Windows 11 Gets an Update: Up to 20% More Responsive, With New Search

Microsoft detailed a Windows 11 update on October 15, 2026, saying the system has become up to 20% more responsive. Search will gain actions, the Photos app gets a new gallery, and Start will show messages from your phone.

The news comes from the Windows Experience Blog. The improvements are starting to roll out widely, while the new search is currently available to Windows Insider members.

Windows 11 is more responsive and more memory-efficient

According to Microsoft’s measurements, responsiveness in Search, Start, Settings, Snipping Tool, and File Explorer has improved by up to 20%, depending on the device. On a PC with 8 GB of memory, Windows can keep up to 2 GB of extra active data in RAM, and widgets load only when opened and free up more than 200 MB.

Taskbar search will be able to perform actions

Actions let you turn on dark mode or night light and minimize windows without opening Settings. Microsoft promises phone control from search later. Everyone else will get the new search later this year.

Phone and PC: messages, calls, and files

• Messages and notifications from an Android phone or iPhone appear in Start, and you can reply in a separate chat window.
• You can take calls on your PC, and quick settings let you ring a lost phone.
• With a supported Android phone, its apps open in separate windows, and its files are available in File Explorer.

Photos gets a gallery and an editor

The new Microsoft Photos app gathers pictures from your PC and connected libraries into one gallery, searches for photos by description in words, and launches up to 20% faster. In the editor, you can remove an unwanted object from the background and adjust lighting with Relight.

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