Microsoft Activates Memory Integrity on Windows 11 Devices, Gaming Performance May Suffer

Microsoft will start enabling memory integrity on Windows 11 devices starting next month. This feature aims to protect against malicious code and drivers, but it may impact gaming performance.

The protection operates at the system kernel level and only allows trusted code and kernel drivers to run. On newer processors, the effect is usually less noticeable, while older systems might see a significant drop in frames per second (FPS) in certain games.

According to Peter Waxman, Microsoft Program Manager, Windows updates will enable memory integrity on compatible devices and activate Virtualization-based Security if necessary. If users previously disabled the protection manually, it will not be re-enabled automatically after an update.

Users can check the function's status and adjust the setting in the 'Windows Security' application. Microsoft recommends enabling the protection after finishing a gaming session to minimize performance impact.