Windows 11 will get more secure next month, but gamers could pay in FPS

Microsoft is preparing to enable the Memory Integrity security feature on more Windows 11 PCs, with the change expected to arrive through Windows quality updates in October. The feature is designed to protect the operating system from malicious code and untrusted drivers, but Microsoft has previously acknowledged that it can affect gaming performance on some systems.

Memory Integrity is part of Windows 11’s Core Isolation security features. It uses virtualization-based security (VBS) to ensure that only trusted kernel-mode code and drivers can run on the system. According to Microsoft group program manager Peter Waxman, upcoming quality updates will enable Memory Integrity on eligible devices and, where necessary, also turn on VBS.

The company says the impact on performance will depend largely on the hardware. Modern processors should see a smaller effect, but PCs with older CPUs may experience more noticeable frame-rate drops in some games.

There is one important exception. Microsoft will not automatically turn Memory Integrity back on for users who have previously disabled it. Those who have never changed the setting, however, may find it enabled after installing the upcoming updates.

To check whether Memory Integrity is enabled, users should search Windows for “Core Isolation” and open the corresponding section in the Windows Security app. Memory Integrity can be enabled or disabled there.

Microsoft recommends keeping Memory Integrity enabled for better protection against malicious software and drivers. Gamers who need every last frame, however, can temporarily disable the feature while playing and turn it back on afterward.