The much-criticized Weather app on Windows 11 has reached a new peak of inefficiency. According to a technical investigation by industry experts, the MSN Weather application, which serves as the native weather app for the operating system, uses more than 1.2 gigabytes of RAM for simple forecasts. This makes it five times more memory-hungry than its macOS counterpart, which consumes about 240 megabytes. The issue is not limited to resources, because the app is essentially a web wrapper based on Chromium, running numerous background subprocesses to fetch data. In addition, users have to deal with integrated ads, an aspect that raises questions about the quality of native Windows apps.
Why a simple weather app uses more than a gigabyte of RAM
The main reason lies in the application's architecture. MSN Weather is not a native app but an envelope incorporating Chromium, the rendering engine of Chrome. Every time it opens, several subprocesses are launched to handle graphics, updates, and interface logic. This approach, common in hybrid web apps, leads to disproportionate memory consumption for a task that should be lightweight. In comparison, the macOS Weather app is optimized to leverage system APIs and uses only a fraction of the resources. The difference is clear and highlights the limitations of web-based development models within a desktop operating system.
Sponsored Protocol
The comparison with macOS and the memory issue
Tests on updated systems show that the Windows 11 app reaches peaks of 1.2 GB under normal use, while macOS stays at around 240 MB. This means the consumption is five times higher for essentially identical functionality. The difference is even more pronounced when considering overall system performance, because the RAM occupied by the app could be used by more critical processes. Windows 11, in fact, offers efficient memory management, but an app that monopolizes over a gigabyte can slow down daily tasks, especially on low-RAM devices.
Sponsored Protocol
Advertising paid with system resources
Another criticized aspect is the presence of advertisements within the app. Users opening the weather app find banners and sponsored content, a monetization model many consider invasive. The choice to integrate ads into a preinstalled app raises ethical and user experience questions. Microsoft has justified this strategy as a way to offer free content, but it is evident that users pay in terms of system resources, as well as attention. Unsurprisingly, many seek lighter, ad-free alternatives.
How to reduce the impact of the Weather app on Windows 11
For users wanting to free up memory, there are several solutions. The simplest is to uninstall the app via Settings or PowerShell, as MSN Weather is a system app that can be removed. Another option is to disable notifications and background updates, thereby reducing the number of active subprocesses. However, the most effective solution is to use alternatives like progressive web apps from reliable weather services or tools such as AccuWeather. These offer detailed forecasts without burdening the system. Additionally, you can monitor RAM usage via Task Manager to identify responsible processes and decide how to intervene.
Sponsored Protocol
The future of native apps and Microsoft's approach
This case highlights a broader trend in desktop apps. The use of web technologies like Electron and Chromium is increasingly common, but it comes at a performance cost. Microsoft has invested in tools like WinUI 3 and Fluent Design to encourage native app development, but some internal teams seem not to follow this direction. Users hope for a revamp of the Weather app in future Windows 11 versions, perhaps with a hybrid approach that reduces memory consumption. In the meantime, those with low-RAM systems may have to seek alternative solutions.
Sponsored Protocol
The discussion about the efficiency of system apps is bound to continue, especially when comparing performance across different operating systems. The news of the high RAM usage of Windows 11's Weather app adds to the series of criticisms against preinstalled apps, which often prove heavy and invasive. While users can mitigate the issue with manual tweaks, the hope is that Microsoft takes steps to improve the overall experience. In the current landscape, choosing a good weather app should not require sacrifices in system resources.
