Microsoft details how Windows 8 Metro Apps can go to sleep state and resume quickly to free up memory on the official Windows 8 blog. The apps are suspended when they are no longer visible to the user. Suspending Metro style apps in the background is a good thing, as it conserves CPU for other apps and ensures that background apps don't cause activity that can consume resources, thereby improving the battery life and increasing responsiveness.
But what about the memory these apps are taking up when suspended? Whenever Windows 8 detects memory pressure on the system, it will repurpose nearly all the memory that suspended Metro style apps would otherwise hold onto. Windows 8 can reclaim this memory without having to terminate an app.
Watch the video below to understand how Windows 8 reclaims memory from Metro apps.
But what about the memory these apps are taking up when suspended? Whenever Windows 8 detects memory pressure on the system, it will repurpose nearly all the memory that suspended Metro style apps would otherwise hold onto. Windows 8 can reclaim this memory without having to terminate an app.
Watch the video below to understand how Windows 8 reclaims memory from Metro apps.