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Security

Turn On Memory Integrity and Clear the Driver Blocking It

Core isolation explained in practice: read the state, flip the switch, and deal with the one driver that refuses to load afterwards.

by@guidox updated:10/31/26 time:30 min level:Intermediate tested on:Windows 11 24H2 works on:Windows 11 tools:PowerShell as administrator, Windows Security
TL;DR

Read the state with **Win32_DeviceGuard**, switch **Memory integrity** on under **Windows Security > Device security**, and remove or update the driver the console lists as incompatible.

Before you start

Requirements

  • Virtualization in the BIOS
  • Windows 11 Pro or Home
  • Thirty minutes
Step by step

Instructions

01

Read what is actually running

The numeric list is the honest answer: the UI can show a toggle while the service is not running. A 2 in the running list means hypervisor enforced code integrity is active.

Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_DeviceGuard -Namespace root\Microsoft\Windows\DeviceGuard | Select-Object SecurityServicesRunning,SecurityServicesConfigured
02

Switch it on in the console

The toggle lives in the device security page. Enabling it takes effect after a reboot, because the hypervisor has to start with the new policy.

Windows Security > Device security > Core isolation details > Memory integrity
03

Read the incompatibility list

When a third-party kernel driver is not compatible, the console names it instead of guessing. That name is the only thing you have to act on.

Windows Security > Core isolation details > Review incompatible drivers
tipMost entries are old antivirus filter drivers or hardware tools left behind by an uninstalled program.
04

Remove the named driver package

Once the file name is known, the driver store finds the package that provides it. Removing it is the step that lets the toggle stay on.

pnputil /enum-drivers | Select-String -Pattern driver -Context 3
05

Set it by policy when the console is locked

On a managed machine the switch can be greyed out. The registry value is what the feature reads, and a reboot applies it.

reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard\Scenarios\HypervisorEnforcedCodeIntegrity /v Enabled /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
⚠ warningA domain policy overwrites this at the next refresh. Check gpresult before wondering why it reverted.
06

Verify after the reboot

Repeat the first command. Running should now contain 2 or 3, and the console shows a green check without a warning banner.

Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_DeviceGuard -Namespace root\Microsoft\Windows\DeviceGuard | Select-Object SecurityServicesRunning
Troubleshooting

Common issues

The toggle turns itself back off

A driver on the block list, or a policy. Check the incompatible list first, then gpresult.

A game or anticheat refuses to start

Its kernel driver is incompatible. Decide per game whether the feature is worth it; the console names the driver.

The virtual machine inside the machine got slow

Nested virtualization takes the performance hit twice. Exclude the VM workload if it is the main use.

The option is missing entirely

Home builds on old releases, or virtualization is disabled in the firmware. Check Task Manager for the Virtualization line.

FAQ

Frequently asked

Is this the same as Secure Boot?

No. Secure Boot checks what starts at boot, memory integrity checks kernel code while it runs.

How much performance does it cost?

A few percent in normal work, more in workloads that hammer the kernel. Measure before and after if that matters to you.

How to undo this

Turn the toggle off in the same page or set the registry value to 0, then reboot. Driver packages you removed have to be reinstalled separately.

Changelog · 1 entry
  1. 2026-10-31
    First version
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