Microsoft is quietly removing documentation from its website and materials that mention 32 GB of RAM as a recommendation for new PC builds or purchases. Instead, the company is now emphasizing 8 GB devices that are optimized to run Windows 11 smoothly. Previously, Microsoft published a document suggesting that 16 GB is a baseline for a modern PC, describing it as a good starting point, with 32 GB as a no worries upgrade for gaming PCs.

This sparked significant controversy as gamers were vocal about the recommendation when purchasing additional memory could cost as much as an entire PC. Amid a severe DRAM shortage, Microsoft faced pushback and quietly removed the 32 GB recommendation. This raised concerns about whether Microsoft would optimize Windows 11 for lower-spec PCs with less than 16 GB RAM, such as the 8 GB PCs that Microsoft sells itself, including the Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 13.

The company has made substantial improvements in memory efficiency and latency, reduced memory overhead across apps, and optimized Win UI 3 to make built-in apps use less memory. Microsoft outlined plans for future Windows 11 memory optimization for 8 GB and above, leading to the removal of 32 GB RAM recommendations to avoid additional pushback.