MS Focuses on Enhancing Windows 11 Native Apps and WinUI Performance
One of the primary challenges facing Windows 11 is the performance of its built-in apps and native framework. According to reports from Windows Latest, MS is preparing a significant update targeting memory management. The company is optimizing its WinUI-based Start menu and Agenda view in the Notifications Center before the official rollout.
At Build 2026, MS teased developers with details about memory management, which predominantly revolved around improving WinUI. The company emphasized that it has been making key changes to reduce RAM usage in WinUI. This optimization is critical as core Windows elements, such as the Start menu, will be transitioned to the WinUI framework.
According to Chris Anderson, an engineer on MS’s Windows UI team, additional changes are in the pipeline. He broadly hinted at improvements related to performance, fundamentals, and quality for WinUI as part of larger plans. A notable adjustment involves moving WinUI to the Windows system compositor, a step expected to enhance both application and operating system performance.
“On the performance side, we’ve invested heavily in improving memory usage as well as transitioning to a system compositor, which should yield significant performance improvements. All of these updates are already available in our public Git repository,” Anderson stated.
Challenges with WinUI Optimization
Despite the efforts, many users have experienced performance issues with WinUI. For instance, setting File Explorer to open “This PC” is noticeably faster compared to the “Home” tab, which takes longer to load. These issues highlight the need for further optimization.
Internally, MS is testing fixes for memory usage, performance, and reliability in WinUI before releasing the new Start menu built on the framework. While no significant visual changes are expected in the revamped Start menu, it should run more smoothly on low-end PCs and consume less RAM overall.
Unfortunately, there are no concrete metrics available yet. It remains unclear how much RAM usage will decrease—whether an app currently using 300MB of RAM will drop to 250MB, 200MB, or another figure—once the changes are implemented.
At Build 2026, MS stated that new WinUI features are in development but emphasized that addressing performance issues is the current priority. The company aims to ensure WinUI is more responsive before introducing additional features.
“I really want to spend the time before I dive into the new and exciting things that I think are attractive and shiny baubles in the feature,” Anderson said. “This is really about the core features that people have been asking for and need to be productive on top of WinUI. First and foremost: performance, fundamentals, quality, and fixing a lot of bugs.”
New Controls and Enterprise Strategy in WinUI
MS is also developing built-in DataGrid and Charting controls for WinUI, aiming to attract enterprise developers to the framework.
“We’re adding a lot of new controls,” Anderson noted. “DataGrid and Charting are upcoming features that should be released soon. These additions will appear in the core WinUI components, enabling developers to address more data-oriented scenarios.”
The introduction of these controls serves two purposes:
- Reducing developers’ reliance on third-party libraries for common enterprise app features.
- Encouraging enterprise developers to adopt WinUI for building applications.
MS hopes that increased adoption of WinUI will lead to further investment in the framework, potentially prompting a migration of legacy apps to the new native framework. However, the company clarified that using the built-in controls will not necessarily reduce an application’s RAM usage.
MS is also accelerating the integration of WinUI into the Windows shell, with plans to build more first-party Windows features using this framework. The company acknowledges that improvements to Windows 11's performance are tied to optimizing the core framework, as a slow-performing WinUI would hinder the operating system's overall speed.
Addressing Feature Gaps and Developer Concerns
In addition to performance issues, MS recognizes that a lack of essential features has made developers hesitant to adopt WinUI. Many developers have turned to open-source libraries to compensate for missing capabilities, such as a complete system tray implementation and advanced data controls.
“Beyond DataGrid and Charting, there are significant feature gaps in the platform,” Anderson admitted. “Developers ask about the system tray and the limited use of Windows. Many are relying on open-source libraries to address these gaps. We need to fix the platform to meet their needs.”
Anderson also addressed concerns about MS’s commitment to the framework. Developers have expressed skepticism about whether the company might abandon WinUI in favor of yet another framework.
“The number one question we get is: Are you guys serious this time? Are you going to stick with this framework? WinUI 3 is four years old. Are you going to keep going, or will you announce a brand-new framework again?” Anderson responded. “We have no intention of building a new framework.”
To emphasize its commitment, MS has decided to drop version numbers from WinUI’s branding. The framework will now simply be referred to as “WinUI,” signaling the company’s dedication to its long-term development and stability.
Looking Ahead
MS is taking significant steps to improve the performance and functionality of WinUI, addressing both immediate issues and long-term plans for the framework’s adoption. The company’s strategy includes:
- Optimizing memory usage and transitioning to the system compositor to enhance performance.
- Introducing built-in controls like DataGrid and Charting to reduce reliance on third-party libraries.
- Expanding WinUI’s integration into the Windows shell to support more first-party features.
- Addressing feature gaps and developer concerns to foster greater adoption.
While challenges remain, MS appears committed to making WinUI a robust, reliable framework that can power both native Windows apps and enterprise solutions. The success of these efforts could play a critical role in enhancing the overall experience of Windows 11 and beyond.
