Microsoft will roll out a security patch that may negatively impact your gaming performance

Published Sep 2, 2026, 5:18 PM EDT Simon is a Computer Science BSc graduate who has been writing about technology since 2014, and using Windows machines since 3.1. After working for an indie game studio and acting as the family's go-to technician for all computer issues, he found his passion for writing and decided to use his skill set to write about all things tech. Since beginning his writing career, he has written for many different publications such as WorldStart, Listverse, and MakeTechEasier. However, after finding his home at MakeUseOf in February 2019, he would eventually move on to its sister site, XDA, to bring the latest and greatest in Windows, Linux, and DIY electronics. Sign in to your XDA account Summary Windows 11 enables kernel-level memory integrity by default in October 2026. Memory integrity may lower in-game framerates and hurt gaming performance. Turn off memory integrity in Core Isolation before gaming, then turn it back on after. Receiving new security measures on Windows is usually good, but those new measures usually need to take up some resources to actually work. If you're someone who pushes their PC to its utmost to get the best framerates, these additions may end up harming your performance a little bit. Next month, Windows is receiving a security update that may harm your in-game framerates, but you can turn it off before it even arrives on your PC. Windows 11's upcoming security update may harm your framerates But you can proactively disable it As reported by The Verge, Windows 11 is receiving a new security update in October. This will be a kernel-level system that should keep your PC safe from malware: "Beginning in October 2026, Microsoft will expand memory integrity protection across eligible devices, helping you and your organization benefit from stronger kernel-level protection from sophisticated attacks by default with little or no additional configuration. This change reduces security complexity while helping you establish a stronger security baseline across your environment." Unfortunately, memory integrity can also bite into in-game performance, meaning this new security measure may end up harming your framerate without a clear reason as to why. However, Microsoft does say that, if your PC currently has memory integrity disabled, it will stay disabled even after the update rolls out. As such, The Verge says that people can enter "Core Isolation" into their Windows 11 Search and disable memory integrity ahead of time. It also notes that Microsoft's advice is to disable it before you game, then re-enable it when you're all done playing for the day. Regardless, if you try gaming next month and you notice a strange drop in framerate that wasn't there the month before, it's worth checking this before doing anything else.