Microsoft to Expand Memory Integrity Protection in Windows 11 from October 2026

Microsoft plans to expand the Memory Integrity feature to more Windows 11 PCs starting in October 2026. The update will roll out via standard quality patches and affect devices meeting security requirements. The feature is already enabled by default on new Windows 11 installations and Secured-core PCs, but its activation will now extend to existing systems.

Memory Integrity, also known as Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity (HVCI), uses Virtualization-based Security (VBS) to isolate kernel code integrity checks. This prevents the execution of malicious drivers and untrusted software in the Windows kernel. The feature debuted in Windows 10 but became part of standard protection on compatible devices in Windows 11.

However, the feature has a trade-off: on some systems, it may reduce performance, especially in gaming. Microsoft acknowledged this in 2022 and recommended gamers temporarily disable Memory Integrity and Virtual Machine Platform (VMP) for better performance. Performance impact depends on hardware configuration: newer processors with hardware-accelerated isolation experience minimal slowdowns, while older CPUs may see more noticeable performance drops.

Before enabling the feature, Windows will automatically assess device readiness based on parameters like driver compatibility and performance. Systems where users previously disabled Memory Integrity will remain unchanged. Administrators and advanced users can still manage settings manually.