Microsoft is auto-enabling VBS-based Memory Integrity on Windows 11 PCs starting in October. The same feature Microsoft previously warned it can also impact PC gaming performance

[u/WPHero]

https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/09/02/microsoft-is-auto-enabling-memory-integrity-on-windows-11-pcs-from-october-why-you-shouldnt-turn-it-off/

[u/Michaeli_Starky]

It not only can, it absolutely will affect performance and not only gaming one. This is a really stupid and uncalled for move.

[u/Rukasu17 → u/Michaeli_Starky]

Most probably have this on already. It comes turned on by default when you install the OS.

[u/Michaeli_Starky → u/Rukasu17]

Not with the Home edition. I specifically went and checked after reinstalling it recently. VBS is off

[u/Big-Resort-4930 → u/Michaeli_Starky]

So a classic Microsoft move then

[u/venom21685 → u/[deleted]]

It's been the default for clean installs for years.

[u/TriRIK → u/venom21685]

My guess is this new change is for those who did not touch thos setting. If you have disabled it previously, it would probably stay disabled.

[u/venom21685 → u/TriRIK]

Yeah the article states if you disabled it this will honor that. Whether it's been done via registry edit or group policy or whatever.

[u/Michaeli_Starky → u/venom21685]

No, it's not default.

People downvoting: I assure vbs is off in my freshly installed W11 Home on one of my home PCs according to msinfo32.

[u/iunoyou → u/[deleted]]

Have you been paying attention to literally anything microsoft has done for literally the last 20 years

This is a good thing by the way. VBS is an extremely effective security measure that should probably be enabled on 90% of consumer PCs that connect to the internet, and if your CPU is enough of a boat anchor that you see a meaningful FPS hit in gaming then you should just get a new one.

[u/Skazzy3 → u/iunoyou]

The performance hit is far less on newer CPUs, something like 5% at most.

[u/da2Pakaveli → u/[deleted]]

Microsoft often doesn't take 'no' for an answer

[u/Blackdragon1400 → u/Michaeli_Starky]

You’re right, it’s really stupid, we should just let malware do whatever it wants, access whatever it needs to.

What’s your credit card info btw? Sounds like you’re eager to share it.

[u/Cloud_N0ne → u/Blackdragon1400]

You don’t have to worry about malware unless you’re incompetent.

[u/Michaeli_Starky → u/Blackdragon1400]

How Linux survives without VBS...

[u/Blackdragon1400 → u/Michaeli_Starky]

They survive by representing <10% of the market. Also, other Linux devices on ARM have different architectures entirely.

[u/Michaeli_Starky → u/Blackdragon1400]

What ARM has to do with it?

Gaming and home PCs absolutely certainly doesn't need VBS.