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If Windows 11 says Memory integrity is turned off, open Windows Security > Device security > Core isolation details and check the Memory integrity setting and any incompatible-driver message. If Windows names a driver, look for a compatible update through Windows Update or the PC or device manufacturer before considering removal. The warning means the feature is off; it does not, by itself, explain why.

What the Memory integrity warning means

Memory integrity, also known as hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI), is a virtualization-based security feature intended to strengthen protection for Windows kernel code integrity. Microsoft says Windows Security has displayed a warning when the feature is off beginning with Windows 11 version 22H2. The warning is not a diagnosis: the cause can depend on your hardware, drivers, software, or how Windows is managed.

Microsoft describes the setting and its deployment considerations in Enable memory integrity. Windows Security’s Device security area is also explained in Microsoft’s Device Security in the Windows Security App.

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How to turn Memory integrity on

  1. Open Windows Security. Select Device security > Core isolation details.

  2. Find Memory integrity. If the control is available, switch it on and restart the PC if Windows asks you to.

  3. If the control is unavailable or Windows will not let you enable it, check for the specific blocker using the steps below rather than applying a generic registry fix.

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If the setting is unavailable or will not turn on

Check hardware virtualization in UEFI or BIOS

Memory integrity requires hardware virtualization to be enabled in the device’s UEFI/BIOS. The setting name and firmware navigation vary by manufacturer, so use the instructions for your specific PC instead of guessing a key sequence. After changing the firmware setting, return to Windows Security and check the Memory integrity control again.

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Resolve a listed incompatible driver

If Core isolation details names one or more incompatible drivers, record the exact names. Check Windows Update first, then the PC or device manufacturer’s support information for a compatible driver. Microsoft’s Driver Compatibility with Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity (HVCI) explains the compatibility issue. If no compatible driver is available, Microsoft says the device or app that depends on it may need to be removed before Memory integrity can be enabled.

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Do not remove a driver or its dependent device or application unless you understand what relies on it. Removing the wrong component can disrupt hardware or software you use.

Check whether an administrator manages the setting

On an organization-managed PC, policy may control Memory integrity. If the setting is locked or changes back, contact your organization’s IT administrator; a standard user may not be allowed to change it.

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What not to try first

A generic registry edit or deleting arbitrary driver-store packages is not the ordinary consumer fix. Microsoft documents registry and policy methods for managed deployment, along with separate recovery procedures; those are advanced administration or recovery steps, not a substitute for identifying the blocker in Core isolation details.

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If enabling Memory integrity causes problems

Microsoft warns that incompatible applications or drivers may malfunction, and that a problem can rarely lead to a boot failure. If the PC becomes seriously unstable or cannot start after the change, follow Microsoft’s documented Windows Recovery Environment instructions. The recovery steps depend on how Memory integrity was enabled; when UEFI lock is involved, recovery may require disabling Secure Boot.

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Why the cause can differ from one PC to another

The message “Memory integrity is turned off” appears in different Windows troubleshooting contexts, including a Microsoft Q&A thread with that title. That wording is not evidence of one universal cause. On your PC, the relevant clues are whether the control is available, whether virtualization is enabled in firmware, whether Windows lists an incompatible driver, and whether an administrator manages the setting.

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