Microsoft is automatically enabling Memory Integrity on supported Windows 11 PCs as part of its November 2026 system updates, according to a report by Windows Latest. The automated change applies to eligible devices running Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 26H2.
Memory Integrity, technically known as Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity (HVCI), relies on Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) to prevent malicious drivers from executing unverified code within the Windows kernel. By utilizing the Windows hypervisor, HVCI isolates code verification processes inside a dedicated virtual environment away from the core operating system.
Update Distribution and Policy Scope
The automated enablement was introduced in October 2026 via optional update KB5127936 and expanded through the November 2026 Patch Tuesday update KB5132061. The update targets supported hardware running Windows 11 25H2 and 26H2. Windows 11 24H2 is excluded because its update support ended in October 2026.
Microsoft's Peter Waxman confirmed in a blog post that enterprise management policies take precedence over automatic enablement, allowing IT administrators to maintain control over fleet configurations. Additionally, PCs where users previously turned off Memory Integrity manually will retain their disabled setting without an automatic override.
Before activating the feature, Windows checks system hardware, driver compatibility, and performance metrics. Eligible systems generally require at least an 8th-Gen Intel processor or AMD Zen 2 architecture, which include hardware-level capabilities (MBEC on Intel and GMET on AMD) designed to reduce execution overhead. If an incompatible driver causes a boot crash following activation, Windows is configured to automatically disable Memory Integrity to restore system stability.
Performance Context and User Controls
Historically, Microsoft acknowledged potential frame-rate impacts in an October 2022 support article, advising gamers at the time that turning off HVCI and Virtual Machine Platform could optimize performance. While modern supported processors minimize performance loss through built-in hardware acceleration, past third-party benchmarks noted minor performance variations across specific gaming configurations.
Users seeking to verify or modify their security settings can navigate in Windows 11 to Windows Security > Device security > Core isolation details to adjust the Memory Integrity toggle.
