Windows 11 to auto-enable memory integrity on more PCs next month
Microsoft will begin enabling memory integrity protection on eligible Windows 11 devices through quality updates starting next month. The kernel-level security feature blocks untrusted code and drivers but can lower gaming frame rates on older processors. Users who have already turned off the feature will not have it re-enabled automatically.
Microsoft's memory integrity feature operates as a virtualization-based security measure that restricts which kernel-mode code and drivers can execute on a system. The company frames this rollout as part of a broader "secure by default" initiative, with the feature arriving via standard Windows quality updates rather than a separate opt-in process. Users who have previously disabled the setting will be exempt from the automatic change, preserving their existing configuration. For those who wish to manage the feature manually, it can be located under "Core Isolation" in the Windows Security app, where it can be toggled on or off at any time.
This change could create a tension between security and performance for Windows 11 users, particularly gamers running older hardware who may see noticeable frame rate drops. While the security benefits are clear, the automatic nature of the rollout may catch some users off guard. The exemption for those who already disabled the feature suggests Microsoft is attempting to balance protection with user choice, though less technically savvy users could be affected without understanding why performance changed.