together than they have in the past.
That might not sound particularly exciting, but it matters. When different teams optimise separate parts of the system in isolation, the overall experience can feel inconsistent.
A more coördinated approach should help Windows work better as a whole.
Microsoft is also working on low latency, which simply means reducing the delay between you doing something and Windows responding.
It’s not glamorous, but you notice it when it works well.
When your systems feel responsive, you can work more efficiently. There’s less frustration, fewer small interruptions and a smoother, more predictable experience.
And that’s what good technology should do.
If your PCs are starting to feel sluggish, or you’re unsure whether your hardware is getting the best out of Windows 11, we can help.
Get in touch.
☎️ Camb: 01223 209920 | London: 020 3519 0124
☎️ Suffolk: 0144 059 2163 | Sheffield: 0114 349 8054