Ex-Windows chief reveals Microsoft could have already improved Windows 11

Start menu in Windows 11 — A former Windows leader recently discussed a project that promised a 20% reduction in Windows 11’s memory and storage usage. (Image credit: Future)

Microsoft's commitment to make Windows 11 better through major performance improvements and an overhauled user experience has been lauded by enthusiasts, including former Windows development lead Mikhail Parakhin, who also used the opportunity to talk about a project that unfortunately never got the chance to see the light of day.

"So glad Pavan is restarting this push! Back in the day Jeff Johnson and I had this 20/20 project: reducing Windows' idle memory consumption and the fresh install size on disk by 20%," indicated Parakhin. "We never got to finish - great to see this focus on fundamentals again."

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The software giant announced significant performance improvements coming to Windows 11, including reduced resource usage to free up more power for active tasks and enhanced memory efficiency that lowers the system’s baseline footprint, giving your apps more capacity to run smoothly.

However, it didn't get into specifics and whether Parakhin's project to reduce both the idle memory usage and installed disk size of Windows 11 by 20% were part of these efforts.

That said, Microsoft's move feels perfectly timed, especially with memory and storage prices skyrocketing. It remains to be seen if the company will actually make good on its promises.

So glad Pavan is restarting this push! Back in the day Jeff Johnson and I had this 20/20 project: reducing Windows' idle memory consumption and the fresh install size on disk by 20%. We never got to finish - great to see this focus on fundamentals again. https://t.co/ms4mrPCrWfMarch 20, 2026

2026 feels like it's off to a great start for Windows 11 users. Over the past week, the software giant has made major announcements about how it plans to overhaul Windows 11's user experience.

They include returning the capability to move and resize the Taskbar, reducing where Copilot and AI experiences appear in the operating system, allowing users to postpone updates indefinitely, and even dropping the forced Microsoft Account requirement during setup.

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Kevin Okemwa is a seasoned tech journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya with lots of experience covering the latest trends and developments in the industry at Windows Central. With a passion for innovation and a keen eye for detail, he has written for leading publications such as OnMSFT, MakeUseOf, and Windows Report, providing insightful analysis and breaking news on everything revolving around the Microsoft ecosystem. While AFK and not busy following the ever-emerging trends in tech, you can find him exploring the world or listening to music.

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