Microsoft Copilot Update Bundles Full Edge Browser Increasing Windows 11 Memory Usage to One Gigabyte

New Windows 11 Copilot update replaces native code with a full Microsoft Edge package, significantly increasing RAM usage and system storage requirements.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 6, 2026, 4:52 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Windows Latest.

The Strategic Shift Toward Web Components

Microsoft has initiated a rollout of a redesigned Copilot application for Windows 11, marking a significant departure from its previous native WinUI framework. This latest version functions as a hybrid web application, delivered via an installer similar to that used for Microsoft Edge. According to observations from Windows Latest, the update replaces the existing native app, which had itself replaced several prior iterations, including a sidebar and a Progressive Web App. While the interface appears smoother and closely mirrors the web version of the service, the underlying architecture has undergone a fundamental transformation that prioritizes web based rendering over native system integration.

The Hybrid Architecture and Bundled Browser Engine

The new Copilot is not a standard WebView2 or PWA, as it does not rely on the existing Edge integration found within Windows 11. Instead, the application package contains a complete, dedicated version of Microsoft Edge, totaling approximately 850 MB in size. Investigation into the installation directory revealed a full suite of Edge binaries, including the Chromium browser engine, various subsystems for DRM, and browser helper objects. This private copy of the browser, paired with a custom launcher, allows the Copilot interface to be rendered via a WebView2 container while maintaining the capabilities of a full browser environment.

Rising Resource Demands and Performance Tradeoffs

This architectural change has resulted in a substantial increase in system resource requirements, according to testing data. While the previous native version of Copilot typically utilized less than 100 MB of RAM, the new hybrid model consumes up to 500 MB in the background. When a user begins to interact with the assistant, memory usage can climb as high as 1 GB. These elevated RAM requirements represent a significant shift in how the AI assistant impacts system performance, contrasting with recent initiatives aimed at optimizing Windows 11 resource management.