Microsoft to enable Windows 11 Memory Integrity by default

Microsoft is set to automatically enable Memory Integrity (also known as Hypervisor-protected Code Integrity or HVCI) on eligible Windows 11 devices starting in October 2026. This security feature, which relies on Virtualization-based Security (VBS), creates an isolated environment to verify that kernel-mode code and drivers are trusted, preventing malware from compromising the operating system core.

The update will target compatible hardware, specifically including Intel 8th-generation or newer, AMD Zen 2 or newer, and Qualcomm Snapdragon 8180 or newer processors. Microsoft stated it will evaluate hardware capabilities, compatibility, and performance before activation to minimize stability risks. Notably, if a user has already manually disabled this feature via registry or Group Policy, the update will not force it back on.

While the move enhances security, it has raised concerns regarding performance, particularly for gamers and users of undervolting software like ThrottleStop or Intel XTU. Enabling VBS can interfere with manual voltage adjustments and may cause drops in frames per second (FPS) on older hardware. However, on modern processors with hardware-level acceleration, the performance impact is expected to be minimal.