Here are the consequences if you install Windows 11 with limited RAM

Reading time icon 3 min. read


Readers help support Windows Report. We may get a commission if you buy through our links. Tooltip Icon

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial team Read more

Key notes

  • Some new converts of Windows 11 have been able to install the OS with just 2GB RAM.
  • The minimum requirements for the OS are 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage space.
  • The performance of your PC can be affected and you can experience some lag when performing tasks.

Getting Windows 11 installed on a computer with a small amount of disk space will still work, but you will have to be careful about the services and applications that you install.

The minimum processor requirements are a 1 GHz processor (1.4 GHz is recommended) and 4 GB of RAM. You also need at least 64GB of storage. There are more system requirements so be sure to check out the full list. 

Installing Windows 11 is a breeze, but there will be ramifications if you are trying to install it on a computer with low RAM. It’s likely that you’ll have some trouble with the installation process, as well as in the performance once the software is installed.

Why you should care about RAM

RAM is one of the most important components of your computer. In a nutshell, RAM is a temporary storage space that allows your computer to quickly access and run applications without having to read from your hard drive.

The more RAM you have, the faster your computer can perform tasks. When you’re running multiple programs at once, each program has to share its resources with its neighbors (this is called multitasking).

An application that’s using too much of its neighbor’s RAM may slow down or crash because of it.

The more RAM you have, the more tasks you can accomplish simultaneously without adversely affecting your performance speed.

You may also encounter some compatibility issues with older programs if you are running a limited amount of RAM. These programs may slow down or even crash when run in Windows 11 with limited RAM.

Can I upgrade my RAM?

It is possible to use Windows 11 on a computer with only 2GB of RAM, but you will find that you can’t do everything you want to do.

You’ll notice that the Windows 11 operating system runs smoothly when you’re just using your computer to browse the web and check email, but as soon as you start running other programs the computer slows down.

This is because Windows 11 needs more memory to run additional programs efficiently.

You can upgrade your RAM but you can’t do it on any computer. You have to check the specifications of your computer or laptop.

Users on Reddit had a field day when someone said they had installed Windows 11 with 2GB RAM. 

On the thread, comments were quick to dismiss the user and said that his joy would be short-lived as he wouldn’t enjoy the features for long.

To avoid any eventualities, use the PC Health Check app to see if your device meets the minimum system requirement.

Have you had any issues installing Windows 11 or encountered performance issues? Let us know in the comment section below.