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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Usually, no. Memory integrity is a Windows 11 security feature that helps prevent vulnerable or malicious kernel-mode drivers from tampering with protected areas of memory. Keep it enabled unless it is blocking a driver or device you genuinely need and no compatible update is available.
If you do disable it, treat that as a troubleshooting measure rather than a permanent performance tweak. Microsoft’s recommended order is to update the blocked driver through Windows Update or the manufacturer first, then turn Memory integrity off only if that fails.
What Memory integrity does
Memory integrity is Microsoft’s name for hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI), also called hypervisor-enforced code integrity. It is part of Windows virtualization-based security (VBS).
When enabled, Windows runs code-integrity checks inside an isolated virtual environment and restricts certain kernel-memory allocations. This makes it harder for a compromised or vulnerable kernel driver to modify Windows in a way that could undermine the operating system’s security.
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The feature is especially relevant on Secured-core PCs. Turning it off takes a Secured-core PC out of its Secured-core state. The practical effect depends on the blocked driver: the consequences may be minor, but Microsoft notes that they can also be severe if the affected functionality is security-sensitive or important to the device.
When turning it off may be reasonable
There is one common legitimate reason: a required driver will not load while Memory integrity is enabled. This can affect older hardware, specialist peripherals, monitoring tools, virtualisation software, or other applications that install kernel-mode drivers.
The notification normally shows the driver name and company name. That warning does not prove the driver is malware. Microsoft says the driver usually has a minor vulnerability and is most likely not malicious. However, the notification alone does not provide enough information to judge the driver’s safety beyond those displayed names.
Before disabling the feature, use this order:
- Install available Windows updates.
- Check Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates for driver updates.
- Download a current Windows 11 driver directly from the hardware or software manufacturer.
- If the device or application is no longer needed, uninstall the associated software or device instead of weakening Windows security for it.
- Only then consider turning Memory integrity off temporarily.
When you should leave it enabled
- You have no driver or device problem.
- The only reason is a general belief that it will make Windows faster.
- You use the PC for work, banking, administration, development, or other activities where kernel-level protection matters.
- The blocked driver is unknown, unnecessary, or from an untrusted source.
- You are using a Secured-core PC and have no specific compatibility requirement.
Microsoft does not establish a universal performance percentage for Memory integrity. Older processors can experience a larger impact because they emulate some of the hardware capabilities used by the feature. Microsoft identifies Intel Kaby Lake and newer and AMD Zen 2 and newer as processors with better support, but disabling Memory integrity will not necessarily produce a noticeable improvement on every computer.
How to turn off Memory integrity in Windows 11
Use the Windows Security interface rather than a registry command or BIOS workaround:
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- Open Start and select Settings.
- Go to Privacy & security > Windows Security.
- Select Device security.
- Under Core isolation, select Core isolation details.
- Set Memory integrity to Off.
- Restart Windows when prompted.
The shorter equivalent path is Windows Security > Device security > Core isolation details > Memory integrity. A restart is required for the change to take effect.
From Windows 11 version 22H2 onward, Windows Security warns when Memory integrity is off. You may also see the warning on the Windows Security taskbar icon and in Windows Notification Center. The warning can be dismissed within Windows Security, but dismissing it does not turn the protection back on.
How to turn it back on
- Open Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security > Device security.
- Select Core isolation details.
- Set Memory integrity to On.
- Restart Windows.
If Windows reports incompatible drivers, select Review incompatible drivers if that option is available. Update or remove the listed driver through its associated device or software. Do not delete arbitrary .sys files from the Windows folders: that can leave the installation unstable without properly removing the software that installed the driver.
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What to do if Memory integrity will not turn on
Incompatible drivers and unavailable virtualization support are common causes. Work through these checks:
- Open Windows Security > Device security > Core isolation details and look for Review incompatible drivers.
- Update the named driver using Windows Update, Optional updates, or the manufacturer’s support page.
- Uninstall the associated application or device if you no longer need it.
- Restart, then try enabling Memory integrity again.
- Check whether virtualization is enabled in UEFI/BIOS if Windows reports that virtualization support is unavailable.
Do not disable CPU virtualization or Virtualization Technology for I/O simply to force this setting off. Those BIOS changes disable virtualization capability more broadly and are not Microsoft’s normal Windows 11 procedure for managing Memory integrity.
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Why the setting may switch back on
On a managed PC, the toggle may not be under your control. Memory integrity can be enforced by:
- Group Policy
- Microsoft Intune or another configuration service provider
- An App Control policy
For Group Policy, the relevant location is:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Device Guard > Turn on Virtualization Based Security
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The policy options include Enabled without UEFI lock and Enabled with UEFI lock. With UEFI lock, turning Memory integrity off may require access to UEFI/BIOS to disable Secure Boot. On a domain-joined computer, an administrator can apply a changed policy with this elevated Command Prompt command:
gpupdate /force“Device Guard” is an older name and policy location associated with these settings. It is not a separate feature that must be disabled first.
In Intune, Microsoft identifies the relevant setting as Virtualization Based Technology > Hypervisor Enforced Code Integrity. An App Control policy configured to enable Memory integrity can enable it even when that policy is in audit mode. If the setting keeps returning to On, contact the organization’s IT administrator rather than repeatedly changing the local toggle.
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How to verify the actual state
The Windows Security toggle is the simplest check, but PowerShell can show whether VBS is actually running. Open PowerShell as administrator and run:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsGet-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_DeviceGuard -Namespace rootMicrosoftWindowsDeviceGuardPay attention to these fields:
| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
SecurityServicesRunning |
A value of 2 indicates that Memory integrity is running. |
SecurityServicesConfigured |
Shows configured VBS security services. |
VirtualizationBasedSecurityStatus |
0 means not enabled; 1 means enabled but not running; 2 means enabled and running. |
For a graphical check, press Win+R, enter msinfo32.exe, and press Enter. VBS-related features appear near the bottom of System Summary.
Do not start with registry or boot commands
Changing the registry or boot configuration is not the normal way to disable Memory integrity. In particular, a frequently repeated command containing hypervisornlaunchtype is misspelled and is not Microsoft’s documented procedure for this task.
Microsoft does document this registry command for an emergency recovery situation, such as a critical boot error or system instability after enabling Memory integrity:
reg add "HKLMSYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlDeviceGuardScenariosHypervisorEnforcedCodeIntegrity" /v "Enabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /fThat command is intended to be run from Windows Recovery Environment after policies enforcing VBS or Memory integrity have been disabled, followed by a restart. It is not the first-line method for a normal Windows 11 installation. If Memory integrity was enabled with UEFI lock, Microsoft says Secure Boot must be disabled before using the Windows Recovery Environment registry procedure.
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Possible driver and boot problems
Incompatible applications or hardware drivers may malfunction when Memory integrity is enabled or while it is being enabled. Microsoft also documents rare boot failures, including a blue screen. If enabling the feature causes a critical boot problem, use Windows Recovery Environment and restore the driver or policy configuration rather than deleting system files at random.
Decision guide
| Situation | Recommended action |
|---|---|
| No compatibility problem | Leave Memory integrity on. |
| A required driver is blocked | Update it through Windows Update or the manufacturer first. |
| The hardware or software is obsolete and essential | Disable Memory integrity temporarily, test the device, and look for a replacement or updated driver. |
| The driver is unnecessary | Uninstall the associated device or software, then enable Memory integrity. |
| The toggle keeps changing | Check Group Policy, Intune, or App Control enforcement. |
| The PC becomes unstable after enabling it | Use recovery procedures and investigate the incompatible driver or policy. |
FAQ
Will turning off Memory integrity make Windows 11 faster?
It might reduce overhead on some older hardware, but Microsoft does not provide a universal performance improvement percentage. Older processors are more likely to experience a larger impact, while newer processors generally support the feature better. Do not disable it solely to chase a possible speed increase unless you have measured a real problem.
Is the driver blocked by Memory integrity necessarily malware?
No. Microsoft says the blocked driver generally has a minor vulnerability and is most likely not malicious. Nevertheless, update it or remove the associated software where possible, because a vulnerable kernel driver can still weaken system security.
Can I turn off Memory integrity without restarting?
You can change the toggle, but Windows requires a restart for the change to take effect.
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Beginning with Windows 11 version 22H2, Windows Security warns when Memory integrity is off. The warning can also appear on the Windows Security taskbar icon and in Windows Notification Center. It is a security reminder, not evidence that the setting failed to change.
Should I disable Secure Boot or CPU virtualization instead?
No, not for the normal Windows 11 procedure. Use the Memory integrity toggle under Core isolation details. Disabling CPU virtualization or virtualization for I/O affects broader virtualization capabilities, and Secure Boot may be required for recovery only in certain UEFI-lock situations.
What if the Memory integrity switch is greyed out or turns itself back on?
A Group Policy, Intune configuration, or App Control policy may be enforcing it. Check with your organization’s administrator. The relevant Group Policy location is Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Device Guard > Turn on Virtualization Based Security.
The Bottom Line
Keep Memory integrity enabled if Windows 11 works normally. If it blocks a device, update or replace the driver first. Turn the feature off only when the hardware or software is genuinely required and there is no compatible driver, then restore it as soon as the compatibility problem is resolved. The supported local path is Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security > Device security > Core isolation > Core isolation details; set Memory integrity to Off and restart.
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