Microsoft to Auto-Enable Windows 11 Memory Integrity Feature

Microsoft is set to activate its Memory Integrity feature by default on eligible Windows 11 devices starting in October. The change will automatically switch on the security feature, which restricts kernel-mode execution to trusted code and drivers only, thereby blocking malicious attacks. However, this added layer of defense comes with a performance cost, particularly for gamers, who may experience reduced frame rates in certain titles.

The company recommends keeping the feature on whenever possible but acknowledges that maintaining a gaming-friendly configuration will require a deliberate choice. Users who have already disabled Memory Integrity can rest easy, as the update will respect their setting and not silently turn the feature back on.

For those relying on undervolting tools such as ThrottleStop and Intel XTU to keep temperatures in check, enabling Memory Integrity may force a reset that alters BIOS settings and wipes out the undervolt entirely. Microsoft is making this change as part of its effort to make Windows 'secure by design and secure by default', with the October rollout marking a shift in the company's default posture.