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To turn on Memory integrity: open Windows Security, choose Device security, select Core isolation details, and switch Memory integrity to On. Windows may ask you to restart. Memory integrity is Microsoft’s name for a Hypervisor-protected Code Integrity (HVCI) control that uses hardware virtualization to isolate code-integrity checks. If an incompatible driver blocks the switch, update that driver through Windows Update or the device/app manufacturer before considering any removal or disabling the protection.
What Memory integrity protects
Memory integrity is a Windows security feature that uses virtualization-based security to run code-integrity checks in an isolated environment. The aim is to make it harder for malicious software to abuse low-level drivers and take control of parts of the operating system. Microsoft also refers to the technology as Hypervisor-protected Code Integrity (HVCI).
It is a defensive layer, not a guarantee that a computer is free from malware or that every attack will be stopped. The official documentation does not provide a universal percentage for attack reduction or a guaranteed performance impact. Whether you see the setting, and which related controls appear, depends on your Windows version and installed hardware. Microsoft describes the feature in Device security in the Windows Security app.
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Memory integrity can also affect compatibility. A driver that is not compatible with the protection may be prevented from loading. That can make a device, utility, or application stop working until its driver is updated, the software or device is removed, or (as a last resort) Memory integrity is turned off.
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Check the prerequisites before enabling it
Hardware virtualization must be enabled in your computer’s system UEFI or BIOS. The setting is controlled by the firmware, not by the Windows Security window. Microsoft’s enablement guidance covers Windows 10, Windows 11, and specified Windows Server releases in Enable virtualization-based protection of code integrity.
- Use a supported Windows edition and build: the labels and available Core isolation controls can differ between Windows versions and hardware. The instructions below are for the normal consumer Windows Security interface.
- Know how to reach firmware settings: UEFI/BIOS menu names differ by manufacturer. Look in the PC maker’s documentation for the virtualization option rather than following a universal key sequence.
- Save work before changing the setting: enabling or disabling Memory integrity normally requires a restart before the change is effective.
- Have a driver-update route ready: Windows Update and the manufacturer of the affected device or application are the appropriate places to look for a compatible driver.
Do not assume the feature is enabled simply because the PC is new, or disabled simply because it is an existing installation. Microsoft says Memory integrity may be enabled by default on clean Windows 11 installations on compatible hardware and on Windows 10 in S mode; that does not mean every Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer has it enabled automatically. Driver compatibility details are documented by Microsoft in Driver Compatibility with Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity (HVCI).
Before changing firmware or removing software, note the current state of the switch and identify any device that is especially important to your work. A restart can expose a driver problem immediately, so save open documents and make sure you know how to reinstall an essential application if its vendor later supplies a replacement.
How to turn on Memory integrity
- Open Windows Security. Select it from the Start menu or search for “Windows Security” in the taskbar search box.
- Open Device security. This page groups hardware-backed security features for the PC.
- Open Core isolation details. Under the Core isolation area, select Core isolation details.
- Turn on Memory integrity. Move the Memory integrity switch to On. Windows checks whether the currently installed drivers can work with the protection.
- Restart when prompted. The virtualization-based protection is not fully applied until Windows restarts. Close applications and save files before doing so.
After the restart, return to Windows Security > Device security > Core isolation details to verify the switch remains on. If Windows presents an incompatible-driver message instead of enabling it, use the driver workflow below; repeatedly toggling the switch will not make an incompatible driver compatible.
If the switch appears on before the restart but is off afterward, treat the post-restart state as authoritative. Check for a driver message, confirm virtualization is still enabled in firmware, and review whether a newly installed device or application coincided with the change.
Fix “An incompatible driver” or “A driver can’t load on this device”
When Memory integrity is enabled, Windows can block a driver that does not meet its requirements. The warning normally lists the driver file and the company name. Microsoft cautions that these are the reliable details Windows gathered about the driver; the warning alone does not prove that the driver is malicious. Treat it as a compatibility problem first.
1. Record the exact information in the warning
Write down or capture the driver name and company shown in the notification. Preserve the spelling and file extension. Those details help you match the driver to a device or application and avoid deleting an unrelated package. Do not infer that a company is unsafe merely because its driver is old or blocked.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsAlso note when the warning first appeared and what changed immediately beforehand. A new peripheral, utility, application update, or Windows update can introduce a driver that was not present during an earlier successful activation. This timeline is useful when contacting the computer or device maker.
2. Look for a compatible update
- Run Windows Update and install applicable driver updates.
- Restart if Windows requests it, then try enabling Memory integrity again.
- If the warning remains, visit the support channel for the affected PC component, peripheral, or application. Search using the exact driver name, your Windows version, and your device model.
- Install only a driver supplied for that device and Windows version. Follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions, restart, and test the Memory integrity switch again.
For a laptop or desktop component, the computer maker may provide the correct package even when the component’s original manufacturer also publishes drivers. For a peripheral or specialist application, the software or device maker is the authoritative source. Avoid generic “driver updater” utilities and do not install a package simply because its filename looks similar.
Do not assume the newest package is compatible solely because it has a recent date. Match the model, Windows version, and the component named in the warning. If a vendor offers several packages, use its documented compatibility guidance rather than installing multiple alternatives at random.
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3. Decide whether the device or app is still needed
If Windows Update and the manufacturer provide no compatible driver, identify what depends on it before removing anything. It may belong to a peripheral, virtual device, security product, game utility, or other application. Removing the associated device or app can restore the ability to enable Memory integrity, but the hardware or software may stop functioning. Microsoft describes removal as a possible option in A driver can’t load on this device; it is not a recommendation to delete an unknown driver package at random.
- Unplug or stop using a nonessential peripheral and confirm what functionality you would lose.
- Uninstall the application through Windows Settings or its documented uninstaller if it installed the driver.
- Keep an installation source or recovery plan if the device may be needed later.
- Restart and verify both the device’s function and the Memory integrity state.
If you cannot identify the owner of a driver, do not remove files from system folders manually. Use the warning’s company and driver names to obtain identification from the PC, device, or application maker first.
On a work-managed PC, pause before uninstalling anything that might be required for business access or security. An administrator may need to approve the change or provide a tested driver package.
4. Turn Memory integrity off only when a needed driver has no compatible replacement
If a required device or application will not work without its blocked driver, Microsoft documents turning Memory integrity off and restarting as a way to allow that driver to load. In Windows Security, return to Device security > Core isolation details, switch Memory integrity to Off, and restart when prompted.
This is a security trade-off, not a repair that leaves protection unchanged. While the switch is off, the isolated code-integrity layer is not protecting the system. Microsoft also notes that a Secured-core PC leaves its Secured-core state when this protection is disabled. Keep the feature off only for the shortest practical period, obtain a compatible driver or replacement application, and turn Memory integrity back on as soon as the dependency is resolved.
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Explain the trade-off to other users of the computer before making the change. If the device is essential, record why the protection was disabled and set a reminder to check the vendor’s support page for a replacement. After installing a compatible driver, restart and confirm that Memory integrity remains on.
Why the Memory integrity switch is unavailable or will not stay on
Hardware virtualization is disabled
Memory integrity depends on hardware virtualization. If the switch is missing, unavailable, or returns to Off, restart the PC and enter its UEFI/BIOS setup using the manufacturer’s documented procedure. Look for a virtualization control; the label may vary by processor and firmware. Common wording can include a processor-virtualization or virtualization-technology option, but the exact menu path is not universal. Enable it, save the firmware change, boot Windows, and revisit Windows Security > Device security > Core isolation details.
If you cannot find the option, use the support documentation for your exact PC or motherboard model. Do not change unrelated firmware settings while troubleshooting. The controls shown by Windows can also vary with the Windows release and installed hardware, so a missing control is not proof that the installation is damaged.
An incompatible driver is still installed
A driver can prevent activation even when virtualization is enabled. Read the warning, install a compatible update, and reassess the device or app that uses it. A newly added peripheral, utility, or application is a common time for the message to appear. If the installation is optional, postpone it until a compatible driver is available.
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Restart after changing the switch. Without the restart, Windows may continue running with the previous protection state. After booting, check the Core isolation details page again instead of relying on the first click’s visual state.
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Windows Security shows different controls than this guide
Core isolation pages are not identical on every Windows edition, release, or hardware configuration. Use the labels that appear on your PC and keep the route anchored at Windows Security > Device security. If the feature is managed by an organization, an administrator may have applied policy that overrides the local switch.
A missing option can therefore have several explanations: the hardware may not expose the required capability, virtualization may be disabled, the Windows release may present a different interface, or organizational policy may control it. Check those possibilities in that order instead of changing unrelated security settings.
What to do after installing an update or new device
If Memory integrity worked previously and the warning appeared after a Windows update, application update, or new device installation, treat the newest driver as the first suspect. Check the device or application maker for a revised package and check Windows Update. If the new device or app is not essential, uninstalling it may be preferable to weakening protection, provided you understand the resulting loss of functionality.
Keep a record of which change preceded the warning. That makes it easier to tell whether a later driver update resolves the problem. Do not repeatedly remove and reinstall random packages: each change can add another driver and make identification harder.
When testing a replacement, change one thing at a time and restart as requested. That gives you a clear before-and-after state and reduces the chance of confusing two incompatible packages. If the warning names a driver belonging to an older application, check that application’s release notes or support channel rather than assuming Windows itself is at fault.
Windows 10, Windows 11, and managed PCs
The consumer workflow in Windows Security is the same basic path on Windows 10 and Windows 11, although wording and available controls may differ. Microsoft’s enablement documentation also covers specified Windows Server versions, but server administration should follow the server’s operational and security policy rather than a consumer troubleshooting recipe.
Organizations can deploy Memory integrity using Intune or configuration service providers, Group Policy, the registry, or App Control. Those mechanisms can enforce settings that an individual user cannot change. Microsoft documents the deployment choices in its virtualization-based protection guidance. If this is a work-managed computer, contact the administrator before changing firmware, removing a business application, or switching off the control.
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A safe decision path
| What you see | Best next action | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Memory integrity is Off and the switch is available | Turn it On and restart. | This is the normal enablement path. |
| The switch is missing or unavailable | Confirm hardware virtualization in UEFI/BIOS and check whether the PC is managed. | The feature depends on virtualization, and policy or hardware can change what Windows displays. |
| “An incompatible driver” appears | Record the driver and company, then check Windows Update and the manufacturer. | A compatible update preserves both device function and protection. |
| No compatible driver exists for a nonessential device or app | Consider removing that device or app after assessing what will stop working. | Removal may resolve the conflict without reducing system protection. |
| A required driver still will not load | Only if necessary, switch Memory integrity Off and restart; plan to restore it later. | The driver may work, but the PC loses this protection and a Secured-core PC loses Secured-core status. |
Does Memory integrity have a measurable performance cost?
It can change how the system handles protected code and drivers, but Microsoft’s cited guidance does not establish one universal speed or battery figure for every PC. Hardware, Windows version, drivers, and workload differ. Do not disable the feature solely because you expect a particular percentage slowdown. If you notice a problem, document the workload and check for compatible driver updates before weakening protection.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Important limitations and safety notes
- Memory integrity is one security control, not a substitute for updates, reputable software, and normal account and device security practices.
- Do not treat an incompatible-driver notification as proof of malware. Use the listed driver and company information to identify the software responsibly.
- Do not delete driver files manually or remove an unidentified package merely to make the switch turn on.
- Do not promise a specific speed change or attack-prevention percentage; Microsoft’s cited guidance does not establish a universal figure.
- When disabling the feature, explain the protection loss to anyone who relies on the PC and restore the setting when a compatible driver becomes available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Memory integrity the same as HVCI?
Yes. Memory integrity is the Windows Security label for Hypervisor-protected Code Integrity (HVCI), which uses virtualization-based isolation for code-integrity checks.
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Do I need to enable virtualization before turning Memory integrity on?
Yes. Hardware virtualization must be enabled in UEFI/BIOS. The exact firmware label and menu path depend on the PC manufacturer.
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It can allow a blocked driver to load after a restart, but it reduces protection and removes a Secured-core PC from Secured-core status. Look for a compatible driver first.
Is Memory integrity enabled by default in Windows 10 or Windows 11?
Not on every PC. Microsoft says it may be enabled by default on clean Windows 11 installations on compatible hardware and on Windows 10 in S mode. Existing installations and unsupported hardware may show a different state.
What should I do if I do not recognize the driver in the warning?
Record the exact driver and company names, then ask the PC, device, or application maker to identify it. Do not delete files manually or assume the warning proves malware.
Can I keep using a device after Memory integrity blocks its driver?
The device or application may stop working because Windows prevents the incompatible driver from loading. Check Windows Update and the manufacturer for a compatible replacement; removing the device or app is another option if it is no longer needed.
Why did Memory integrity stop working after I installed an app or peripheral?
The new software or device may have installed an incompatible driver. Check that maker for an updated package, or uninstall the nonessential app or device after confirming what functionality you will lose.
Does changing the switch take effect immediately?
Restart Windows when prompted. Verify the final state by returning to Windows Security, Device security, and Core isolation details after the restart.
Can a company manage Memory integrity so I cannot change it?
Yes. Organizations can deploy it through Intune or configuration service providers, Group Policy, the registry, or App Control. Contact the administrator on a managed PC before changing the setting.
Is there a guaranteed performance penalty when Memory integrity is on?
No universal figure applies. The effect depends on hardware, drivers, Windows version, and workload, so update incompatible drivers and investigate a specific problem rather than assuming a fixed slowdown.
The Bottom Line
Enable Memory integrity at Windows Security > Device security > Core isolation details, with hardware virtualization enabled in UEFI/BIOS. For an incompatible-driver warning, identify the driver, update it through Windows Update or the manufacturer, and remove the dependent app or device only after weighing the lost function. Turn the protection off and restart only when a required driver has no compatible replacement, then restore it as soon as possible.
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