Windows 11 Media Player 22.0 records 342 MB average RAM versus 98 MB legacy baseline on 1080p decode

The Windows 11 22H2 update replaced the native desktop Media Player with a UWP application distributed through the Microsoft Store. Codec support for HEVC and AV1 was stripped from the base install, directing users to a separate paid extension. No migration documentation addressed the resulting memory increase or licensing change.

Benchmarks from multiple hardware configurations show sustained RAM usage of 342 MB against the prior 98 MB average. The delta persists across Intel and AMD platforms and remains independent of hardware decoding paths. Telemetry and Store integration components account for the majority of the added allocation.

The shift follows Microsoft’s documented pattern of migrating inbox features into Store-delivered packages, visible in the Photos and Snipping Tool replacements. Resource overhead originates from additional runtime layers rather than improved functionality. Enterprise fleets running memory-constrained devices encounter immediate regression without corresponding capability gains.

Third-party alternatives maintain sub-120 MB footprints on identical workloads. Organizations tracking the new player’s telemetry will determine whether a subsequent Store update reduces the measured delta below 200 MB within the next two release cycles.